Are you a knit-wit? Simply Knitting magazine. (Simply Knitting)

Member Name: brittle1906

Product:	Simply Knitting
Date:	02/10/09 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good selection of patterns and great free gifts.

Disadvantages: Too many ads and expensive yarns featured.

Review of Simply Knitting Magazine.


Simply Knitting, as the name suggests is a monthly magazine dedicated to the craft of knitting. The magazine is available in newsagents and supermarkets at a cost of £4.99 or from various on line magazine subscription services, at a slightly lower rate.

I enjoy hand knitting when the mood takes me, sometimes I will knit every day for a month and then not touch my needles again for ages, I am currently in a knitting and reading phase, two things I find easy to do at the same time! Multi tasking, I guess!


**About Simply Knitting**

The magazine is a glossy treasure trove for all hand knitters. Each month the magazine contains a selection of knitting patterns for women, men, children or babies clothing and often patterns for toys and household goods. The patterns are written in a very clear and easy to understand fashion, each pattern has several pictures showing the front and back of the garment, unlike some which only show the front view. When a pattern has been designed to accommodate several sizes, each size is colour coded, for example in this months issue, a ladies jumper can be knitted in sizes 8, 10,12,14,16, or 18, each size has a colour allocated to it. Simply check what colour the size you want is depicted as and follow those instructions. Sounds harder than it actually is, but it really is simple!

Most months the magazine has a 10% discount offer for the yarns used in the featured patterns. As most of the patterns seems to have been made using fairly expensive yarn, this is obviously a good bonus. Luckily the magazine patterns also tell you which weight of wool the pattern is designed for so substituting a cheaper wool is always an option. (Experienced knitters will know that a tension square should be produced in order to ensure correct measurements are achieved).
There are usually one or two crochet articles and patterns in the magazine too.

The magazine also has a very interesting section on ideas and new trends in the world of knitwear. I must admit that some of the designs featured do not do much for me, but as the magazine is intended to appeal to all age ranges, I suppose that they have to have a wide variety. There is also a readers show and tell type letter page, where readers write in with photos of their handiwork and ideas, this is sometimes a real eye opener, such as the lady who knitted a wedding cake! Sounds bizarre, but it was really pretty and a totally unique wedding day memento.

The magazine has a help section, a stitch library for learning new knitting stitches, basic knitting technique step by step guide, a pen pal and knitting club page, crosswords, compensations and horoscopes, and of course, advertising.

This is my main criticism of Simply Knitting, the sheer quantity of advertisements carried in each issue. I understand of course, that advertising is big business, but I do sometimes wonder if it is necessary to have quite so many? Naturally, if you are seeking information or a particular service, then the ads are there for you to trawl through, but the same ads seem to crop up month after month, which becomes repetitive and stale once you have read a couple of issues.

Simply Knitting usually has a very good free gift, the issue I have in front of me as I write this (October 2009) has a free 2010 calendar which also contains 12 knitting patterns. November's issue will contain an attractive pair of shawl pins, for fastening a knitted shawl across your shoulders. In the past I have had a very useful set of stitch holders as a freebie and a row counter which is in constant use. I have to be honest and admit that I am not a regular purchaser of this magazine, I tend to buy only when I particularly like one of the patterns and the free gift is something I want too! This may sound extravagant to say I spend a fiver on a magazine simply for the patterns and gift, but knitting patterns can be very expensive nowadays, £2+ in some shops and the free gift is often worth several pounds.



**My Thoughts and Conclusion**

I have rated Simply Knitting with 3 stars for two reasons, I really feel the huge amount of advertising spoils the magazine and the price of some of the recommended knitting yarns are just too steep for me to consider buying, something I am sure others would agree with in these cash strapped times.

In spite of my negative comments above, I have to say that all in all, Simply Knitting is a very good resource for knitters of all skill levels, it is bright, glossy and packed with useful tips, articles and information, just too many ads for my liking!
I would recommend this magazine to fellow knitters.

Thank you for reading.


©brittle1906 October 2009


NB My reviews may be found on other review sites under the same name, brittle1906

Summary: If you enjoy knitting, why not give this magazine a try?