Saturday, November 03, 2007

Good Stuff


I received my winter issue of Knits today. I'm kind of surprised because I had thought that maybe I had let that subscription lapse. I'm really glad that I didn't though. I've liked Knits better than Knitter's for a quite a while now, and I think I've blogged about my reasons before. For me, knitting is not simply a hobby. I feel like knitting has greater dept than a hobby. It goes with organic gardening, homecooked meals, and comfortably furnished cottages with white picket fences; it goes with walking on the beach or in the woods. I liked Knitters when it first came out because it seemed to represent that. Here's this old woman (Elizabeth Zimmerman) on one of the first covers, and then you find out she lives in a convert barn out in the country! There were historical pieces about knitting in Cornwall or Wales and knitters who raised their own sheep. Now I feel like Knitters is too slick. It reminds me of Vogue a little bit, and I don't particularly like Vogue either. Knits came out just when I was starting to feel that Knitter's wasn't the magazine I had liked for so long. I liked Eunny Jang's blog before she became editor of Knits, and she seems to have brought her style with her. There's such a nice mix of somewhat trendy pattern ideas that I can acutally see myself or my daughter wearing, an historical article or two, and wonderful classic pattern to consider knitting or just enjoying. Knits has embraced technology without givng up the down-to-earth approach that make me like them in the first place.

What's the yarn sitting there on top of my magazine you ask? Why it's two skeins of Claudia's Handpainted Yarn in Baby Girl that I ordered from the Loopy Ewe on Wednesday night, I think it was. I am almost a Loopy Groupie which basically means that I have spent way too much money on sock yarn lately. I've been finding so much inspiration lately though too. Of course, there are my favorite blogs like Wool Windings and Willow Way Knitting to name a few, but I've also discovered Kniity Chick's Sock it to Mepage, Monica Knit..A Lot, and Yearns for Yarn. I even ordered one of Monica's great patterns this week.

I knit a lot of little pumkins this week, but I also started on my loksin socks. I like the pattern although I'm not sure that my sock look like some the others I've seen.

I haven't even joined the Anne of Green Gables Knit Along, but I've been reading the books, which got me to thinking about other old favorites of that genre. I love A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich, a Nebraska author. I only had a beat-up paperback copy, so I ordered this library edition from Amazon. It was $5.00. I'd say that was worth it. I guess it's obvious that I love "old" books.

11 comments:

marit said...

Hi,and thanks for your nice comment on my blog:-) I like your sockyarn! And I noticed you had Betty Smith's "A tree grows in Brooklyn" I've just ordered it from the library, haven't read it for some time, but I think I'll ask mom to give it to me for Christmas- lol- she only keeps it on her shelf! I've joined the Anne of GreenGables-along, and have finished all the books I could find in Norwegian,(there were 6) now reading out loud to my daughters. They are a great read!
Have a lovely Sunday:-)

Mari said...

I just got my IK yesterday, as well. It went with me to the pub. Nothing like reading a knitting mag while drinking a beer. :)

That sock yarn is lovely.

I am on the third book of the Anne series for the R/KAL. My knitting project is not as on schedule.

Julie said...

I love old books too. And they used to make those hardcover books just the right size too, they would fit perfectly in your hand, not too big and not too small. I especially like books that are inscribed even though I know booksellers think it ruins the book. But it's nice to see the provenance of a book, it makes it so much more personal. I've been doing the Anne reading but am a bit behind. I haven't even started on the project. Of course I haven't even figured out what I want to knit yet!

TheBlackSheep said...

Old books are lovely! I wish I had more of them, but English second hand books are hard to come by here. I might just have to see if I can find the Anne of Green Gables series though, or perhaps I'll wait and see if I can find it second hand at home. It would give me something to read while I'm there.

Have fun knitting your socks!

Anonymous said...

I had let my IK lapse as it was getting a little expensive to receive overseas where I am...but I miss it so much I'm taking up again--have to have it! LOL! That pink yarn is delicious--and that sock your starting has a lovely pattern. I love books, too, especially old books. Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorites growing up, and still is. Happy week to you ((HUGS))

Tracy Batchelder said...

It was fun checking out the links you posted. Lots of sock inspiration there! Lately I've been stuck on simple basic socks because they make the best "to go" knitting. It's about time to branch out. I really like the Loskin socks you're working on!

monica said...

Hi, thanks for the compliment. The sock yarn looks lovely. I hope you enjoy knitting up the pattern.
I joined the Anne of Green Gables but have yet to knit anything for it : (

Janice said...

I love the color of your new sock yarn! I LOVE the Anne of Green Gables books... I think I may have to pick them up and read them again! Thanks for commenting about my blog... I enjoy yours as well and visit often! Happy Knitting :-)

Karen said...

You are so sweet, I never thought of myself as being inspiring. I enjoy your blog a lot, it is neat to see what other knitters are creating. You are going to love Monica's pattern, I enjoy everything she designs (esp. that one, since she created it for me). Your new sock is loverly, I love that pink.e

Cloudberry said...

Beautiful pink on your yarn. Can't wait to see which sock yuo'll knit from it.

Have a great weekend!

Russell said...

So, I take your test and this is the results?

***Your Vocabulary Score: F***


As simple as we can say it...
You probably don't speak English


How's Your Vocabulary?
http://www.blogthings.com/howsyourvocabularyquiz/
---

I have a pic for you.

http://flickr.com/photos/7127394@N05/1813525439/