I decided I’d catch up on my Mason-Dixon reading this morning after realizing their new book is out. And boy I’m glad I checked out their blog this morning, because there is a brand new knitting magazine, twist collective, out! It looks fantastic and I can’t wait to go play. I guess I’ve had my head in the sand, because apparently they’ve been talking about it on ravelry for months.
I only had time for a brief poke around, but the pictures are amazing and the site appears to be easy to navigate. While there are some great looking articles, only a few of the patterns are free. Still, the free patterns are doozies! One is for a Giant Knitted Flower by Tatyana Yanishevsky. I don’t knit things like that but I do enjoy hearing about it and about the techniques required to do so.
This first issue includes There are sock patterns in it to, including Houdini Socks by Cat Bordhi. I particularly like how this sock is put together and it appears to be another new architecture, specifically an alternative to the after-thought heel. I agree with her notes; it does give you some freedom about which part of the sock you want to be the “top” and which you want to be the “bottom.” Those of us who knit socks with hand-painted yarns on a regular basis certainly get it.
I’m enjoying the concept of a magazine that works as a showcase for artists and allows them to get paid directly. Given the number of patterns I’ve actually wanted to make out of the $7.99 knitting magazines I’ve been getting lately, I find I might be more willing to shell out for individual patterns. I might have to buy the Oolong pattern by Mona Schmidt. Oy purty!
I suppose it could be a bit glossy; it’s a lot like looking at an online Ann Taylor loft catalog, only with patterns to look at. (Obviously WAY better.) Truly, my only criticism, other than the obvious time-suck answer is that the visual intensity of the site means it’s not very accessible to people with slow connections. Working in a rural community has given me a new appreciation for alternative text.
I’ll have to check everything else out later.
What will you be adding to your ravelry queue?
I’m still at the dithering phase, I just can’t decide what I might buy.
I agree with you that the Twist Collective site is superb…and the Houdini sock is ingenious. I can’t wait to try it. I admit to a little confusion on the part where you leave two stitches at each end of the opening for the cuff. I don’t understand if you are to knit those along with the stitches on the needle, or if they act as the initial piece of the yarn weaving of the raveled yarn tails. Hmmm….I’ll be doing some swatching of that to figure it out.
BTW, found your site while looking around to see if anyone had an explanation…and it’s very nice!