Sunday, December 9, 2012

Essex Has More To Offer Than A Truffle

The emergence of Truffle Magazine made me curious about its competition. Amazingly, there are several freely-distributed, high-end glossies with professional production values reflecting the connection to and commitment of the editorial and contributing staff to their communities. This list is by no means exhaustive; but if a bite of Truffle Magazine leaves you with an appetite for a meal, you can check out some of the competition:







Saturday, December 8, 2012

Eyes Wide Open


As the end of the year approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the ongoing efforts of those in the Friends group on Ravelry, our allies and partners and recognizing that the struggle we’ve been engaged in for most of 2012 (and many before then) has been a struggle for justice.  

It is an injustice that designers, writers, photographers, employees, contractors, printers, many commercial vendors, advertisers, landlords, subscribers, lace, sock, and amigurumi club members either:

  • Weren’t paid for goods or services they provided
  • Weren’t provided goods they paid for
  • Didn’t have their goods transferred to be published by the purchaser of the magazines sold by the Administrator
  • Didn’t have their goods submitted for payment and publication returned as promised
  • Had patterns sold on without payment or in violation of contract or where no contract existed
  • Had work published without permission or payment
  • Saw goods paid for provided to the public free for download from the Internet
  • Allegedly had advertising run without agreement
  • Were engaged to collect disputed or uncollectible debts
For a history and more detail: Click


AND MORE THAN ANYTHING

To have the reasons for and the defense of the above and more be that mistakes were made and the companies’ liability is limited under UK law. To quote the oft quoted Mr. Bumble from Oliver Twist:

“…the law is an ass—an idiot. If that’s the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is that his eye may be opened by experience—by experience.” 

There are those who still sleep, doze, or continue to imbibe the intoxicating potion ladled out by those whose refuge has been and remains the crenellated walls of the law and who publicly swear that certain individuals have done no wrong. Personally, I wish you well with that. Hope it works for you. But I fear, and think I speak for many more than you know, that one day you will reap Mr. Bumble’s wish and find out the worst: that your eye has been opened by experience.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Toupie and Some Knitting

Toupie caught in the handle of a plastic bag
My pet companion: Toupie.  I adopted Toupie when he was just 8 weeks old. His mum had been found preggers on the side of the road in West Virginia. He was named Toupie by the women who rescued his mum because at six weeks he'd jumped from their second-story railing into the living room.
 
Toupie has never lost that sense of adventure. He loves doing "hall runs" to the trash room with me. Loves people attention and can be counted on to turn on the I am so cute charm whenever he encounters perfect strangers in the hallway. He is, of course, well known to the neighbors and staff.
 
When he was just a kitten handful, I used to cradle him like a baby or put him up against my chest with his head on my shoulder and rub his back and scratch his head. To this day, he'll get in my lap and curl up to be cradled or put his paws on my chest and snuggle.
 
He had a spate of yarn chasing today, a rarity for him. He usually perfers his toys, a balled up piece of paper, or currently, the fortune cookies in wrappers I received last week.
 
Knitting:
 
I am beginning to think knitting down my stash will take years.  Tomorrow is Cyber Monday and I am anxious to get some yarn for coat--if it goes on sale. I am encouraged in that I've finished at least one item, sometimes two a week, since before Labor Day. Here is the second item from last week:
This beret will match the ShapeIt! Scarf.

I am currently knitting this gaiter for a biking colleague:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Just Have to Share

 
 
Loes Veenstra is a sympathetic lady Rotterdam, in the 2 nd Street Carnisse live in Rotterdam. She is 78 years old and knits sweaters all her life. She does so with great pleasure, that her whole house now overflowing with these colorful crafts. There are more than 500. If you already have those beautiful knits together looks, you automatically think: who should really be worn by anyone, even if only for a time.

On 10 November 2012, in a special way the life work of Loes made ​​visible. Then there namely under the title "The jerseys Loes" a Flashmob place in the 2nd Carnisse Street.

Monday, November 19, 2012

A Little Can Go A Long Way

I've been moved by this article and it supports something I firmly believe: It doesn't take much to make a difference for the good but it does require thoughtfulness.

Knitting down the stash continues:

Purl Berret to match Miami Vice Shawl
 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Neat and New

I have treated myself recently to some little luxuries:

Grapefruit Saver
Totally cute and utilitarian, except for the times when I eat the entire grapefruit.

Grapefruit Spoons
Makes separating the fruit from the rind a one-stop operation. You just have to be careful of the serrated edges when eating.

Oxo Good Grips Jar Opener
My nutcracker is feeling neglected. A bottle of Australian wine with a screwtop prompted this purchased.

New Book Release
I am sentenced to be a Gladiatrix; a mercy or so they told me. Roman Justice is for Roman citizens, not for Celts like me. My father the bard sang the wrong songs and is dead, my husband is drowned in the marshes, and none of my kin will dare raise a voice against our oppressors lest they too suffer. I must learn to fight with the trident and net. With the blessing of the Goddess I will live long enough to earn my wooden sword and freedom.
Linda Gruchy has finally released Gladiatrix. Read more about the book and Linda here.

Knitting:

I lightly blocked both these items.
Miami Vice Shawl


Shape It! Scarf
 
 





 

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Fruiting body of a subterrean mushroom

Never have so many remained in such wonder at the continual but repeated failure of an identical few to produce either a digital or print publication with correct English grammar and spelling, with in-focus photography that clearly illustrates the subject, and that doesn't reek of the derivative and rehashed. The latest attempt at cool by this crew is Truffle Magazine, a new magazine for Bishops Stortford to Saffron Walden, which has had a mere 582+ views and a two-star rating on Yudu at the time of this post. And lest there be any confusion, the masterminds behind this latest media foray are Kerrie Allman, Editor, and Claire Barzilay-Smith, Ad Sales, both formerly of All Craft Media (ACM). 

For those of you local to the above, a link may arrive in your email, or you might encounter the handbag-sized publication at your local market, dry cleaners, hair salon or jammed in with the other circulars in you mail or as a newspaper insert. If you are visiting, it’s bound to be in the hotel room folder among all the other flyers touting local interest. For the rest of the world, encountering this sorry attempt at lifestyle and local interest is a purely voluntary and vicarious venture.

Smitten with Mittens

That’s me. I finished my first pair of convertible mitts and finished another pair of fingerless mitts and made them convertible as well. While I intend to move on to gloves (after I finish the beret currently on the needles), I am in love with convertible mitts. They keep your fingers warm when outside. But the top flips off and your fingers are free to pull out the credit/debit card or to fumble for change.

 
 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Found!

Well with an extra hour from falling back and to continue my successful avoidance of TV political ads (I've seen exactly one political ad in 2012, that was today during the football game), I tackled the poor chair that has suffered the brunt of the last weeks of tidying and changing over and there was the camera. So here's what I've made since I last posted pictures on Labor Day:


Shape It! Scarf
Back of Hand Convertible Mitts
Front Convertible Mitts
Miami Vice Shawl



In all the confusion, the futon at least is safe
Rats, she found the camera

Color Block Color Affection (wip)
Lucy Hat

 



 

Frustration

There's nothing worse than when you manage to make yourself miserable. I've done this by misplacing my camera. And it is frustrating because I've got projects to photograph.

The Miami Vice Shawl is finished and awaiting blocking.

The Husk is finished. I love this cowl. Some have complained that the Rowan Creative Worsted yarn feels rough to knit with and because it is almost unspun, splitty. Yes, it is a little splitty but I don't find it rough. What I love about this wool and alpaca blend is in the cold it is heavenly warm. I wore the Husk during the brisk cold we've had since Sandy. It's a just right length; no fiddling or draping. My office is located in a building that was built in 1906 and my desk is in a large open space that doesn't hold heat. The Husk was the perfect thing to slip on when I got chilled last week.

I'm enrolled in Marly Bird's Craftsy class for mittens and gloves. I've just finished my first convertible mitten and will cast on its mate before bed tonight. Great pattern, great video instruction.

I bought Sally Mellville's The Knitting Experience Book 1: The Knit Stitch about four years ago. I despaired of making anything from it. All those boxy shapes in garter stitch. But I bought a skein of KFI Luxury Collection Mohair and Silk yarn at Looped Yarn Works. Okay, it was pretty and it was in the sale basket. Thought I might use the yarn as a cuff on a pair of fingerless mitts until I remember the book and the Shape It! Scarf.  It's a simple almost boring knit once you pass the shaping. In this case, the yarn makes the pattern. This has been my bedtime knit for the past week and a half. Less than inch to go before bind off.

So you see my frustration: I'm being so good, knitting down the stash and in the midst of a clear out and switching from summer to winter clothes, I've misplaced my camera.

 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Facebook Is NO Substitute for Customer Service

Yeah, it may seem in this multi-platform, hyper-connected age that everyone is online and everyone online is connected to everything, but guess what: Not True.

I learned today, via Ravelry, that Creative Magazine announced on 20 September on their Facebook page that they were only publishing four issues a year instead of six. Am I on Facebook? Yes. Do I follow Creative Knitting Magazine on Facebook: No. Did I expect or was I told by Creative Knitting that they would only be making product announcements on Facebook? No. Is there any announcement on their webpage that there has been a change to the number of issues a year they publish: No

Not to follow down the route of the upset Ravelry posters who have to date contacted customer service, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau requesting my subscription of 6 issues be honored or my money refunded.

Had I received an email or a letter from the magazine or its parent company letting me know of the change, it may not have made me happy, but I wouldn't feel like I do right now: cheated and dismissed. I don't know what the end result will be of the BBB complaint: I may get 4 or 6 issues or I may get my money back. One thing is certain: Nothing, I mean nothing--not promises of tips, tutorials, or more content--will ever induce me to purchase another product from Creative Knitting Magazine or their parent company Annie's Attic again.

And in this connected age, more than 6 people know that I'm an unhappy customer.

 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Craft Magazine Shop's Simply Sewing Magazine Available to Download Free

If you are a paid subscriber to Simply Sewing, click here to find out how to contact Essex Trading Standards to complain that the magazine you paid for is available free for download after you were told it on 11 October 2012, subscription copies were delayed due to a change in print vendors.

Email, call, send letters to demand the money you paid for your subscription be returned by Craft Magazine Shop.

It is outrageous that a company, any company, can take money from people for a product and then provide that product free on the Internet.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Simply....

Simply

Simply Sewing where are you?

Apparently a change of printers and change of schedule as of 11 October has caused a 10-day delay in the printing and mailing of Simply Sewing.

Again, if you have a subscription, I suggest you to contact your payment provider for a refund.

Now for something completely different....

Speaking of simply, I've been simply cooking like a domestic goddess:

Pork loin chops dry rubbed and baked with sliced apples and sweet potato

Apples and pears baked with a cinnamon and nutmeg sauce w/a little red pepper to really spice things up.

Steamed broccoli

Stringbeans with mushrooms

Gingerbread cookies

In addition, I am 80% through switching my summer and winter clothes

And I'm 22 rows away from finishing the Husk cowl.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Totally Tubular

Yes, it has been weeks; and I do apologize. Work, life, and my commitment to knit 1 hour a night results in some things getting put to the back burner.

I Can't Write It Better
Update on Crafts Magazine Shop, Simply Sewing, Modern Quilting, Kerrie Allman, Tallulah Ray (if you're wondering click on the link). To reiterate: As of today, Simply Sewing is two weeks late showing up on the shelves. If you are a subscriber, I urge you to contact the magazine to find out the status of your subscription. If you recently subscribed, get in touch with your bank, credit card company or PayPal and find out about getting a refund. Experience suggests that when magazines from any interation of this company are late, their demise, leaving behind unfufilled subscribers, generally follows closely behind.

Totally Tubular
After a fortnight of deadlines, deadlines, deadlines at work I need something relaxing AND I needed to find a project that would use up the 14 skeins of Knit Picks Swish in my stash. I had originally earmarked this yarn for a sweater, but after reading reviews on Ravelry about projects knit with this yarn growing, fuzzing, losing stitch definition, etc., I decided to do something that didn't matter rather than put a lot of effort into a sweater only to have it be potentially useless in the end.

Found a bedjacket pattern on Ravelry. Since the bedjacket has ribbed cuffs, decided to try the tubular cast on. Found a great video on You Tube done by Eunny Jang and in under an 30 minutes was bashing away in K1P1.



I know this about myself as knitter and I need to keep reminding myself, I don't like knitting with soft squishy yarns.  Crunch and scratch are more my cup of tea. Yes it means I need to keep a stock of hand and cuticle creams nearby to remoisten every hour but I'd rather do that than work with a yarn the slips, slides, splits and does a St. Vitus dance all over my needles. Moving to the bamboo needles seems to have settled the yarn down a bit. But the first five inches was a nightmare after weeks of knitting with non-superwash, sticky yarns.

Color Affection Addiction or 6K Plus Ravelers Can't Be Wrong
Okay, so I was resistant. I don't like stripes. Since knitting down the stash is the order of the day, I pulled out the bag of Knit Picks Palette I'd socked away in the spring for the Miami Vice Shawl, ponied up for the pattern, and cast on. Thrilling, challenging knitting it isn't...more let me master the theory of relativity while knitting, but OH the results. Part of it is in the shaping, the other part is simple is just sometimes better. As for the stripes, I am knitting my Color Affection color block in pinks and fushias.

A Bit Scary but Exciting
Not really scary, just one of those moments that prompts a reevaluation of my self-perception. Saw an advertisement for a play the piqued my interest. Clicked on the link, read the reviews and then clicked on the link to the ticket site. Was about to exit after looking at the matinee ticket prices when a pricing option suddenly registered: 60 and over. Well hells bells, I'm over 60 now and totally eligible for reduced ticket prices.

 

Monday, September 3, 2012

Now I Just Need To Have a Blocking Party

TGV in Palette

Miami Vice Shawl in Sirritogv

Pi Are Sqaured Shawlette in KP Shimmer and Shadow Lace Yarn

TGV in KP Overspun
Stash Busting: A summer's worth of knitting displayed above. Still working on the Miami Vice, which is an easy and satisfying lace project. The yarn is a bit crunchy but with enough lanolin to make it easy on the hands. Not a yarn for those who don't like bits of twigs and some black spikey nettle like bits.

The remnants of Issac have reached us bringing humidity (ugh); but for those not affected by flooding, the wonderful sound of rainshowers as a lullaby.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

And Now...

I've gone on a campaign since early spring: to rid my mailbox of unsolicited paper catalogues. Honestly, 75% of the mail I receive are catalogues or fliers. Besides my lack of interest in what is being offered for sale, it's environmentally destructive. It's a tiresome process; but I am determined by the end of the year to have a catalogue-free mailbox.

Toupie, however, enjoys the process of my ripping off the address pages, balling them up and tossing them around the apartment for him to chase and bat across the floor.

Knitting down the stash: I've knitted two shawlettes; have another two on the needles. Piccys will follow when I have a blocking party Saturday at the end of the month.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Derek Barnes Revealed

It has been revealed that  Jenna Smith-Clarke, Jenn Smith Clark, Jenn Smith-Clark (the name has been spelled various ways) is a cousin of Kerrie Allman: Nikki Bladon.
And Derek Barnes? He is a relative: but deceased!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Craft Magazine Now A Limited Company

Handmade Living Magazine Ltd has now changed its name at Companies House as of 23 July 2012 and is now called:
Craft Magazines Ltd
Details here:
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/945a1dda63dea9e9b5bed92...
Richard Rycroft (Kerrie’s Father) appears to be the owner and sole Director.

IF YOU GET A TIME OUT MESSAGE ON THIS LINK, just go to Companies House (www.Companieshouse.gov.uk) and click on the Section Find out about a Company, enter the name Craft Magazines Ltd in the box.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Craft Magazine Shop UK - Beware

Modern Quilting
Simply Sewing
Handmade Fashion
Simply Beautiful

The above titles were sold to Derek Barnes of Craft Magazine Shop. Simply Sewing is the new title of the former magazine Sew Hip published by All Craft Media (ACM). For more information, click.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Back from New Orleans


Once again, life has gotten in the way of blogging. But now that the conference has ended, I’m back.

New Orleans is an enchanting city of neighborhoods with distinct personalities and architecture as well as a cuisine and a personality all its own. I went to the French Quarter with its balconied streets, which make total sense considering the heat and was given a driving tour of the city by the manager of the conference venue. What as allowed to happen ’05 was criminal and the fact that more hasn’t been done assist the city and its residents to recover and restore remains criminal.

Despite having to focus on work the last couple of weeks, a lot has happened. The next couple of blog posts will be an attempt to catch up.
Me and my coworker at Preservation Hall

I always thought the balconies provided a place to sit outside in an urban setting, but they provie wonderful shade against the sun.



Update on Allman/Rycroft publications and activities:

SALE OF TITLES BY TAILOR MADE PUBLISHING - 1st JUNE 2012

On 1st June 2012, Craft Magazine Shop announced that they had bought from Tailor Made Publishing the titles Sew Hip, Modern Quilting, Handmade Fashion and Simply Beautiful. They also announced that they would be launching a new magazine, Handmade Weddings, at the end of June.

The announcement stated that the business was owned by Derek Barnes. However the staff would appear to be all members of the Allman/Rycroft family (including Kerrie). The telephone is answered by Shirley Rycroft, Kerrie’s mother, and it has been officially announced that Kerrie’s sister is also working there. It is not known who is Derek Barnes and his name has not appeared on any emails or announcements from this new business.

The domain name, www.craftmagazineshop.co.uk, was registered on 10th May 2012 by All Craft Media, ie AFTER ACM went into Administration. The website has not been updated since the initial announcement.

Tailor Made Publishing continues to own Yarnwise (formerly Knit), Inside Crochet and Handmade Living. The first issues from the new publishers are due out at the end of June.

FRP Advisory, the Administrators of All Craft Media (ACM) issued their report a few days ago.

US Olympic Committee and Knitters


Well, needless to say, despite the apology, I won’t be watching the Olympics. I will however be knitting as I came home to my kit of yarn from Colourmart put together for the Ravellenic Games.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Information

Sorry I've not updated since the weekend...life, you know, sometimes gets in the way.

ALL CRAFT MEDIA (Administration Details) Anybody who is owed money or goods, including advanced subscriptions for Magazines, sock, lace or crochet clubs should use this address:
The details of the Administrator are:
FRP Advisory
10 Furnival Street
London
EC4A 1YH In
Alistair Holt-Thomas
Tel: +44 (0)20 3005 4000
Fax: +44 (0)20 3005 4400

If you have submitted designs or have copyright/contract questions about published or unpublished designs, the address above is who you should contact.

If you regularly patronize a yarn or fabric shop, please let the shop owners know about the Administration as there are crafters and shopowners who are not on the Internet or Ravelry. UK newsagents and other shops who manage subscriptions, may also be unaware that ACM has gone into Administration. Passing the information and the Administrator contact details will assist them in responding to customer queries.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

And the winner is....COMMUNITY

Everyone has lost. Designers, subscribers, writers, club members, advertisers, printers, contractors and employees... in short, anyone and everyone ACM touched has lost.

Some losses can be calculated in dollars, pounds, and euros. How does one price disillusion and disappointment or the hours spent making an idea into a creation,

Crocheters have lost the only UK-based print crochet publication. Knitters have lost a magazine which once showed amazing promise and introduced us to innovative designers featuring designs in a range of sizes; and, unlike other British craft magazines, regularly using models of colour to model those designs. Quilters and sewers have lost magazines featuring their craft.

Businesses aren't often successful; and failure, however, unpleasant is acceptable. What is unacceptable is the unwillingness to recognize or the total disregard for the community a business creates. The failure to recognize and respect the symbiotic interrelationship between customer and product, supplier and product and employee and the business owners is unforgiveable.

ACM is in Administration and it is still early days and much is still to be learned about what the final disposition will be of the titles ACM once published as well as what compensation, if any, can be given to thosse unpaid or unfulfilled. But what survives in the crafting community IS COMMUNITY.

Generous offers have come forth from suppliers, designers, dyers to make lace club and sock club members whole. Knitters and crocheters have offered postage support. Other publishers have reached out to unpaid and unpublished designers. We are even looking at ways to help employees who've lost their jobs.

If you need information or assistance, reach out to the communities in the list below:

The Sewing Directory
SewHappyGeek
Friends of the Group Once Known as... (you'll have to joined Ravelry to access information; but I will also publish the Administrator contact details as soon as we have them.)



Friday, May 4, 2012

In Administration

There is not a count today for the lace yarn or magazine subscriptions because

ALL CRAFT MEDIA (In Administration)
ACM declared this morning (4th May 2012) that they were going into administration.
As soon as we know the name and details of the administrator, we will post that information here and in this group. We will also give all the details we can about lodging creditors’ claims for those who are designers, contributors, members of various clubs that haven’t received their goods and subscribers.
On Monday 30th April 2012, a new company, Handmade Living Limited, was incorporated with one Director, Richard Rycroft, who is Kerrie Allman’s father. We have at this time no details of the shareholding but will investigate and post that information here.
ETA: The administrators of ACM will be FRP Advisory. Further information will follow.

The details of the Administrator are:
FRP Advisory
10 Furnival Street
London
EC4A 1YH
Tel: +44 (0)20 3005 4000
Fax: +44 (0)20 3005 4400




Thursday, May 3, 2012

It's the same old song

Day 22 No verifiable member of the Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise Magazine) Lace Club has received the last shipment of yarn.

Paper subscribers have not received their Issue 49 of Knit Magazine and there are no copies in the shops. Apparently subscribers to other ACM publications are having the same problem.

As are designers and contributors to other ACM publications: Samples not returned and contracts not paid for work completed, submitted and published.

Good news: Argentgal received her sample of the Isambard Corset in the mail today. Now she just needs paying.
29 days ago, the Sock Club members were told their printed booklet of patterns was expected from the printer any day now. Members have only received a .pdf of the booklet.


Now for the good news:

Chroma Yarns: their shop is updated on Sundays. Check out the spiderlace yarn.

Enfys crochet designs come highly recommended especially her crochet barefoot sandals patterns.

New quarterly knitting mag: PomPom Mag coming out soon.

And me:
At work we had a 10th Anniversary Party Tuesday night. One thing I've learned about very nice people, they have very nice friends. I work with very nice people and the friends, current and former board members, supporters and partners who came last night were a delight to host. The food from Green Plate Catering, as always was superb.

After the good time last night, this morning it was back to working on the Convening in June.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Distribution

Day 21 No verifiable member of the Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise Magazine) Lace Club has received the last shipment of yarn.


DISTRIBUTION
There have always been many distribution problems with this company’s magazines – copies being lost by Royal Mail, TNT not delivering on time, printers who were supposed to be sending out the copies. It would appear that many avenues have been used but issues are invariably late or don’t arrive at all. There are recurring problems also downloading the digital copies.

APRIL/MAY 2012: Subscribers to Knit Magazine and Inside Crochet are waiting for their overdue copies. The following email has been received from ACM by some subscribers:

“In order to smooth the subscription process, we have outsourced our subscription management service, and starting from this month, your magazines will be posted out direct from Unique Magazines in Newcastle.
You’ll find their contact details on the subs pages of this issue and they will be your first port of call with any queries.”


Because of the large number of enquiries that Unique Magazines has been receiving from ACM subscribers, a representative of the company joined Ravelry on 1st May 2012 and posted the following:

“Good aftenoon my name is john Porrett from Unique magazines, i thought it was best to clarify the sitution with regards to Unique magazines and the management of All Craft media subscriptions.
Unfortunately Unique magazines were unable to agree terms on the management of All craft media publications, in the interim period the publisher has printed contact details within the magazines that Unique magazines are the new contacts for All craft media subscriptions.
We have agreed with All craft media that any contact made with my company would be redirected back to All craft media to be dealt with.
I can confirm that Unqiue magazines have not taken receipt of any magazines to dispatch as the agreement was never finalised.
if i can be of further help please do not hesitate to contact myself by email john.porrett@uniquemagazines.co.uk my team will continue to take calls and pass the contact details to customers for contacting All craft media - basically the contact details that can be found in previous copy of the relevant magazines.”


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Some Fleece and Yarn


Day 20 No verifiable member of the Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise Magazine) Lace Club has received the last shipment of yarn.







Welsh Black Mountain, North Ronaldsay Roving
And a sample of BFL Roving
Plus a Wonderwool flyer (which I will frame) and a postcard.


From Poshyarn: Madeline My Kingdom for a Horse
Lace
80% superwash BFL/20% silk 875yds

Monday, April 30, 2012

Upcoming Craftsy Classes

Day 19 No verifiable member of the Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise Magazine) Lace Club has received the last shipment of yarn.

Knit/Yarnwise magazine print subscribers have not received issue 49.




If you haven’t checked out Craftsy, do. Here is a list of the upcoming classes:

Sassy Librarian Blouse
Christine Haynes teaches you to make and customize blouses that look positively breathless.

Sewing Machine 911
Claudia Miller is the sewing machine MD who will cure all your machine's ills.

Beaded Tapestry Cuffs
Claudia Chase demonstrates how to weave six different types of bracelets.

Entrelac Knitting
Gwen Bortner teaches how to easily implement this technique into your knitting repertoire.


Sunday, April 29, 2012

A Short Story Collection and New Magazines


Day 18 No verifiable member of the Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise Magazine) Lace Club has received the last shipment of yarn.



I read Clotheshorse Magazine during breakfast yesterday. Lovely production values, with fashionably classic knit patterns in a good range of sizes. 

Started reading Issue 2 of Textisles this morning and hope to curl up this evening and read the article on the history of knit bathing suits. 

It’s really nice to see new additions to the stable of knitting magazines with interesting articles about the history and development of the craft. 

Linda Gruchy has released a book of short stories, available here:

Burden of Proof
DI Hedley is hated by his boss DCI Roberts, but nobody knows why. Sergeant Fiona Connor asks Hedley late one evening. He tells her that is stems from a case many years ago when he was a young DC and Roberts his sergeant. They fell out over a case where a woman came home from work to find her husband dead, with his throat slashed. It was obviously suicide. Wasn’t it?

This is a stand-alone short story in the Elversford Mysteries, and comes with two bonus crime stories:-

Scissorella
Andrea has escaped her past and is building her future but her past isn’t so easily forgotten.

My Father’s Child
Emory’s dark and secret boyhood haunts him mentally and physically.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Day 17 No verifiable member of the Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise Magazine) Lace Club has received the last shipment of yarn.

Print subscribers to Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise) are now waiting for their Issue 49 to arrive in the mail after a .pdf of Issue 49, several issues of Knit Magazine and other ACM publications were briefly and mysteriously freely available on the Internet this week.

Indodragonfly is a Canadian indie hand dyed yarn company. First and foremost, we dye amazing multi-tonal, rich colours…but we also have fun naming our colours, taking inspiration from pop culture sometimes, but mostly just our crazy brains at work. Buffy, Dr. Who, the Muppets, customers who tell us weird things about themselves…no one is safe. The colourways are great and their names will keep you scrolling. See the Ravelry group here.

Theressa Silver (Argentgal on Ravelry) is a wonderfully talented knit designer. I was wowed by her Isambard Corset last year. And had planned to knit the Isambard Corset after finishing the Lady Kina. Then I discovered she had not and still has not been paid for the publication of the pattern by KAL or ACM. Isambard Corset is available for sale on Ravelry. There are still 14 days left to help her raise the money for the production of her book Hat Couture: Millinery Style Hats to Knit. This book is going to be the highlight of my summer.

In addition to hand dyed yarn, undyed yarn and fabulous kits, Violet Green has really clever patterns and they are free. Check out Cat on a Wall Mittens.

 The Knitting Goddess sells her hand-dyed yarns, runs highly-rated sock and mini skein clubs, and sells gifts and accessories.

Lastly, Toupie

He looks so wise and civil here. I awoke Thursday morning to find all the toys were missing from the table and the finished paper towel roll that I'd left in a chair was now in the bathroom. I think placing a camera trap somewhere in the apartment is the only way I'll ever know what really goes on when I'm sleeping.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Resolve

Day 16 No verifiable member of the Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise Magazine) Lace Club has received the last shipment of yarn.

Like Nightline did during the Iran Hostage Crisis, until the members of the Knit Magazine (soon to be Yarnwise Magazine) Lace receive their yarn,  the first line of every blog post will list the number of days that have passed since 11 April 2012 .

Work has been punishing. Not much on the needles on the moment and no progress to report on what is on the needles.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

The History

This history was patiently and dilligently contributed to and researched by a great many people. It is being compiled by the moderators of the Friends of the group once known as... forum on Ravelry. Like all histories, it is ongoing and will be updated as relevant verifiable facts are obtained.


KAL MEDIA LIMITED

KAL Media Ltd was incorporated in August 2008 and comprised two Directors, Kerrie Allman and Louise Butt, who had previously traded as a partnership since 2006. Louise Butt resigned from KAL Media in October 2009 and has no further connection with the business.

Since 2009 therefore the company has consisted of one Director, Kerrie Allman, who held all the shares.

On 17th June 2011 the company resolved that it be voluntarily wound up and liquidators, Carter Clark of North Chingford, were appointed. In the Director’s History of the Business included in the initial report, Kerrie states that her “plans for the company became frustrated due to a County Court Judgement being entered against it for approximately £4500 with a threat of enforcement action being taken”.
“Faced with a loss-making business now under threat from creditors” a liquidator was appointed. Initial accounts presented to the liquidators show a deficiency of some £201,000, with £189,000 of unsecured creditors.

The liquidators are currently finalising their report which will be available shortly.

It is believed that the unsecured creditors’ figure will be greatly increased in the final accounts as a number of creditors were not declared to the liquidators. Many creditors were not even aware that the company had gone into liquidation until they read about it on Ravelry.

If you believe you are owed money by KAL (not All Craft Media Ltd), you can contact the liquidator at Harrison.Smith@carterclark.co.uk (Tel: 0208 524 1447).

ALL CRAFT MEDIA LIMITED

All Craft Media Ltd was incorporated on 3rd May 2011. The sole Director is Wayne Allman (Kerrie’s husband) and Companies House shows that Kerrie Allman owns 100% of the shares. ACM paid KAL £3,000 for the goodwill of the company, which included all the magazine titles.

Because of the time lag between commissioning and publishing in this industry, a number of patterns and articles published by ACM were commissioned by KAL and not paid for. A number of designers commissioned by ACM are now also complaining about non-payment and the company has already acquired 4 County Court Judgements against it.

One of the CCJ’s was obtained by a designer who submitted her work and invoice to KAL but the patterns were subsequently published by ACM, after KAL’s liquidation. She therefore re-issued the invoice and sent it to ACM. They failed to pay her so she issued a summons and obtained a County Court Judgement against ACM, which they paid with interest and costs.

If you wish to pursue a claim against ACM for non-payment, information is available on the Citizen’s Advice Bureau website at http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/your_rights/legal_s... or contact your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau (or solicitor).

If you wish to make a consumer complaint against this company, ie for non-delivery of goods, you should contact Consumer Direct, Tel: 0845 4040506

ACM CONTACT DETAILS

Address:
Bayleys Barn
Bullocks Farm
Bullocks Lane
Hope End, Takeley
Herts CM22 6TA

Tel: 01279 879038

Registered Office:
The Chestnuts
Brewer’s End
Takeley
Bishop’s Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM22 6QJ

Email: Kerrie@Allcraftmedia.co.uk
Ravelry: AllCraftMedia (used by all staff) and ACMKerrie
Facebook: Knit Magazine (not functioning at time of posting), Inside Crochet, Modern Quilting
Twitter: KerrieAllman, KnitMagazine, InsideCrochet
Blog: http://yarnwise.wordpress.com/

ACM PUBLICATIONS

Knit Magazine (Formerly Yarn Forward, to be re-named Yarnwise from Issue 50)
Sew Hip
Handmade Living
Inside Crochet
Simply Beautiful (online magazine only)
Modern Quilting
Handmade Fashion (Launching April 2012)

DESIGNERS

Designers for Knit Magazine have long complained that they have problems getting paid and/or getting their samples returned to them. They also complain regularly about not automatically receiving contributor copies of the magazine.

See this thread started in March 2011 but which covers designers’ dissatisfaction with this company going back many years.
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/designers/1554827/1-25

Designers for Inside Crochet have also had the same problems. In addition, a number of them have discovered that their designs have been sold onto an American crochet magazine publisher without notification or recompense. In some cases, KAL or ACM had not paid for the original designs.

See details about this in the Crochet Designers’ group at:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/crochet-designers/1972432/...

KNIT MAGAZINE’S SOCK CLUB

The Sock Club was launched by the magazine early in 2011 at a cost of £ 96 for 6 skeins of indie-dyed yarn to be delivered every 2 months from the end of April 2011, with a pattern. According to KAL, this was limited to 100 members and was over-subscribed, with a waiting list.

This date was before KAL went into liquidation but it would appear that some members of the club paid ACM (not KAL) via Paypal.

The deliveries made were as follows:
May - Skein Queen Entwist - 100g - fingering/4ply - 100% Merino - 366m/100g
July - Yarn Yard Crannog - 150g lace/2ply - 100% Merino - 500m/100g

Aug/Sep - HipKnits Organic Merino 4 ply - 100g - 100% Organic Merino - 338m/100g
Nov - Wollmeise 100% Merino Surperwash - 150g - fingering/4ply - 100% Merino - 350m/100g
Jan/Feb - Sparkleduck Jenny - 150g - 75% Superwash Wool 25% Nylon - 260m/100g

March - Rico Superba Poems - 100g - fingering/4ply - 75% Superwash wool 25% Polymide - 420m/100g
The patterns were NOT designed to match the yarn and were as follows:
Patterns
Precious Little Diamonds 72sts 2mm
Amethyst Socks 68sts 2mm
PUUC 64sts 2.25mm
Sophie Socks 92/100/108/116sts 2mm
Brickwork Socks 60/72/84sts 2.25mm

The 5th shipment had been advertised as Easyknits and was late being sent to the members because they claim they were still awaiting delivery from the dyer and were “stalking the courier every day.” However, Easyknits confirmed that no order had been placed with them and they were totally unaware that Knit Sock Club members were waiting for their yarn. At the last minute, Sparkleduck stepped in and supplied the yarn for that installment.

The final installment was a skein of commercially dyed yarn (not an indy-dyed yarn) – Rico Poem, which retails at under £7 in the UK. The final pattern for the sock club, together with a printed booklet of all the patterns, was supposed to be sent to the sock club members by the end of March.

On 3rd April, the members were told this booklet was at the printers and would be arriving “today or tomorrow”. On 16th April, a member was told after a phone call to ACM that the PDF of the booklet would be sent out by email that day. It eventually arrived with sock club members at about 11.pm on Tuesday 17th. ACM claims that the printed version is still at the printers (after some 3-4 weeks). When it is received by members, this post will be updated.

Further, every sock club member was promised a Christmas present but none appears to have been received with ACM claiming that the entire shipment was lost in the post.

When members complained about the quality of their final shipment, the non-delivery of their Christmas presents and the late delivery of other installments, they were told that they were lucky to get anything as the sock club was set up by KAL which was now in liquidation so ACM didn’t have to honour this contract but that Kerrie Allman had personally funded the continuation of the Sock Club to the tune of £6000.

Sock club members though were NOT listed as Creditors in the accounts given to the liquidator in June 2011.

There is a Knit Magazine Sock Club group here: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knit-magazines-sock-club

KNIT MAGAZINE’S LACE CLUB

The Lace Club was launched by the magazine at a cost of £70.50 including UK postage for 4 skeins of yarn each with a pattern.

The deliveries made were as follows:

50g Hipknits
50g Malabrigo
100g Filigran

The fourth and final shipment was to have been Wollmeise Lace to be delivered by the middle of March. ACM announced (on their Facebook page – now deleted) that they had ordered this on or before 1st November 2011. “And we ordered some Wollmeise lace yarn for our lace club members final package, now that is exciting and unexpected - we hadn’t planned to but thought everyone deserved a treat.” )

On 16th March ACM said, when requested by phone, that Wollmeise had inexplicably returned their payment.

Claudia from Wollmeise posted this here: “ Oh my god! I didn´t read all and what I understand is that many people paid for a club shipment, which should be delivered soon or now? In autumn we´ve got an order about laceweight and we said “yes”, but we only do prepaid orders for some people. In December or January we wrote if this order is still wanted, no sign no response. In January we deleted this order and I sold the collected yarn. In the beginning of March we´ve got payment from an unknown person and an unknown company for the laceweight (no comment, no explanation) and we sent money back. I´m so sorry for all of you, but it isn´t a good idea to do business with people with no moral sense (it would´nt be helpful to send her yarn and I´m not sure you´ll get it). It´s a hard wording to say “no moral sense”, because I know internet is an virtual world and very cruel, but everybody has the chance to jump in to explain what´s happened!!!!
If I´m wrong I´ll beg pardon”

Colourmart stepped in to supply the yarn (a 47% merino, 30% viscose 15% polyamide and 8% cashmere base, compared with Wollmeise’s 100% wool), which was to be dyed by an unknown (but ‘professional’) dyer in Hertfordshire. ACM also promised an additional skein of Sparkleduck yarn in the same shipment.

ACM claims that all packages were posted on 11th April 2012. The members of this club have already received the pattern which is for a cobweb yarn, and therefore not designed for either the Wollmeise nor its replacement.

At 26th April 2012, we know of no member of the Lace Club who has received this final shipment. However, ACM is adamant that three members have contacted them direct to say they’ve received it.

This post will be updated as further information comes to light.

There is a Knit Magazine Lace Club group here:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knit-magazines-lace-club

INSIDE CROCHET’S AMIGURUMI CLUB

This Club was launched in Issue 17 of Inside Crochet in April/May 2011 at a cost of £80 within the UK for 6 kits designed by Irene Strange.

The original advert stated: “You’ll receive 6 different parcels throughout the year, each one containing a brand-new original pattern from Irene, together with all the yarn and others bits that you need to make the project. The kits will be beautifully wrapped in re-useable packaging and will include extra goodies each month. The first parcel will be sent out at the beginning of May, then further parcels will follow every two months until March 2012. Extra kits will be available for purchase by club members each month in case you want to give one as a gift…”

The kits when they arrived were not exactly as described:

1) There was no “re-useable packaging” apart from a small tote bag with first kit, and were packaged in plastic mailers with no enclosed letter.

2) There was no option given to purchase extra kits.

3) There were no additional goodies except for a free ball of wool with the first installment which the members were told was as an apology for the delay in shipment, so was not part of the kit, and there was an extra pattern and some yarn with the third installment. The first installment was supposed to contain an extra pattern but this wasn’t the case.

4) Members did not receive “all other bits you need” - some kits came with no safety eyes, and the third installment came with an insufficient amount of yarn to complete the hedgehog kit (which required 2 shades, only 1 included).

Kit 1: Archie the Monkey.- members were advised that this kit was being sent on 16th May. They received it on or about 10th June. On 28th May, from Inside Crochet’s Facebook page: “Hi there - they were due to go out the week before last but were held up a little due to some messing about with our Royal Mail account. Hopefully they’ll be landing on doorsteps next week. Sorry for the delay!”

Kit 2: Marty the Sea Turtle.- received on time at the end of July but with no extra ‘goodies’ and no printed pattern. Ravelry post from ACM on 29th July: “I’m not going to promise printed patterns with the next kit though, unless we can get Irina to design something a lot shorter - the cost of printing 100 x 8 page patterns every month would have pushed the cost of the club up. We should have specified that they would be downloads of the pattern when we advertised the club though and I’m sorry that we didn’t.”
(Interestingly on 11th June Kerrie had said that there were 50 members of this club not 100 as stated here) (Also interestingly, the club wouldn’t appear to have been costed before launch)

Kit 3: Cinnamon the Squirrel, (plus additional Helen Hedgehog pattern and one ball of yarn). – Email from Kerrie on 29th July stated: “The next parcel is due to be sent out at the end of September and this one will include 2 kits, your usual amigurimi kit plus a bonus gift so keep your eyes peeled for that.” On 27th September, ACM stated on Ravelry: “Just to let you all know - the next instalment of the Amigurumi Club is to be sent out next week, with another fabulous, original design by Irene Strange and a fantastic little freebie!” On 17th October, when no member had received their package, ACM posted on Ravelry and their Inside Crochet Facebook page that the kits had been sent and should be with the members in the next few days.
Kit 3 was eventually received sometime between 2nd and 10th November 2011. The extra kit that was promised in Kerrie’s email of 29th July consisted of a pattern plus only ONE of the yarns required for completing it (two different colours were needed). The response to that on the IC Facebook page was that “The Hedgehog pattern was the surprise free gift this month and it was only decided at the last minute to include some yarn for it as well.” (It could not therefore be described as a ‘kit’)

Kit 4: Theodore the Bear. – Pattern received by email at the beginning of January. On 4th January, email from ACM said “We have unfortunately experienced a delay with the yarn and are still waiting for it to arrive with us, but the kits will be sent out the day after we receive it.” The members received this yarn at the beginning of March.

Kits 5 & 6: The club was due to finish in March 2012. However the 4th kit of the 6 paid for wasn’t received until March. If any members of this club know whether Kits 5 and 6 have yet been received or what their status is, please PM a Mod. here with that information.

ETA: The proceeds of this club should have gone to KAL Media as payments were made before the company went into liquidation in June 2011 and the club was started by Inside Crochet, which still belonged to KAL. However, as with the Sock Club, the members of the Amigurumi club were not listed as Creditors in the initial liquidator’s report.

MAGKNITS

Magknits was an online knitting magazine started we believe in 2004, by Kerrie Allman. It was not part of the KAL company.

In April 2008, a designer started a thread in the Needlework on the Net group as she was concerned that a pattern submitted by her was on the cover of Magknit’s March 2008 issue and she had not received payment for it, had no response from them to her original submission and was not advised that they were publishing it. http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/needlework-on-the-net/152434/

A number of designers then wrote about their issues with this magazine which included

1.    Non-payment for designs published

2.    No acknowledgement of submissions received

3.    Failure to reply to emails.

Kerrie’s reply to some of these accusations is no longer available but from the blockquotes included in others’ replies, it would appear to be that she was having dreadful difficulty with Royal Mail, she had major problems with her server and spam filter and that because of the sheer volume of submissions received, she was unable to contact everyone.

It was of course pointed out to her that it would appear strange that emails requesting money or some form of acknowledgement were re-directed to her spam filter but that those large number of pattern submissions apparently were received without problem into her inbox.

Kerrie then closed down Magnits without warning on or about 9th April 2008. See this thread:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/needlework-on-the-net/156889/

YARN FORWARD/KNIT/YARNWISE

Yarn Forward was published from October 2006, as a quarterly magazine – October/January/April/July. There were complaints about delivery of subscription copies from the initial issue.

In January 2008, a number of subscriber complaints were highlighted here:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/yarnwise-knit-mag/82767/26-50

These include non-delivery of subscription copies, and no response by the company to emails. One person was awaiting back-issues paid for in December and not received at the beginning of February. Kerrie had told her they had a lot of postal problems at the moment.

In June 2008, it was announced that Yarn Forward would be issued as a monthly magazine. In March/April 2011 (Issue 36) Yarn Forward changed its name to Knit because a Canadian company of the same name had Yarn Forward trademarked in the UK.

There are still delivery problems being reported. See Knit’s own group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/yarnwise-knit-mag

A number of subscribers claim that the magazine is available in the shops before they receive their subscription copies, and some subscribers haven’t yet received Issue 47, despite the fact that Issue 49 has just been published.

There are also a number of threads in Ravelry about the deteriorating standard of the magazine.

In August 2010, Kerrie apologised for an error in the magazine and offered a prize to the reader who spotted it.
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/yarnwise-knit-mag/1261062/...

The following suggestions were made:

1.    The subscription cost quoted in two areas of the magazine didn’t agree with the price on the subscription application form.

2.    One pattern had a number of mistakes, including the suggestion that 3.5cm = 1 inch and the use of two sizes of knitting needles when only one was listed in the Notions list.

3.    Knit Camp was being promoted though it had finished before this Issue was published.

4.    A pattern for a bookmark listed its length as 147cm/58”

5.    One pattern had completely incorrect sizing figures.

The correct answer was that the Issue No. was incorrect on the cover.

The name of the magazine is to change to Yarnwise from Issue 50 (June 2012)