The Times They Are a Changin'

It's very easy not to appreciate something (or someone) until it is no longer around. This is sadly the case with Magknits.com. After four years of operation Magknits has closed their site for good citing lack of funds, support, etc. I never really thought myself a big fan of the site until I found it had closed. The way I stumbled on it was looking through my bookmarks on my computer and trying to pull up a pattern for a scarf that caught my eye months ago. Well, along with new content the archives of past issues are goners too. Oddly, the project I was taking with me to TNK (Tuesday Night Knitting) today was my Jaywalker Socks which were a Magknits pattern.

As a sidebar, I have to post pictures of those socks cause you will love 'em!

So back to Magknits. I guess I always thought of them as Knitty.com's less sophisticated cousin and didn't give them as much credit as might have been due.

Another unfortunate discovery is the lack of free patterns that KnitPicks has been generating lately. I remember a time not so long ago when getting that catalog meant hopping online to download at least one free pattern. After their website got revamped last year I swear for a short while it said something along the lines of "patterns for you cheapskates" at the top of the free pattern section. That ticked me off a bit. Actually it really ticked me off. Because while they claim to be so affordable they are getting some real competition these days as more brands are producing nice yarns that are actually affordable. Also, when I order from KnitPicks I always do the same thing. I think,'Ah, everything is cheap so I should get 10 of them. Oh, and two of these too!' And I end up spending $50. So I'm plunking down my cash and yes, I have come to expect those couple of free patterns now and again. They did promptly remove that idiotic line from their site. I'm sure someone realized people weren't going to spend there money somewhere that insults them.
So here we are without Magknits and with KnitPicks dropping a couple of crappo patterns every six months instead of producing beauties like the Moc Croc Socks and the Candleflame Shawl. I guess the best we can do is try to let this be a lesson. Hang on to the things you hold dear. Give them the importance they deserve. Go hug a friend. Go hug your stash.