Interweave Knitting Lab

[caption id="attachment_961" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Interweave Knitting Lab"][/caption]

Have you heard the good news? Interweave Press, the company that produces two of my favorite magazines- Piecework and Interweave Knits, is hosting its own knitting conference!

Interweave Knitting Lab is the title of the event being held in San Mateo, California, November 3-6, 2011. Yes, there will be the usual market to do some wonderful shopping as well as how-to classes. But that's where the Interweave Knitting Lab similarities to other knitting events ends. What this event will bring is a level of talent with the kind of in dept knitting knowledge that only Interweave could provide.

Don't believe me? How about learning Bohas knitting and its history from Anne Berk. Design skirts and dresses with Shirley Paden. Recreate traditional folk mittens with Donna Druchunas or try your hand at Andean hat scallop knitting to the Chinchero style with Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez. This is just a tiny sampling of classes designed to immerse you with the knowledge and technical skills for continued learning and success long after the conference is over.

If you happen to be in the area, I urge you to attend. Classes are filling up quickly so do not hesitate. Seeing the history of Interweave's other well-known event, SOAR, I'm sure Interweave Knitting Lab is destined to become a 'must' for knitters serious about cultural history and techniques in knitting.

Sockupied Is Back With Avengence

Interweave Press has returned with another installment of Sockupied, and this time these socks mean business!

Where, with the first issue of Sockupied, I wasn't so impressed with the offerings versus the price, in this new installment, Interweave Press has made me eat my words. They really listened to the response from knitters, especially sock knitters, and added lots more features and goods. Filled with even more videos, patterns and techniques, Sockupied Spring 2011 is well on its way to being one of the most sought after knitting downloads this spring.

You can learn more about the newest Sockupied here: http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/eMags/Sockupied-Vol-2-Windows.html?a=kp110324

[caption id="attachment_586" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Sockupied Spring 2011 From Interweave Press"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_587" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Contents Inside the New Sockupied Spring 2011"][/caption]

Sockupied- Is it worth it?

Since its release by Interweave late last year, the talk among many sock knitters is the eMag known as Sockupied. I'm on Interweave's mailing list and remember the email announcement of this new eMag. Introduced as, " the groundbreaking new way to knit socks", Sockupied was launched as a new format that would change the way we knit socks. Well, I think that was a little over exaggerated. Basically Sockupied is a semi-interative knitting eMag. It has some great videos, helpful hints and tips and a few downloadable sock patterns. But the argument among knitters is not what Sockupied contains, but whether or not its contents are worth the $14.97 price tag.

Well, the true value of this eMag depends on how you feel about its contents. If you're a stalker of Cookie A, then yes, her interview and sock pattern is well worth the price. If you must have in your possession every sock pattern that Ann Budd has ever made, then you have no choice but to buy this eMag. If you are always looking for the next great knitting hint and tip then this eMag is a must for you. If you are a snob nosed sock knitter who is always trying to one-up her knitting friends then you should already have Sockupied.

But, what is my personal opinion? I really don't like magazines that I can't physically hold, flip through and make notes in. But that didn't stop me from seriously considering purchasing this eMag. However, it is hard for me to justify buying a sock knitting eMag for $14. 97 that only has about three downloadable sock patterns when I can purchase Ann Budd's "Getting Started Sock Knitting", for $12.24, "The Sock Knitter's Workshop", by Ewa Jostes and Stephanie van der Linden for $12.90, or "Sock Innovations", for $15.61, on Amazon.com.

To me, there are just so many free forums, chat groups, online patterns and videos dedicated to sock knitting now that if Interweave wants to make an impact on the sock knitting community they are really going to have to pack more punch in their eMag to justify the cost in this economy.

To learn more about Sockupied or to place an order:

http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/eMags/Sockupied-Windows.html