All plans for a PS 3 post went out the window when Tuck decided to finally turn on me. Finding & taking pretty red/orange/pink pictures isn't easy when you're working off of 4 hours of sleep. We could have had a lovely collage of Tuck in various shades of red, but I was too busy begging him to keep his eyes shut. So instead, Ava & I decided to become engrossed with the Britney Spears drama. At least our nights aren't as bad as hers. Sure one more night of Tuck screaming, & you might have found us sitting on a corner clutching Pup. Thankfully, Tuck slept last night, so no fake British accents or a cocktail mix of prescription drugs for these Sheep. At least for today . . .
Let's talk knits, friends. When Ava got into town, I had just received my issue of Spring Interweave. As always, I got excited to see what was inside. I saw the preview, but there are usually a couple of patterns that are left out. I wanted to see those patterns to make my judgments on the issue. Everything in the preview was in the magazine. No pleasant surprises. Perhaps it's because Spring knitting just isn't that exciting, but we were both unimpressed with the issue & have been with the past 2 issues. What's even more surprising is we have yet to find another blogger or thread that shares our views. Are other bloggers just really nice and we're really bitchy? Maybe Interweaves doesn't fit our taste any longer? I would be surprised if this were true. We aren't sitting around creating artistic knit items. Sure, some of the patterns are pretty, but knit worthy? Not for us. But why do knitters only voice praise for a magazine? Is it because we look forward to knit magazine so much and feel bad if we're disappointed? Whatever the reasons, we'd like to see a great issue real soon.
So, what's on the needles? Did Tuck ask for anything specific other than a boob in his mouth? Well, Koolhass and no. We both decided to give Malabrigo a go and figured since so many others had great success with Jared's pattern and the yarn that we'd buy a ticket for the train and see where it took us. So far, two repeats in, all is well on the Koolhaas Express. In fact, Ava could have her finished before she gets on the plane back East . . . if she gets on the plane (shit-tastic weather here and at home). Granted, knitting through the back loop is a pain when you aren't used to it, but so far, so good. Tuck was being entertained by the knitting lingo so maybe there is hope for the boys yet, but if you look very closely, we're pretty sure that it's the Jedi mind trick thing he's trying to perfect, not cabling without a needle.
We'll get PS 3 and ABC Along posts up soon. Ava is still trying to pick a C word (mind out of the gutter, folks . . . that one would be too easy). If she gets on a plane this afternoon and makes it home to snuggle in her own bed, it just may be Continental.
Lola and Ava
PS - Because you are probably waiting on pins and needles (and thus in an uncomfortable position), Ava chose the Hollyhock colorway for her Koolhaas and Lola picked Glazed Carrots - always looking out for her family's nutrition, that one is. Let's face it, Lola will be done with hers well before Ava . . . even with the two repeat head start since it really is a fast and dirty knit.
Oh I'm right up there with you on your opinion of the last handful of Interweaves! My friend and I were just talking about it the other day - how totally odd it was to us that while we have always loved the stuff that Eunny did on her blog, since she became editor we're just kind of.............. -meh- about the designs. Meh at best, mind you!
Plus, have you noticed, too, that over & over & over again the same designers are currently filling up the Interweave pages? They'll have a few newbies tossed in every issue, but for the most part they've got the same half-dozen or so designers featured time & time again. (The same designers, I have to say, who frequently are also listed on the Interweave staff!)
Posted by: susan b | February 12, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I don't receive any knit magazine and have only bought a couple Simply Knitting issues when I first started. Interweave just does not call to me. More often than not I think the patterns are ugly or dull and I don't know if it's the colour yarn, the way it's modelled or what. I find the patterns come to life after other knitters have done them in other yarns/colours and w/ mods. I want a Tilted Duster, but when I saw it in the preview, interesting, but nah.
Posted by: Shannon | February 12, 2008 at 02:38 PM
I haven't seen the issue yet, but the preview seemed kind of boring to me. I mean I love a good cardigan, but they all seemed the same.
Look at that baby! I can't wait to meet mine!
Posted by: Cara | February 12, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Hey ladies! Long time, no comment. I totally agree with you about the latest IK issues. Completely meh. Susan made a really good observation about the designers, too. Maybe IK just needs more fresh blood (so to speak)? Thank god for Ravelry, so I can see how other knitters improve upon the patterns - it's such a learning curve for me.
Tuck is totally a Jedi. "These aren't the needles that you are looking for..."
Posted by: Amanda | February 12, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Ohhh. Aunty and baby. So cute together!
Posted by: sappmama | February 12, 2008 at 06:48 PM
The last Interweave I got excited about was the fall issue. Usually, even if the patterns don't WOW me, there are usually some interesting articles to carry the day. This Spring issue though does nothing for me.
Posted by: cath | February 13, 2008 at 12:20 PM
I'm with you on the IK issue. I was so excited when it finally came yesterday (I seem to be the last to get it!) and when I curled up with it before bed, I got so disappointed. Nothing jumps out at me! My husband actually said, that's terrible - why do you still get this magazine!? Everything seems so "old lady" to me lately.
Posted by: kelly jo | February 14, 2008 at 06:10 AM
Wow. Opened bloglines for the first time in weeks and there are 14 unread posts here! Tuck is wonderful! Congratulations!
IK--I think they must have put a gun to every designer's head and shouted "PASTEL FLARED WAIST CARDIGANS!!! GO GO GO!" Boring, dull, uninspired, sometimes hideous and "maybe I'll make that someday" at best lately. I didn't always love IK before, but it's becoming usual for it to be a disappointment now. And hey, IK? YOUR NEW FORMAT STILL SUCKS DONKEY NADS!
I think the reason you haven't seen many people agreeing with you is that it's harder now to write critical anything without getting your ass handed to you. As more and more bloggers become designers you get fearful of hurting fellow community members. I long for the old days of good honest mag reviews. We used to have such fun with them.
Posted by: jenifleur | February 15, 2008 at 10:12 AM
I liked a couple of things in the new IK, but to me it wasn't interesting enough either way to blog about it. I do think they should have mixed it up a bit more with the yarn choices; it's hard enough to see from the photos how the garments vary without knitting them all out of terracotta-colored yarn!
Posted by: Sarah | February 15, 2008 at 11:19 PM
As a non-blogger knitter, I am glad to see your opinion of the new IK. I renewed my subscription expecting to be blown away as I to was impressed by Eunny's work. The last IK mag that thrilled me? The Holiday Knits that of course is not part of the subscription. I keep hoping for the best as it has always been my favorite knitting magazine.
Posted by: Helen | February 20, 2008 at 07:41 PM