Get Your Knitting Content Here

It hasn't escaped my notice that there hasn't been much knitting or anything close to it mentioned on in this knitting blog lately.  Contrary to the way it may seem, knitting is never really far from my mind.  As evidence, I submit to you the fact that I bought a knitting magazine today.  When John and I poked our noses into a bookstore we just happened to be near in our travels today, I perused the magazine rack for the lastest knitting mags that I didn't already have.  I looked over Knitting (from the UK),  Knitter's, and Family Circle Easy Knitting.  The only one that came home with me was FCEK (Spring/Summer 2005).

Of course, now that I'm determined to at least mention knitting once in awhile, I have to admit that the first projects in FCEK that caught my eye are the (gasp!) crochet items.  It's true -- I'm a sucker for crocheted cotton beachwear.  Not swimsuits, mind you, because that's just completely out of the question for me and really just asking for trouble no matter how svelte you are.  But a coverup, a floppy sun hat, a granny-square beach bag?  Bring 'em on!  On the other hand, there is actually one knitted item in this section and I really like it too.  It's a very simple hooded pullover knitted from cuff to cuff for vertical stripes with summery colored varigated yarn.  Looks perfect for a stroll on a breezy California beach.

The next section is dedicated to "the newest recruits in the ongoing poncho revolution -- caplets, shawls, wraps and shrugs."  I'm afraid that these failed to recruit me.

Later there is a section called "indian summer" which uses colors usually reserved for fall in summer designs.  And guess what item is my favorite here?  Yup, crochet again.  A tunic made from pieced together flower motif crochet squares.  There is also a nice men's cable sweater from Kathy Zimmerman.  Cables for summer?  Yes, that's right.  It's done in a cotton/acrylic yarn and the cables aren't bulky at all -- just two stitches crossing at a time.

Finally, there's a section with some really simple classic styles -- all of which I could see myself making and wearing -- a sleeveless turtleneck, a close-fitting v-neck with three-quarter length sleeves, an oversized scoop-neck raglan with bell sleeves, and a zippered cardigan with a ribbed collar.

Rounding out the magazine are an Aran afghan, some munchkin knits, oh, and, you guessed it, more crochet! -- a couple teeny-bopper garments and a pillow.  This issue really earns its full title which is actually Family Circle Easy Knitting Plus Crochet.  It seems they are gearing up for the new Easy Crochet magazine which (according to the ad included here in Easy Knitting) they are coming out with this August.  I look forward to seeing the crochet sister to a knitting magazine I usually like.  I may actually be inspired to get back into crochet which I learned long before knitting.  It would be nice to use my crochet hooks for something other than just picking up dropped knit stitches!