Around the world in eighty days

It would seem obvious that the time taken to cross the Atlantic varies according to the method of transport used. Concorde did it in around four hours, I think, and passengers could somehow get "there" before they'd left "here" due to time differences. In the days of the gracious ocean liners the journey was slower, more leisurely, and to be enjoyed rather than endured. Then there are the yachtsmen, the rowers, people in canoes, and so on, who spend weeks at sea. Little did I know when I took out a subscription to America's "Interweave Knits" that they would be employing the 'message in a bottle' method of despatch for their magazines - or so it seems.

The saga of acquiring these sacred texts of the knitting world is a long one, but suffice to say it involves many email messages, sent by me, and very few replies. However, my long wait has not been in vain as three copies of IK arrived in the last few days. One, according to the postmark, took only four days to get here (positively supersonic) but it was a replacement for the one which was posted in December and took seventy five days (did they make someone swim across with it?). And just for good measure, the Spring edition turned up under separate cover but alongside the Winter ones.

Thanks to kind Natalie at The Yarn Yard, who had a similar experience recently, I also have a copy of the Fall edition, so my collection is building, but I have no need for the second Winter magazine so, if you'd like it, please get in touch and I'll put it in the post - maybe best not to try to send it back across the Atlantic, but within Britain might just be feasible.

After all that, do I have the energy to knit anything?

Comments

[Helen]

I get my IK subscription from Twist Fibre Craft in Fife http://www.twistfibrecraft.co.uk/ It doesn't necessarily arrive very early but it arrives consistently and they're always helpful if you ring.
http://www.twistfibrecraft.co.uk/books/magazines/mags.html
Nice shop too, if you feel like a trip to Newburgh :)

[Peg]

Why is it always so difficult to get a magazine subscription 'started'. It is not like there is no competition for magazine companies, but I have been ready to give up a subscription after the first couple of months due to magazines taking 75+ days for the first delivery.
However, all that said, I do not have the Spring 2007 issue yet, although another gal here in town does have hers, so perhaps the postman will bring mine today!

[Francesca]

I"d be interested, especially since I see "steeking" in the corner of the magazine, but alas, I am on the wrong side of the Atlantic.
Talking about mail woes… I've been eagerly waiting for an envelope from Germany for weeks and was almost resigned to never seeing it when a friend told me that her mail from Germany nevre takes less than 4-5 weeks, so hopefully my envelope has not been lost and is still trying to make its way to California. Good golly! You'd think this is war time.

[Charity]

I've been very frustrated with the service from IK, too. Even just sending to Canada, the new issues are on the stands here for at least a week before my copy comes in the mail. I guess I'll stop complaining about it, though, after seeing what you've gone through. It is such a good magazine, though! :0)

[natalie]

Twist is my favourite shop... even more than a bookshop (!) My sub was a birthday gift, but I should probably have just got it from them. Nice to know the magazine will be passed on... maybe it could be bookcrossed?

[Jo at Celtic Memory Yarns]

I was taken aback that my IK arrived Feb. 20 - the previous issue and that for Vogue Knitting took three months. At time of going to press, Vogue still hasn't deigned to get out of bed on whatever cruise liner has the honour of bringing it across the Atlantic - presumably I will get the Spring issue in July. I second everyone else - what IS it with this New-Old world communication? Everything else happens in the blink of an eye, but not the postal service, oh no. Should I give up and go for an online fix? Not the same as a magazine though, is it?

[Vanessa]

I've never seen Interweave but have heard great things and as a newly enthusiastic knitter I'd love that spare copy if it's still on offer please?