Knit Now Magazine Issue 1

I heard online about a new magazine, and I wasn't sure if it was available here, so after I finished visiting my doctor recently I dropped into Easons on O'Connell Street.  Knit Now Magazine

I decided to pick up a copy, now granted the exchange rate of E7.10 (my keyboard won't do Euros at the moment) to £4.99 is pretty poor (a quick calculation thanks to xe.com tells me that £4.99=E5.73 +9% VAT = E6.25, and Easons is apparently losing money??), it's not a bad magazine.

There's a free 4.5mm needle with the magazine, they're the pretty cheap aluminium, not the best joins needles.  Would be okay but nothing special.

Also with the magazine is a clever Beginner's Guide to Knitting, that is almost worth the price of admission.


The magazine itself isn't bad.  Ravelry Link.  It has the usual suspects, book reviews, yarn reviews etc.  A lure for UK subscribers is a Free Moulin Roty Knitting & Sewing Suitcase. Starting with about what's new in Knitting, review a few books (Contemporary Irish Knits, Simple Knitting, 55 Christmas Balls to Knit, Sock Knitting Masterclass and Weekend Hats.  The reviews are quite short but pithy.  They have a letters page, an interview with Debbie Bliss.

They have a yarn pile, with a jewellery box theme.  A look at current commercial fashions.  A finding inspiration online section (entertainingly it assumes knowledge of Ravelry, recommending a group on Ravelry!)  Also a blog/diary piece.   They have a review of some British Yarns at a yarn roundtable at Baa Ram Ewe and apparently plan to continue getting knit groups to review yarns.  Some covetables are listed.  Debbie Tomkies answers some questions and there's a guide to the basics. Lastly there's a teaser for the next episode.  There's a limited to UK only competition but the provided web address doesn't work and the site doesn't have an obvious link to the competition.

The projects have an approximate price, a rough time to complete and a complexity rating.

Patterns:

Ribbon Tied Belt - what it says, 1 skein of Debbie Bliss's Bella (or two for a longer belt) a dk weight yarn which is from Debbie Bliss' Knits to Give/ Debbie Bliss' link

Tahquamenon Falls Hat and Fingerless gloves are up next, a sock yarn pair, 100g of sock yarn needed.

A made to measure Beanie allows you to work with a yarn you have and calculate a hat from it.  The original is in a dk yarn.  It's a simple rectangle gathered, with a pompom closure.

Sea Shanty hat is a hat designed for self-striping sock yarns with earflaps an interesting construction.

Diamond of the first water uses one skein of lace-weight yarn to create a triangular shawl. (hint, weigh before starting so you know when the half-way mark is reached, yarn weight isn't always what it says on the label)

Brick by Brick is a unisex top-down sock pattern, using sockweight yarn.

Then they have their Manos Silk Bend Challenge.  Three designers take a hank of silk blend (one of the 100g skeins) and make something out of it.  The Little Gem Dress is the first; a dress for a little girl. The Dropped off Snood is a largeish neckwarmer with ornamental buttons; to be honest the Pom Pom Necklace isn't what I'd do with a hank of Manos.  There's 270m here, more than enough to make a hat and handwarmers but no-one did.  Here is a search on Ravelry for free projects under 270m of DK yarn, some great ideas there.  I don't have kids so the Gem dress is academic, I'd consider the snood though.

Comfort Throw is a large throw and the first project to use more than one skein/lot of yarn.  Knit in Aran in two colours, it divides down the panels with a contrast yarn.

The Aria Cowl is an oversized cowl using a fairly basic lace pattern in a chunky yarn.

Bramble Picker is a big tote bag, you probably should line this one, though it doesn't mention that.

Little Snowflake is a trio of pieces for a baby.  Another one that will need more than one hank, Hat Mittens and cardigan in this with a fairly simple colourwork.

Merry Little Christmas is a trio of Christmas baubles, Lightbulb, Ball and Garlic Bulb shaped.

Winter Wonderland is a pair of Christmas Stockings.

Countdown to Christmas is an advent calendar in colourwork.

Cosy covers are a pair of hot-water bottle covers Jelly Bean and Mount Royal

Autumn Forest are a pair of long lacy gloves,with cables.  I'm not sure of the utility of gloves with holes but they're pretty.  I'd be almost tempted to make the leaves without the holes using directional increases.

Dainty Anklets are a pair of socks for a girl from Toe-Up sock for Everybody

It's not a bad magazine, it does show promise and I'd keep an eye on it.


The Beginners Guide to Knitting by David & Charles is just that. Starting with casting on and Garter Stitch, purl stitch and casting off, it then has a Garter Stitch scarf (which looks like it's knit in Noro), then a striped bag (lined) and a rib stitch scarf.  Then it talks about increasing and decreasing stitches. and then a bedwarmer.
Next up there's a section on reading knitting patterns and tension and finishing techniques, with a kit guide, general yarn guide, shopping guide, circular knitting guide.  Back to projects we have Children's mittens .
The next piece is on cables and then cable stitch wristwarmers.
A Piece on Lace Knitting and then a Lace Baby Set with mittens, hat and bootees.

Additional Projects include a Striped or Plain Beret; So Stripy Jumper - a garter stitch and stripes baby jumper - Happy Bunny- a stuffed bunny with lined ears; Seed Stitch Set is a scarf and hat in seed stitch with a corsage to match.  Ribbed Tube socks are a pair of socks with no heel fitting.  The magazine finishes with a troubleshooting section.

This entire part is clear and concise with very good illustrations.  It would be a good refresher or teaching tool!