Pattern-A-Day Calendar -- Week One Review

I bought the 2006 Pattern-A-Day Calendar, 1/2 price at Barnes & Noble. Hopefully it will all in all by worth the $6.99 I spent on it. One plus: I can just throw or give away the patterns I don't want, the keep the ones I do, which should take up less space that a book holding 365 patterns (actually, it's less, because there appears to be only one pattern per weekend, but I don't feel like doing the math).

I'm going to try to review a week's worth of patterns every week. Here's the first:

12/31-1/1 -- Swirl Hat and Muffler. This is cute; it's a diagonal garter stitch hat and scarf, done on size 19 US needles so it is probably a quick knit. The recommended yarn (Tahki Baby) is really expensive, but I would knit this with a cheap sub, if one of my relatives wanted a set like this. I don't know if I would make it for myself though.

1/2 -- Twisted Rib Crazy Socks. I'd love to see the twisted rib part in a close-up. It's done in Regia Crazy Sock yarn, the colors are really fun, but I don't think it's much different than any other sock yarn. When I finally get down to knitting socks, maybe I'd try this out.

1/3 -- Deco-Stardust and Whisper Poncho. I don't do ponchos, and I consider this one especially haggard.

1/4 -- Slanted Eyelet Scarf. Love, love, love! I already have yarn for this project -- cashmere yarn I received for Xmas from my hubby in "moss green". It will look lovely with my mustard colored leather jacket.

1/5 -- Diamond Loop Bracelet. The combination of size 0000 US needles, silk thread, and knitting with seed beads both intimidates and fascinates me at the same time. This may go into my "to-do-when-I'm-feeling-daring" file.

1/6 -- Woven Adult Pullover. The hand-painted looking yarn for this (Pine Tree Yarns Texas www.pinetreeyarns.com), looks lovely, especially done in a basketweave stitch contrasting with black. The sleeves, however, look as though they are done in a garter stitch for a few rows in the colored yarn, the a stockinette in the black yarn for a couple of rows, and look like some kind of weird robot-spring arms to me. I would maybe do this with plain stockinette stitch black sleeves, but as-is, I think it's fug.

1/7-1/8 -- Waterproof Mittens. "New technology creates a wool yarn that is waterproof!". The mitten looks pretty straightforward, and the star of this pattern is the yarn. Dale Hauk 100% wool, Teflon coated. I may have to look this up and price it, I'm sure my dad would appreciate this when he shovels!

All in all, I think this calendar is done up in order for the submitters to advertise their yarns! I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I'm not sorry I bought it; as I said, I will get a few patterns out of it (that Slanted Eyelet Scarf is worth it!), and it gives me something to blog about.

Please, feel free to comment and discuss!!