Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

Ooh err.....

Firstly I haven’t yet started anything in any of the mags, but have lots of things I want to make.  Does this make me wierd or have strange taste?  It seems that not many people actually like the patterns in the mag, but I do!!!  I used to subscribe to the other knitting mag mentioned, s..... k......, but thought the patterns were quite old fashioned, whereas Lets Knit are quite fresh and modern.

Anyhoo, I have been slightly put off from all the comments about the knitting corrections. Dare I start something or not??? I have very little patience and would get incredibly frustrated if the pattern was wrong!!!!

BTW, has anybody else noticed that none of the staff who work on Lets Knit, or any other knitting magazine for that matter, ever seem to be photographed wearing anything knitted!!!  You would think that they must be experienced and addicted to knitting to work there, so how come they never wear any of their own creations in the mag???

Sorry to drone on, haven’t been on the forum for ages and I bet you’re all hoping I don’t return for ages!!!

I would just like to say though that I recently had excellent service from LK.  I spotted a picture of some flip flop socks that I desperately wanted to knit, contacted LK to ask where I could get it and they sent me a copy in the post.  How good is that?  (Hope the pattern is correct though! )

Sharpie - 17 July 2008 09:58 PM

Ooh err.....

Firstly I haven’t yet started anything in any of the mags, but have lots of things I want to make.  Does this make me wierd or have strange taste?  It seems that not many people actually like the patterns in the mag, but I do!!!  I used to subscribe to the other knitting mag mentioned, s..... k......, but thought the patterns were quite old fashioned, whereas Lets Knit are quite fresh and modern.

Anyhoo, I have been slightly put off from all the comments about the knitting corrections. Dare I start something or not??? I have very little patience and would get incredibly frustrated if the pattern was wrong!!!!

BTW, has anybody else noticed that none of the staff who work on Lets Knit, or any other knitting magazine for that matter, ever seem to be photographed wearing anything knitted!!!  You would think that they must be experienced and addicted to knitting to work there, so how come they never wear any of their own creations in the mag???

Sorry to drone on, haven’t been on the forum for ages and I bet you’re all hoping I don’t return for ages!!!

I would just like to say though that I recently had excellent service from LK.  I spotted a picture of some flip flop socks that I desperately wanted to knit, contacted LK to ask where I could get it and they sent me a copy in the post.  How good is that?  (Hope the pattern is correct though! )

You drone and get it off your chest dear. Then if you like you can have another one. Where else can you have a good drone these days and no-one minds in the least???!!!!
As for the patterns in LK they are not all to my taste so I just enjoy the whole mag for the ads and the baby stuff(for the grandkids) and the book reviews and suchlike. I think there is something for all ages in there.
Have you been a knitter for long or are you a fairly new “clacker”.?

I learnt to knit as a child, my nanna taught me as my mum gave up!  I am left handed, she is right handed and I kept wanting to do things back to front!  Anyway, my nanna took over and persevered and I now knit as a right handed person would, although my technique is quite strange - I tuck the right hand needle under my armpit and the left one does all the moving about!!!  Mind you, it works for me. 

I stopped knitting a few years ago, my children were toddlers and I never seemed to have the time, or else I was just too damn knackered to try . I took it up again a few months ago and am now completely hooked (pun not intended, sorry) I even taught myself to crochet a couple of months ago, although haven’t made anything other than a square shaped bag yet......

Trouble is, now my children are a bit older (9 & 7) they want me to knit for them all the time.  There just aren’t enough hours in the day.....

On that note, I’m going to do a couple of rows before I head off to bed

Well, keep at it as you will get plenty of help and chat on here. There are a lot of girls in the same boat as you. A lot of them come on first thing in the mornings, before or after school.

Hi
I admit I am weird and if you’ve seen my posts you will probably agree.I too like the patterns in Lets Knit but I admit I always change them in some way or use them for inspiration.For example there’s a handbag I like but I am going to knit it as a peg bag.I am not knitting the lap top cover but it would be more useful as a pattern holder.Do you get my gist.I knitted the market bag and it has made a wicked carrier bag holder.
I also agree lets knit are good when you contact them so instead of moaning on here maybe I ought to get off my backside and email them about the vest pattern and see if they can send it in more detail.I get the impression they either do not look at every post(understandable) or if they do they don’t respond if we have a query(I suppose they leave the forum as ours)
I still think it would be a good idea at this point for them to have a readers survey to hear what we want and constructive criticism.Also it may be here already but if it is I don’t know where it would be good to have a link where you can contact them for help.
While I am on it can anyone explain how to do a search on previous posts to find out if anyone else has talked about the vest pattern already.
I am a bit no a lot down at the moment but in an effort to be positive I tried circular knitting last night which I’ve always ran a mile from.Alright I’ve only done half row and the air was blue and I so don’t get it and I felt like I was into some naughty ritual but self pat on the back I am trying it.
Have a good day all.
Waggel

waggel - 18 July 2008 12:29 PM

Hi
I admit I am weird and if you’ve seen my posts you will probably agree.I too like the patterns in Lets Knit but I admit I always change them in some way or use them for inspiration.For example there’s a handbag I like but I am going to knit it as a peg bag.I am not knitting the lap top cover but it would be more useful as a pattern holder.Do you get my gist.I knitted the market bag and it has made a wicked carrier bag holder.
I also agree lets knit are good when you contact them so instead of moaning on here maybe I ought to get off my backside and email them about the vest pattern and see if they can send it in more detail.I get the impression they either do not look at every post(understandable) or if they do they don’t respond if we have a query(I suppose they leave the forum as ours)
I still think it would be a good idea at this point for them to have a readers survey to hear what we want and constructive criticism.Also it may be here already but if it is I don’t know where it would be good to have a link where you can contact them for help.
While I am on it can anyone explain how to do a search on previous posts to find out if anyone else has talked about the vest pattern already.
I am a bit no a lot down at the moment but in an effort to be positive I tried circular knitting last night which I’ve always ran a mile from.Alright I’ve only done half row and the air was blue and I so don’t get it and I felt like I was into some naughty ritual but self pat on the back I am trying it.
Have a good day all.
Waggel

Hope you feel better soon, I did a bit of circular knitting with sock wool, made a tube, dunno wot to do with it!! Have started whats supposed to be an ‘easy’ blanket 3 times now, have left it at cast on stage this time!!! May get a chance to do some around 10 tonight, keep your chin up!!!!

I think the patterns are ok in Lets Knit I guess they are trying to put something in that would suit everyones taste although I think they are going overboard on the laptop cover thing!!

The sweater in this issue is good because its simple .. I think its a good idea to put in patterns that are suitable for beginners so that they wont be put off buying the magazine because the patterns are too difficult, they also had a green vest top in issue 7 i think it is that is suitable for beginners…

i’m knitting the sweater in this months issue and its the first thing that i’ve tried to knit from the magazine simply because the other patterns are a bit difficult or dont interest me but I do like the magazine and I enjoy knitting with the free needles

Hi Waggell
Just wanted to comment on your opening post

- I’ve tried the cuff of the Faye pattern and can find absolutely nothing wrong there. If you want to contact me I can talk you through it; as I said to you before, I’m more than happy to help out when you are having problems

- I thought you might like to see the original text of the Martinica pattern as it was supplied to us.

WORKING INSTRUCTIONS
Back: with knitting needles no. 51/2 e with the yarn doubled cast on 87 sts. and work in fancy rib st. beginning and ending the row with 1 end st. in garter stitch. Decr. at ends 1 st. every 12 rows 5 times. When work measures 22 cm. cont. with a single strand of yarn and knitting needles no. 41/2, again in fancy rib st. When work measures 19 cm. from beg. of work with knitting needles no. 41/2, to shape the sleeve holes, cross off on sides 8 sts. then decr. 1 st. every 2 rows 3 times. When work measures 3 cm. from sleeve holes, to shape the neckline, cross off the 17 centre sts. and cont. over the 2 sections separately crossing centrewise, every 2 rows, another 5 sts. once, 2 sts. twice. When work measures 11 cm. from neckline stand off the 10 rem. stitches for each shoulder.
Front: with knitting needles no. 51/2 and with the yarn doubled cast on 87 sts. and work in fancy rib st. beginning and ending the row with 1 end st. in garter stitch. Decr. at ends 1 st. every 10 rows 6 times. When work measures 22 cm. cont. with a single strand of yarn and knitting needles no. 5 and work 16 rows in fancy rib st. distributing 6 decr. over row 16 as follows: work 23 sts., p2 tog. in back loop, (work 4 sts., p2 tog.) twice, work 1 st., (p2 tog. in back loop, work 4 sts.) twice, p2 tog., work 23 sts. Work 3 rows as follows: 1 end st., p3, 4 sts. in line st., p5, 7 sts. in line st., p4, 4 sts. in line st., p4, 5 sts. in leaf st., p4, 4 sts. in line st., p4, 7 sts. in line st., p5., 4 sts. in line st., p3, 1 end st. Work 1 row as follows: 1 end st., p3, 4 sts. in line st., p5., * k1, p2 tog., k1, p2 tog. in back loop, k1 *, p4, 4 sts. in line st., p4, work the sts. of the leaf st., p4, 4 sts. in line st., p4, rep. from * to * once, p5., 4 sts. in line st., p3, 1 end st. Cont. work: 1 end st., p3, 4 sts. in line st., p5., 5 sts. in leaf st., p4, 4 sts. in line st., p4, work the sts. of the leaf st., p4, 4 sts. in line st., p4, 5 sts. in leaf st., p5., 4 sts. in line st., p3, 1 end st. After completing work of centre leaf st., purl the remaining st. In row 28 of the side leaf st. work 2 purled sts. in the rem. st. and cont. work in line st. the st. before the 2 sts. of the leaf, the 2 sts. of the leaf and the next st. At the same time, when work measures 19 cm. from beg. of work, with knitting needles no. 5 (equal to 30 rows) to shape the sleeve holes, cross off the 5 side sts. then decr. 1 st. every 2 rows 3 times. When work measures 2.5 cm. from sleeve holes (equal to 4 rows) to shape the neckline, cross off the 11 centre sts. and cont. over the 2 sections separately decr. again centrewise, every 2 rows, 2 sts. once, 1 st. 3 times. When work measures 15 from neckline (equal to 24 rows) stand off. the rem. le 9 stitches for each shoulder).
MAKE UP AND FINISH
Join the shoulders in knit stitch. Sew up the sides

Perhaps you would have preferred us to reproduce it like this seeing as you find our patterns so hard to follow!

Sarah
Weary LK Ed

And...what is wrong with those insructions Sarah????   .....Thank goodness you didn’t print it like that in the mag. You all do a great job...so please don’t take it to heart.  We all like a good moan now and again but we really do appreciate all your hard work...and that means when the site goes slow and wonky too… THANK YOU!!!!!

I must admit that I haven’t knitted anything yet.  What gets me is that they sometimes say that you HAVE to use this particular type of yarn.  I can’t afford silk or mohair or alpaca at £4.00 for 50g (especially when you need 7 balls).  Plus for a beginner, some of them are really hard to do.  Come on guys put something out there for those on a budget.

Well, generally it’s possible to substitute the yarn with something more to your liking - that’s why we give tension squares and metreage. As long as your yarn knits up to the same tension and has a similar feel you should be alright. There are notes about yarn substitution in the back of the mag - page 79 in this issue - to help you.

Regarding budget we are always mindful of this and try to strike a balance. Our cover sweater in this issue costs around £20 to make - less if you’re a smaller size.

And we always have many projects suitable for beginners, but if you have a problem with anything - just ask!

Sarah
LK Ed

Sarah

I don’t think you’ll ever be able to please all of the people all of the time, so chin up and less of the weariness.  You should appreciate we’re all actually quite jealous of your job.

I have bought some wool for the Faye pattern and am now determined to make it my next project to see if I can see any problems.  I can’t do it in my head - I have to do it with wool.

Sarah - 21 July 2008 01:31 PM

Well, generally it’s possible to substitute the yarn with something more to your liking - that’s why we give tension squares and metreage. As long as your yarn knits up to the same tension and has a similar feel you should be alright. There are notes about yarn substitution in the back of the mag - page 79 in this issue - to help you.

Regarding budget we are always mindful of this and try to strike a balance. Our cover sweater in this issue costs around £20 to make - less if you’re a smaller size.

And we always have many projects suitable for beginners, but if you have a problem with anything - just ask!

Sarah
LK Ed

You are doing a grand job.