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In today’s post I will be reviewing;
Issue 1 of Knit & Sitch magazine by Bergere De France.
Product Details
- Manufacturer/Brand; Bergere De France
- Item number; ISBN: 2049-8004
- RRP at time of writing: 99p
Reason For Buying
Having seen lots of crochet projects online and on TV I really wanted to learn to crochet. I spent so long looking into hooks that might help with my limited dexterity that the Wendy Poole DVD that I was going to buy from C&C sold out. When I saw this magazine on TV with a DVD I jumped at the chance to learn and have some patterns too.
Contents
This first issue is an amazing price and if you want to get started in knitting & crochet GET it quick as it was out last week.
- Issue 1 of Knit & Stitch magazine
- 1 pr 3.5mm metal knitting needles 25cm long
- 2 25g balls of Bergere De France yarn
- Leaflet telling you yarn that will be used in the series
- Details of freebies offered to subscribers
- DVD
DVD run time 26 minutes, this covers the following
- Knitting:
The slip loop, cast on, knit and purl stitches, Basic stitches: Garter Stitch, Stocking Stitch, Reverse Stocking stitch, Moss stitch, Casting off. Tips section covers; Changing ball of yarn/change colour, Pick up dropped stitch, Unravel to correct a mistake.
- Crochet:
Slip knot, chain stitch, Basic Stitches; Single Crochet, Double Crochet, Half Treble, Treble, Double Treble. Increases and Decreases, Finishing.
Pros/Cons
Pros
- The needles are metal so they feel a better quality than usual cheap plastic ones often offered in such kits
- The magazine lists a website that gives lots of information about the series such as number of issues and a preview of the first issue.
- Knit & stitch guide gives details of yarns that will be used across the series and a preview of some of the patterns too
- Different sections for all levels including; Patchwork collection (knitted & crocheted squares to create the throw), Fashion makes, Easy Does it, For the Family, Home Comforts and Know How
DVD
- Run time 26 minutes
- Excellent DVD, showing lots of stitches and get you started techniques
- Clearly explained and filmed from over the shoulder of the demonstrator so easier to learn
- Narrator has a reassuring but not annoying patronising voice as on some DVDs
- No background music to distract you
- Good contrast between demo yarn and surroundings so easy to see how stitches are formed
Cons
- On the DVD everything is very well explained but from a total novice point of view, had the stitches been shown for the entire row rather than just a couple of times, it would have helped the new skill sink in better. That said, being a DVD I can just replay a particular section over and over again till I get it.
Build Quality
Excellent. The metal needles make for a more quality thought about product than the usual cheap n sometimes nasty plastic ones often found on such magazines. The yarns are sealed in boxes, which keeps them clean and protected.
Value for Money
Excellent
Would I buy it Again?
Yes
Summing up
If you have promised yourself this is the year you want to learn to knit or crochet, get to the shops QUICK, this issue was out last week and issue two is already in store. You don’t want to miss this one as it has the instructional DVD in it. I like these kind of things for the fact that you get practice yarn, some patterns for all levels which inspires you to keep learning so you can make the harder stuff.
This particular magazine covers a range of crafts; Knitting, Crochet, Tapestry, Crewelwork, felting. Over the series it will give you the chance to try out a selection of yarn types and also collect a number of tools for your new hobby.
Will I buy them all, in real honesty, no. This is a weekly publication and although it offers a lot, the regular price will be £4.50 which I just don’t have spare on a weekly basis. Had it been fortnightly, I would have bought more of them. That said it is a wonderful quality product and if you want to try these hobbies grab it while you can, its superb.
Links
Check out the dedicated website to the Knit & Stitch magazine, it has a lot of useful info and a preview of this weeks issue.
I’m very impressed by this publication, they seem to have given a lot of thought to the presentation and the things people want to know upfront. Check out the links for more information from their website.
Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon
Billie 🙂
Thanks for a great review. I have been debating this one for a while as I’m pretty confident with crochet and just learning to knit. I decided against it in the end and used Youtube videos and free online patterns but if ever an issue crops up with a pattern that I can’t resist I might treat myself!
I know what you mean about you tube videos, if you have a spare 99p for the first issue tho, get it! There is so much covered for knitting and even how to sort it out when it gets away from you. I’ve knitted for 2 years and still picked up some good tips from the knitting section on the DVD.
Ooh that bit might be useful! Haha! I’ll keep an eye out for the first issue when I’m out and about today…can’t really say no for 99p!
I know, its almost rude not to get it hehe
I saw this last week Billie and was tempted as I liked the look of the patchwork throw and then foolishly resisted the temptation! I shall have to get it this week though 🙂 Thanks for your input Billie. A great teacher of crochet on Youtube is Mikey Small, he goes into the stitches and designs very thoroughly without being boring but does complete a line and the turn which is important.
Hugs
Lynn xx
Hopeyou can get a copy of issue 1, as it has the all important DVD on it. Have ordered a Tulip Etimo hook from Ebay as it has a thicker cushioned/insulated handle. So hope that helps the tendons out 😉
Will look out for the person you mentioned on YT thanks for the heads up.
I want to buy this but the thing is that I don’t know where, When I saw it on TV, I said straight away, ”Ahhh I’m going to buy this” hahah
Hiya
Check out the link at the end of the post. I have linked to the magazines website, I think it may list retailers but failing that from there you can also subscribe 🙂
Thank you for the review! This year I decided to learn how to knit (and sew) and this looks like a good place to start. I might actually subscribe since I need any help I can get. Now I just need to find something similar for sewing – I’m so bad I can’t even stitch a button 😀
Hi Anna
Good for you, I wish you luck in your creative journey. There are two books that I can highly recommend that I have found really useful. The Knitting book which has superb step by step photos and so much help. The Sewing book, both by the Dorling Kindersly publishers. Both are set out like encyclopedias which is very helpful if you have a pattern that asks you to do something, it makes it easy to look up a technique.
The advantage of the collections with the publications is that you get yarn and needles and projects to inspire you which is great. But they can be expensive and take forever to progress with. I’m one of those people who likes to make the things I want to rather than be dictated to by a publication, so the books worked well for me as I’d choose a pattern in a store or on Ravelry for example, that I liked, then referred to the book for how to complete it.
The sewing book is great as it has advice for hand sewing as well as machine techniques. If you want to get into really day 1 stuff with a sewing machine, another book I reviewed is; Me and My Sewing machine, which is brilliant as it assumes no prior knowledge. Debbie Shore’s DVD ‘Sew What?’ is also fantastic if you are a visual learner too.
If you have a local yarn store, pick a smooth yarn in a plain colour, have a look at the ball band and get some needles in the size it recommends and then try out the stitch patterns listed in The Knitting book, you can still create a blanket or throw, but in colours and yarns of your choosing that will fit with your own colour schemes 😉
Have fun
Billie
Oh WOW thank you so much for your advice! This is brilliant stuff 🙂
You’re very welcome 🙂
Check out the textiles and yarn tabs at the top of this blog for more useful links to suppliers and blogs 🙂
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I have subscribed to Knit & Stich and my only complaint is the delivery time. Its ridiculous… Other than that, i LOVE learning all the different stiches. Great value.
Where do you getting your magazine from ws is yours number 10
This post was from a few years ago now, so I’m afraid the quotes for where to get it are unlikely to be current. They tend to start these sorts of magazines around New Year so its worth trying Ebay for anyone selling past issues or collection, failing that, its a fingers crossed it starts again next year. Do a search for online suppliers of magazines to see if they have this collection.
i love mikeyssmail he is fantastic it the same presentor for the crochet crowd
which is the other site he has he is very nice very helpful
Good call, I hadn’t heard of him so put him into Google. Great videos on You Tube, thanks for the heads up 🙂