Aggh! I just finished knitting something that I thought would be terrific...and it turns out to be a potato sack on me. The printed silk cardigan from the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits is so huge on me, probably because I thought that a size 38" (in the bust) would be roomy and not clingy on me. But I should've made the next size down, a 34". I also didn't consider that the yarn I used, Valley Yarns Southwick, was going to drape a little too well. It feels great, since it's a yummy cotton/bamboo blend. But I simply can't wear it without wrapping it around my front to the shoulder. And that just doesn't look right.
What's particularly frustrating is that I got gauge on stitches, but not on rows. So I did make adjustments accordingly so it would not be too long. But I didn't think it was going to be that huge on me once I put it on.
I will post pictures eventually, but I need to find someone suitable to give it to first, either a friend or my sister-in-law who both have larger chests than I do.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
My favorite knitting magazines, part 2
So really, this should be titled "My not-so-favorite knitting magazines" because these are the ones that just happen to be hit and miss for me.
I still subscribe to these magazines, because I do want to see what is popular design-wise and understand how design works, for that day soon when I will want to make the jump into that crazy make-my-own-stuff world.
The first of these is Vogue Knitting. At first, I really didn't like this mag at all. As my friend Wendi once said, it's a little too avant-garde. Sometimes the patterns have just been way out there and meant for someone who is six foot and 120 lbs, with endless legs and torso. Not me by a longshot. But the last issue (Spring/Summer 2008) had some decent patterns that I would actually consider making. Especially some of the tank tops, designed by Mari Lynn Patrick and Norah Gaughan.
Vogue's offshoot of this is Knit Simple. It has designs that are just as you'd imagine - simple and straightforward. I like them, and they're a little more up my alley than Vogue, but there's nothing yet I'd choose to knit.
Next is Knit N Style. This one struck me as very unfashionable and almost dowdy. The last few issues, however, have been more acceptable to me. I do like their articles, especially about yarn companies and designers. That gives me great ideas for my copwriting business, KnitWit Copywriter.
The last of these magazines has been the hardest for me to embrace - Knitters. Apparently, this was once a great magazine, but I have seen only a few items that would be worth looking at, let alone cast on. Many of these patterns have been WAY out there, and I'm not sure what's going on with it. I will still give this magazine a chance, but it's getting harder to appreciate what its goals and focus are. Maybe I should lay off the criticism, because I don't have a strong sense of what's fashionable in knitting now. But I know what can look good, and I'm not sure if Knitters does this.
I still subscribe to these magazines, because I do want to see what is popular design-wise and understand how design works, for that day soon when I will want to make the jump into that crazy make-my-own-stuff world.
The first of these is Vogue Knitting. At first, I really didn't like this mag at all. As my friend Wendi once said, it's a little too avant-garde. Sometimes the patterns have just been way out there and meant for someone who is six foot and 120 lbs, with endless legs and torso. Not me by a longshot. But the last issue (Spring/Summer 2008) had some decent patterns that I would actually consider making. Especially some of the tank tops, designed by Mari Lynn Patrick and Norah Gaughan.
Vogue's offshoot of this is Knit Simple. It has designs that are just as you'd imagine - simple and straightforward. I like them, and they're a little more up my alley than Vogue, but there's nothing yet I'd choose to knit.
Next is Knit N Style. This one struck me as very unfashionable and almost dowdy. The last few issues, however, have been more acceptable to me. I do like their articles, especially about yarn companies and designers. That gives me great ideas for my copwriting business, KnitWit Copywriter.
The last of these magazines has been the hardest for me to embrace - Knitters. Apparently, this was once a great magazine, but I have seen only a few items that would be worth looking at, let alone cast on. Many of these patterns have been WAY out there, and I'm not sure what's going on with it. I will still give this magazine a chance, but it's getting harder to appreciate what its goals and focus are. Maybe I should lay off the criticism, because I don't have a strong sense of what's fashionable in knitting now. But I know what can look good, and I'm not sure if Knitters does this.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
My favorite knitting magazines, part 1
Let me just say, I'm not well-versed in fashion. Never have been, because I've rebelled against what is fashionable ever since my mom made me wear stuff that she thought was and only bought me things that were far away from that standard. I've kind of been a jeans and comfy blouse or shirt, flowing dress girl, nearly all of my life.
As an adult, I've slowly learned what it means to be stylish, but not a slave to style. Talk about a trial and error process!
I wear what I think looks good on me and in colors that I love, usually bright and bold jewel-toned colors. Sometimes I wear something more muted, like in gray or tan. But never, never orange!
Becoming a knitter has naturally made me more conscious about what I wear and how shape and silhouette (really foreign concepts to me) affect my look. And I have to admit, it's been fun exploring this new territory. Magazines have helped me out tremendously in what this fashion stuff all means.
No doubt about it, my favorite knitting magazine is Interweave Knits. Even when they have just an overall OK issue, like the current Summer 2008 one, I still think they are way above the others in the daily wear department. Some might think IK is not very fashion-forward, but that's not what I'm looking for in style. Hey, if I'm going to invest 2-3 months in making something with my own slow-moving hands, I want to make sure I can wear it for at least the next few years. For the year since I've subscribed to IK, I have chosen at least 4-5 out of every issue that I'd like to knit. Since that's logistically impossible, I only end up doing 1-3 projects out of each. My current cardi and Jenna's sundress are from the Spring 2008 IK.
The sister pub of IK is Knitscene, which is slightly aimed toward a younger crowd and more fashion-forward, but I still like a lot of what I see in it. Here, I'm planning to make the papillion top and a scarf that looks like a shawl. Well, once I get some more of those WIPs done.
Next time: more of my favorite mags (and some not so favorites)
As an adult, I've slowly learned what it means to be stylish, but not a slave to style. Talk about a trial and error process!
I wear what I think looks good on me and in colors that I love, usually bright and bold jewel-toned colors. Sometimes I wear something more muted, like in gray or tan. But never, never orange!
Becoming a knitter has naturally made me more conscious about what I wear and how shape and silhouette (really foreign concepts to me) affect my look. And I have to admit, it's been fun exploring this new territory. Magazines have helped me out tremendously in what this fashion stuff all means.
No doubt about it, my favorite knitting magazine is Interweave Knits. Even when they have just an overall OK issue, like the current Summer 2008 one, I still think they are way above the others in the daily wear department. Some might think IK is not very fashion-forward, but that's not what I'm looking for in style. Hey, if I'm going to invest 2-3 months in making something with my own slow-moving hands, I want to make sure I can wear it for at least the next few years. For the year since I've subscribed to IK, I have chosen at least 4-5 out of every issue that I'd like to knit. Since that's logistically impossible, I only end up doing 1-3 projects out of each. My current cardi and Jenna's sundress are from the Spring 2008 IK.
The sister pub of IK is Knitscene, which is slightly aimed toward a younger crowd and more fashion-forward, but I still like a lot of what I see in it. Here, I'm planning to make the papillion top and a scarf that looks like a shawl. Well, once I get some more of those WIPs done.
Next time: more of my favorite mags (and some not so favorites)
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