So the Fall Knitty is up... Some of the patterns look really cute. I also appreciate that all the ones that I would want to make have the size I wear in the pattern, most especially Ivy and Viveka. Even Intolerable Cruelty, a knit skirt, has my size! That's like unheard of, a knit skirt pattern at Knitty.com in my size.
"*Would* want to make" because most, if not all, of the yarns chosen by the designers are freaking *expensive*! I've calculated a couple in my size and every single one ranges between $50 - $150! Even thing that aren't garments are made out of the expensive stuff. Like, I love the look of Lizard Ridge. I'd love to make it. But in the yarn it was knit in, it would cost $150-$170+shipping! For a blanket! That's nutz! I don't have that kind of cash for yarn... I can't think of anyone who does... Plus, I usually can't work with commercial wool. Most brands, even most of the higher-end brands, make my hands itch and swell. Not sure yet if I'll have the same problem with alpaca... My uneducated hope is that because it's hair and not wool, it's commercially processed a bit differently. So... I'm going to put those kinds of patterns aside for now. It's not like I have the time, resources or true inclination to knit them right now anyway...
But I have to say that the pattern that I do so love in this quarter's Knitty is Back to School! I'm so going to reserve some of my cotton stash to knit those the next time I'm working on dishcloths/facecloths/washcloths/what-have-you. I also really like Sugar on Snow. I love the little leaves and the cables... And the yarn isn't wool! And you don't need much to knit it up! If only I had someone to knit it for...
I want to make hats for Rachel and Heather for their Christmas presents... or well, part of their Christmas presents because I'm sure I'll get them more than just knit hats... I think they'd probably want something more grown up and trendy than Sugar on Snow. Maybe Topi or Coronet? I e-mailed both of them a week or two ago with a link to a bunch of hat patterns, asking if they'd look around and see what kinds of hats they'd like and let me know about colors... I haven't heard back yet, but I'm sure they're busy... I have a while yet before I need to start on them, so I have time... Or maybe one of them (or both) would like Odessa? I really like the look of it and I adore Rowan Cashsoft DK yarn... and the beads! That would be superfun. I just had a thought that perhaps it is difficult for them to look through all those links listed in that archive of hat patterns... They might not be working on computers that surf quickly enough for it to be easy or efficient for them... So perhaps I should just look around myself and send them just a few options to consider... Yeah, I think I will... I probably should have done that in the first place...
Other hat patterns I think are cute:
Cabled Wide Brim Hat
Simple Fair Isle Hat
The Frivol Hat (without the pom-pom)
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4 comments:
Have you tried elann.com? They've got some cute stuff and decent prices on most of it.. and they ship by USPS (yay!).
I have looked at their stuff. It all looks pretty reasonable. I still haven't found any patterns with it though that have said, "Knit me! Knit me now!" But you know what site I really love? KnitPicks.com. I've been gazing at their 100% alpaca Andean Treasure for months! I just have to save up the money for it... I want to do these - http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTmanresa.html - legwarmers. I can justify purchases for dyestuffs and wool roving to spin because I'm trying to start a little business with that, but the Andean Treasure would be for something just for me... and until I have a job or am actually making money via the business, I'd feel pretty guilty about spending for some frivolous thing I'd like but don't need.
I'm always making yarn substitutions. If the pattern calls for some outrageously expensive worsted cashmere, I'll find some nice, reasonably priced worsted wool. KnitPicks has oodles of yummy yarns! And their prices are yummy, too. I've never ordered anything from them, but someday, maybe.. I just got some Peruvian wool from Elann for my mother. She wants me to knit something from "Big Girl Knits" with it, and since the pattern suggests Elann's worsted alpaca, I figured I could save a little money and make it with the Peruvian highland wool. On the other hand, I'd love to knit her something with outrageously expensive cashmere... I totally understand about guilt and frivolity. That's why I have a 50 gallon tub of evil acryllic yarn. Bleh!
Yeah, I've tried subtitutions before, but I also have problems doing accurate swatching and pretty much everything I've ever tried to substitute yarn with have ended up not fitting. It's one of the reasons I really like making things that have no set gauge, just an approximate finished measurement, like blankets, shawls, scarves, toys, etc. And I too have that 50 gallon tub full of bleh acrylic... Don't know what I'll ever do with it all... Oy! Knitting!
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