CRAFT: Transforming Traditional Crafts

I loved the first issue of this magazine, enough so to order a subscription. I understand that some people are upset that the robot pattern advertised on the cover was not in the actual magazine, but please look past that mistake!

Just for the record: this isn't your typical craft mag. If you buy it looking for patterns and superficial articles on picking the right glue for your projects, you're going to be disappointed. Just wanted to say that right up front.

However, as a big fan of "Make", the other publication put out by these folks, I was very excited for Craft's release. Instead of the usual fare (patterns and loads of Cute, for which there's a place, definitely, but not here...), the mag's editors have put out a publication for craft *geeks*. Its articles are in-depth looks at the social effects of crafting, with a decidedly indie-type bent, and yes, there are even projects with patterns, though it seems to be less of a focus than documenting the phenomenon of Crafting and the DIY Movement. It's a survey across the board of the fringe, and the geeks that make up the revolution.

I do think it's one of those publications that you'll either "get" or you won't -- and those that come here looking for sweater patterns aren't Getting It(tm). And that's okay -- to each his own. There are a thousand cookie-cutter publications that are happy to serve up the pattern du jour. And for the others? The ones who are interested in the people behind the craft trends we see, and the social machinery at play in the movement, who might also see a technique we can adapt for our own crafty explorations? For us, there's Craft.

I bought this expensive magazine for the pattern to knit the robots on the cover, only to find that the pattern wasn't in the magazine. When one sees a pictures of knit robots, with the title "Stitch a Robot" next to it, one assumes the pattern will be there. It wasn't. I emailed the editor and never received a response.

I won't be buying any more of these mags.

Sherry

Like the previous reviewer, I mainly purchased this magazine (sight unseen, which I'll never do again) because of the knit robot on the cover and what seemed like the promise of a pattern for it inside. I was very disappointed to see that the robot pattern inside the magazine was a different crochet pattern. Also, I was annoyed that some of the features inside were "old news" - like the photo and blurb about an artist knitting a giant American flag using heavy machinery of some sort. I'd seen that and read about it months before this magazine ever came out. Some good projects and articles inside, but I'll definitely not be purchasing another issue without flipping through it in person.

Magazine has neat articles... I like the article on screenprinting... however, I am a knitter and saw Jess Hutch's knitted robots on the cover and the magazine says "Stitch your own Robot", but the pattern in for a crocheted robot and it is someone else's design. It IS NOT the robot on the cover... VERY DECEIVING! This magazine was not cheap and the main reason I bought it was for the knitted robot... what a bummer!