Interweave Knits | Beautiful magazine, skews towards more experienced knitters

Interweave Knits | Basic Toolbag Mag

magazines:

Interweave Knits

	Interweave Knits Interweave Press average customer review:based on 18 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Issues feature original designer patterns for garments and home decor, ranging from super-simple to challenging and from traditional to cutting edge, plus revealing designer profiles, enlightening explorations of knitting around the world, and in-depth technical articles.

Beautiful magazine, skews towards more experienced knitters

I originally subscribed to Interweave Knits as a beginning knitter, and found the projects too advanced for me (not to mention the yarn too expensive, and I didn't have the confidence to make substitutions). Three years later, I'm back for more now that I have more experience under my belt! It's a beautifully photographed magazine, the layouts are excellent, the articles insightful and the instructions first-rate.

I don't recommend this magazine for beginning knitters who want to find patterns to knit right away (unless they're knitting prodigies). There may be some basic patterns, but they're few and far between in my experience. Also, what they consider "easy" isn't what I would have considered "easy" as a beginner, but perhaps I was a slow learner!

I loved the most recent fall '07 issue, and found two patterns right away that I'm dying to knit. I agree with the other reviewers about the ads--this is a magazine where the ads actually add to the magazine, not detract from it.

I think it's a good idea to take a look inside the magazine prior to subscribing, at the newsstand or library, to be sure it's a good match, style-wise. Another good idea is to check out their website, Knitting Daily. You can get a bunch of free patterns, most of which have been featured in their magazine over the last few years. You can get a good feel for the magazine's offerings and if they appeal to you. You have to sign up to be a member of Knitting Daily, but it's free and I think it's definitely worth it (you don't have to be a subscriber to join).

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Basic Toolbag Mag

All knitters need this subscription. The patterns are not the most modern. But the articles, advertisements, and staff are in the midst of 'what's happening now' in knitting. The magazine has a website with additional patterns and a 'knitting daily' newsletter. This site and the community surrounding the publication keep you challenged, interested, and supported whether you are a hobby knitter or a dyed-in-the wool knit-addict like me.

Great Knitting Mag

I haven't received my first issue from my subscription yet, but I have bought single issues in the past & love this magazine. There is a lot of inspiration whether from the beautiful patterns, or their profiles on knitting designers.

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My favorite knitting magazine

This is the first time I have subscribed, but I've been reading and using Interweave Knits for about 2 years. They are a great resource for new products as well as stitch types and yarns. They've had great tutorials on entrelac, lace, and cables to name a few topics. The patterns are a good variety of styles. Often there are a few that are a bit too out there for my tastes, but there are almost always 2-4 that I can envision making. They tend to be adult woman patterns, with the occasional child size or man's sweater. That being said, though, all 5 of the sweaters I have made my husband he found browsing through these patterns.

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Well worth the money, though not my favorite

I have been knitting for 20+ years, and I am still able to pick up new techniques from the articles in Interweave Knits, which says a lot about the quality of instruction. Many of the patterns are a bit too trendy for my taste (knitting takes too long to make sweaters that will be out of style in a year), but each issue generally has at least one project that appeals to me. Unlike some magazines, they haven't started making all the patterns easy & trendy to cater to the surge of new knitters, though I think they have a few easy patterns in each issue. My biggest complaint about the magazine is that they don't use the yarn standardization system that came out 4-5 years ago, so like in the "old" days of knitting, you have to track down information on the obscure yarn they used for the pattern, figure out what weight it is, and replace accordingly. To be fair, they do list the wraps per inch in an index at the back, but the standard measuring system is there for a reason, and it is surprising that a knitting magazine would ignore an industry-wide standard.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

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