Check Out Cooperative Press’ Knit Edge

Shannon Okey, better known to some as KnitGrrl and the mastermind behind indie fiber publisher Cooperative Press, one spent some time knitting a British knitting magazine. Since she left that publication to start the Press, she says people have been telling her they miss the work she did there, providing fun patterns and techniques that were not just for beginners but offered a challenge to more seasoned knitters, too, or at least something they hadn’t seen before.

Okey has now started a digital knitting magazine called Knit Edge, which premiered at TNNA last month. I took a look at “issue zero” and think it’s a sign of good things to come.

The sample issue has an article by double-knitting pro Alasdair Post-Quinn about a recent design of his — a scarf knit with images of a deck of cards — as well as a look at top-down sock knitting from Kate Atherley and an overview of podcasts by Heather Ovdover. Four patterns are included: a bulky lace and cable cowl, a colorful felted yoked pullover, a short-sleeved cardigan and a pair of fingerless gloves.

The first issue, which is a PDF, can be purchased for $3.99. Subscriptions are now available for the PDF version of the magazine, which will launch issue 1 in September. A year’s subscription is $14.99. You can also purchase a recurring single-issue subscription for $5.99 an issue. This is the choice for people who would rather read the magazine in app form rather than PDF (the app is not ready yet).

[Photo by Knit Edge/Cooperative Press.]

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

I often get asked, or see the question online, as to what is a good project to start with when you are learning to knit.

I usually start adult knitters on a garter stitch scarf worked with bulky yarn (like the gold one shown in this post) because it gives you a lot of practice but is still relatively quick to knit.

For kids, or anyone with a shorter attention span, a smaller project is in order. I also like to start kids on worsted weight yarn because smaller needles (compared to working bulky yarn) are easier for little hands.

One great option is just to knit a little square. Cast on 12 or 15 or whatever number of stitches you like (I use knit cast on when teaching people of any age) and keep knitting until your piece is roughly square. You can test this by folding one corner up to the needle; if it makes a perfect triangle you’ve got a sqaure.

But what can you do with a square? I wrote a roundup of kids toys you can make with a square a couple of years ago, and these are all good choices. The bunny shown there is such a classic I also found that idea in a post I came across recently on How Wee Learn about knitting projects made with squares.

That post is a roundup, too, so go check it out for more ideas, but I did want to point out one of my favorites, this sweet little wall pocket. The pattern is from Wunderweib and is in German, but it’s easy enough to figure out what’s going on (it calls for a ball of Rowan Big Wool, which is a super bulky yarn, and if I can read correctly you cast on 25. This is probably technically a rectangle, as it is folded and seamed along the sides to make a pocket. You could also knit two squares, or a square and a slightly longer rectangle, to make this sweet pouch.

Either way it’s cute and easy and a great project for a beginner. If you have a favorite project for beginner knitters, I’d love to hear about it!

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