From me, To me

Every year. for my birthday, I always treat myself to something special. On Sunday, my friend Judith treated me to a mani-pedi, we had excellent Thai food (and Thai iced tea for me and Thai iced coffee for her)and browsed the stacks at Barnes and Noble. I bought myself:

Vogue Knitting magazine
Sew Stylish magazine
Vogue Patterns magazine

I've decided to make a decision to live my life now, and not wait for some day to be this perfect, happy person. I am going to find a way to incorporate more knitting and sewing in my life. I have the time, space, and resources to really pursue creating some of my clothing NOW. I don't need to wait for some day dream life in the future that will never happen.

2-at-a-time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oaks

My friend Mary pretty much said you can't knit two socks at once. (She won't even discuss DPNs, which I find hysterical. This woman knit a fair isle sweater that is as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. She has knit stuffed toys. She has knit a Vera Wang style sweater for cats for Crazy Aunt Purl.) I'm motivated to try this technique. Will this (eventually) be a commuter friendly project?

Oh yeah, which made the purchase of this a necessity:

And to round out the order, I purchased the newest Gedifra Highlights. You know, just to justify the shipping.

THe Lobotomist by Jack El-hai.

I've been waiting to read this for some time. I've long since forgotten where I saw it recommended, but I remember it as another side to the main who pioneered the lobotomy as treament for mental illness. I have been doing alot of reading on the internet lately on this subject.

Quick and Easy Tarot (I'm honestly alittle embarassed by this. Not by the Tarot cards, I already have a set. And two books on the subject. I'm embarassed by the fact that I still need "cheat notes." But hey, if it works, it works.)

Each card has the meaning printed right on the card.

Nipolar Disorder Demystafied by Lana R. Castle

Exoect to hear more on this issue. It isn't so much a mystery to me, this book is somewhat basic for me. But I needed a place to start my personal journey, and this one is written by a patient.

PS The first time, I totally typed "lobata-MOIST." OMG.

Potential Project

The Ingenue Blouse by Phoenix Bess reads as a very easy pattern. For a very sexy, au courant design. Except for the cost of wool (and at least three sets of circs!) I would have already cast this on... From the Fall 2007 of Knitscene magazine. On Ravelry.

Wait one minute... Why does that name sound so familiar? That's right, I read about this chick in another magazine. AND I wanted to knit these pants:At least I'm consistent...

Oh, and by "chick" I mean highly successful, confident wonderful young woman in the most respectful manner possible...

Sexy hand-knit men's sweater

This is the first men's sweater that I have seen in a knitting magazine or book that has made me say "Oh!" Dare I say, it's even sexy?Cables Milano by Sandi Prosser in the October 2007 issue of Knit n' Style. On Ravelry.

Vogueknitting 25th Anniversary Issue

Vogueknitting 25th Anniversary Issue

10 advertiser covers

What I Want:

Loop-d-Loop by Teva Durham Volume 1

I am always intrigued by the concept of convertible clothing. Two designs can be worn in more than one way: the snap tape convertible dress and baguette scarf/sleeves. Several other patterns look interesting and are worked in delicious yarns. $16.50. The Baguette, a beginner level project, requires 5 skeins of Shale, at $10.95. I think I like the grey/black as shown the best in this mohair/viscoise wrapped matte/shiny yarn. The Convertible Dress requires 13 balls of Fern at $9.95. Fern is a wool blend woven tape yarn, and again, I like the blue as shown.

Also a solid investment is Norah Gaughan V ol. 1 from Berroco, which contains two stories for $15.95. There is a beautiful, beginner level scarf worked in two styles of yarns. As Sabine FX, the scarf is worked in Metallic FX and as Luce, it is worked in Pure Merino Nuance. I'm not sure which colors I like best in Nuance - there are pretty greys, pinks, greens...

These three scarf patterns are projects that I could actually complete, and are portable enough for commuting or work. The yarn for the baguette is pricey, but I bet the Berroco yarns are reasonable.

I'd also like to try a pair of these square knitting needles by Kollage Yarns. Made of Forest Palm wood from Vietnam, they are available in a range of sizes. They also have square crochet hooks. According to their website, they placed a sample pair on display at a craft show. Many different people picked up this one swatch to try the needles. Amazingly, the stitches are uniform because of the needle's square shape. Many people also think the shape is less stressful on the hands. I grip the needles in a death grip, and have many tension issues as a result, so I'd like to try this on my entrelac scarf Special Project. I'd also like to buy the crochet hook for my friend Mary who has some nerve issues with her hand. The needles are approximately $20 for a pair.

But on the someday/maybe list are these Signature needles, custom made. Choose your own point style from stiletto to blunt and your own end cap. Truly beautiful, and I bet the choice of tip could be useful.

New designer for me to watch: Aquascutum. I was first intrigued by the knit corset top shown as inspiration, but the entire line contains interesting manipulation of textiles and construction techniques. Very Issey Miyake.

Oh yeah. The magazine had patterns, too. More supposedly beginner level scarves that I could possibly knit, also in a lovely silver grey palette to fit the motif. A futuristic pleated scarf by Fayla Reiss and a beautiful floral creation in silk and Swarvorski by (the) Nicky Epstein open the collection, and a simple open work shawl in ribbon by Laura Bryant closes it. I love the yarn, a railroad style ribbon special dyed for Vogue. And to add to my obsession with knit skirts: a neo-boho panel skirt alternating multicolors with black. but the yarn doesn't seem to be readily available. And it would require a lot of sewing. (I got nervous when the pattern said "block carefully".)

And, finally, wish I could take a 10 day cruise.

My Magazine Subscriptions

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will usually only subscribe to a magazine when I wish to save each issue for future reference or enjoyment. If I'm only going to read it once, I try to check it out at a library or browse at a bookstore or newsstand prior to purchasing. Magazines are just too expensive to purchase and then give away or recycle after one reading.

As I went through my magazines today, and rebuilt some of my lost internet bookmarks, I realized that I subscribe to a dozen different magazines. And most of them are up for renewal right now. {sob}

Sewing:
Vogue Pattern Magazines, 6 issues, $14.95 (renewal price)
Sew Today Magazine (McCall/Butterick Patterns), 4 issues, $11.95 (renewal price)
Vogue Fashion Fabrics swatch service, 6 issues, $30
I have subscribed to the two magazines and swatch service for several years now. I am now adding a new sewing magazine, from the makers of Threads (Taunton) which is chock full of practical sewing advice geared toward high fashion garments:
Sew Stylish, 4 issues, $19.95

Knitting:
Vogue Knitting, 4 issues, $19
After the spectacular Spring issue, I'm adding:
Interweave Knits, 5 issues for $21

Fashion:
Vogue just auto-renewed for a year, 12 issues at $19.97. I think the same is true for W and Lucky. I'll have to double check that to finalize my magazine budget information. I consider these magazines the basic in fashion reading. W is my favorite for photography, but Lucky is the most useful in showing me trends in fashion.

Dungeons and Dragons:
Alright, I don't want to hear it. The best investment I make each year is my subscription to Dungeon and Dragon magazines. I have been a continuous subscriber for {check bookshelf} six years. Each month, I eagerly await the arrival of the brand new issue. I read each issue cover to cover (ads included) before I am done. I will often save these magazines for a "special reading occasion" such as a Saturday morning in bed. I also read and reread each issue to the point of abuse. Having said that, I need to renew:
Dragon, 12 issues $38.95
Dungeon, 12 issues $38.95
This is also the ONLY magazine I will ever subscribe to for more than one year at a time, even though there is no discount.

Finally, my only general magazine, Every Day Food. Even though it is a Martha Stewart product, I find the magazine to be simple and down to earth. It contains easy recipes using food that is in season. It also offers freeze ahead suggestions, shopping lists, and general cooking information. I just subscribed to this one.

This year, I have decided not to renew my subscription to Selvedge. Even though it is a beautiful magazine full of interesting information, I've decided to change it to a month to month decision. Also, I will not renew a trial subscription to Pink, a magazine for female executives.

Update:
Okay, for sewing magazines it's $76.85 per year, plus whatever I buy at the bookstore. That's approximately $3.84 for 20 issues.

For knitting magazines, it is $40 for nine issues, or about $4.44 each. But I buy lots of other knitting magazines at the bookstore.

For Dungeons and Dragons, I spend $77.90 for a year, or $3.25 an issue. That's a steal for the amount of times I've read these magazines.

Right now, we're looking at a sub-total of $194.75 a year and 53 magazines.

Interweave Knits Spring 2007

This issue of Interweave Knits for Spring 2007 has strengthened my desire for a subscription. Available on the bottom of the web page is an offer for 5 issues (a year plus one) for $21 for US subscribers. When I know a magazine is going to be consistently high quality, with issues worth saving to refer to again and again, then I don't mind subscribing.

First, one item I may actually some day be able to knit: entrelac socks. Here in two colors of Koigu. It uses six skeins. I probably can't afford these socks.

Here is the lovely Swan Lake Cardigan by Joan McGowan Micheal from White Lies Designs. The added touch of sewn ruffles at the sleeve and bottom edge makes this item a standout. I would love to have this in my wardrobe to dress up or dress down. Also from a favorite designer. a tank from Wenlan Chia of Twinkle and Twinkle's Big City Knits. Although I am not fond of this tank, I had an opportunity to browse this book at a local bookstore today and found it full of original and exotic ideas. But I'm just not sure I'll be able to knit anything in the book. Another item that caught my eye was a simple skirt with lace border pattern in a denim yarn. Why am I fascinated by knit skirts? Am I just dooming myself to failure? Also, seems good on paper: a knit bandeau.
Finally, file this final pattern under the category of "Wow! I can't believe I knit that!" If I made this capelet with its cables and bobbles and delicate bobble edging, I would force innocent strangers on the street to stop and admire my mad skills.