Following last summer’s huge success,
we’ve decided to recycle our own theme
and present our Second Annual Green Issue.
In the past year, the yarn world has responded
to the growing eco crisis with a variety of
environmentally friendly yarns—everything
from organic cottons to yarns made from alternative
fibers and using low-impact dyes. Yarn Editor
Tanis Gray and I tried to feature as many of
them as we could.
Let me tell you, it was no easy feat. Have
you ever tried to find a bright blue low-impact-dyed
yarn? We did, for a tank top in our story called
”Red States, Blue
States.” (I had to convince Creative
Director Joe Vior that the top, made from organic
cotton yarn in a low-impact-dye color called
“Jeans,” was blue and not gray.
Regardless, I think the tank top is très
chic.)
As a messenger brought in the fifty helium
balloons we used during the photo shoot for
that story, I realized that the balloons weren’t
exactly eco-friendly. But at least we were able
to save all the water bottles we drank from
for use as a background for our Green
story.
It’s a conundrum, being editor of a print
magazine in a world gone Internet-crazy, at
a time when paper, gas, ink and their effects
on the environment are questionable at best
(not to mention expensive). I don’t know
about you, but I save every knitting magazine
I’ve ever bought, and I buy all of them.
I am constantly referring to them to track the
evolution of a certain designer, to watch how
trends have come and gone, to use their articles
and product reviews as research, and to find
out when certain books were published. Sweaters
I thought were heinous five years ago often
appeal to me now, and certain design ideas in
vintage issues spark ideas for new takes on
old techniques. To me, they are priceless.
This summer, as the presidential elections
near, candidates will be promoting their values
and, in doing so, asking you to define yours.
I’m no politician, but I encourage you
to value the magazines that promote the craft
you love.
Yours in knitting,
 
Adina Klein
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