One week ago Thursday I received my Vogue Knitting, a full two weeks after I first saw it in a yarn shop, but before I had broken down and bought an extra copy. I am happy to have my copy, but I am also annoyed at Vogue because this seems to be the norm, not the exception. Is it selfish of me to want my subscription copy before it appears on every newsstand? What is the point to subscribing? Maybe Vogue doesn't care about having subscribers.
But back to the issue. I didn't look at it that first night, I was just relieved that it had arrived. I browsed through it very briefly on the weekend and did not have a chance to look in greater depth until this Thursday (yesterday). Today I spent even more time perusing the pages.
There are quite a few things I like:
As you can see, the entire "foreign affair" story line is included in my picks, as well as the cover scarf, which I adore, even though it looks like the kind of thing that I would hate to knit. Long narrow tubes of stitches -- ugh! But then again, maybe that makes it the perfect challenge, like when I forced myself to knit three ribbed sweaters in a row because I hated ribbing. I don't hate ribbing anymore. And what is the point of knitting if I never grow or take on new challenges, or even if I avoid tackling my prejudices. Without challenge even the most adored hobby will become boring and uninspiring. Or at least so I tell myself.
There are a few more sweaters in there, a couple of which I haven't copied. The Montera wrap cardigan looks like a good basic that would get a lot of wear, even though I dislike wearing Montera. But it could be done in any wool. I suppose it is just so basic that I remember its presence but it is not in the least inspiring.
I also like these two sweaters in the "Grace Notes" collection:
I am not actually likely to ever wear either one. I think they are lovely but they are just not "me". I have trouble picturing myself in them. I suppose they could be "me" if I wanted them to be, the image I chose to present to the world is completely in my own control after all, but at this point, I am not sure this image is in my real world comfort zone, more in my imaginary life view of myself -- not for public consumption.
However, it is possible that I might wear these two sweaters from the same collection:
In the end, who knows what I will actually knit, or when I knit it. Knitting magazines mostly fill a dream niche in my knitting life. I get to some of the designs, sometimes I outgrow my lust for a design long before I ever get it knit up, effort saved I suppose. Mostly they just provide a little mental escape and chance to imagine a different life.
I have to say this is the first VK in a while that has really captured my attention. I agree with you on all your "favorites." Maybe it would have been easier to say what wasn't nice in this issue.
Posted by: Patty | Thursday, November 02, 2006 at 09:56 PM
Indeed. Knitting magazines (more than fashion magazines for me) are definately about dreams and ifs. And while I agree that we can effectively choose and alter the public presentation of ourselves, I also fear going out and being uncomfortable in my "presentation" for the duration of the evening. Alas, it is the stuff of dreaming that inspired us to take on those knitting challenges and maybe grow as knitters and humans, even if we chose not to attend the opera in a slinky silk/mohair romantic knit.
Posted by: Gina | Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 10:20 AM