Sometimes I do crazy things………..like ordering french knitting magazines because I’m so in love with the patterns. It all started when I found this pattern on ravelry and added it to my favourites. Slight problem. It’s in french. From a magazine. Published in 2010. Uh oh
So then I started googling and trying to get my hands on a copy.
Oh, so you’re probably wondering by now if I read french. Um. A little. My sweet mummy was a french teacher but I was no star student. My reading is better than my writing or speaking.
Oh ok then. So have you knitted something written in french before, retro mummy? Um, no.
ohhhhhhhhh ok then….good luck with that!
My facebook friends tell me I can use google translate, they directed me to Jorth’s translations here , I found this and of course there is always ravelry.
If you are as crazy as I am, then you can purchase the magazines direct from their website with very reasonable postage here. But if you want the cardigan that I really wanted then I had to buy that issue here. And let’s just hope these don’t become nice to look at magazines and that I actually use them.
All images from the Phildar website here.
I bought a french sewing pattern – how hard can it be right??? It is still sitting in its packaging that is as far as I have gotten. I dont knit, but those pictures make me want to learn to knit and to speak French!
I wish I hadnt read your Blog this morning- I have just been on to that site- I have never seen such divine Patterns except for the baby books I bought at La Droguerie(Paris) a couple of years ago.
As a Grandmother of soon to be 5 littlies under 7 ,I am delighted and grateful to you forever!
Cant wait for the Patterns to arrive….Cazza Canberra
Hi Corrie. I too bought a french knitting pattern; but I used google translate. While the translation was ok, it didnt quite make sense. I ended up giving it to my mum to finish (she’s a knitting whizz) when I got stuck on sentences that were a bit backwards. The knit turned out great, but next time I think I’ll get a person to translate it.
Where I can get this magazine? Where can I buy? Thanks
I’m from Spain and I love everything you post on the blog
They are adorable I haven’t knitted from French but I have tried to make a quilt from Japanese. Oh dear I think it went awry in translation!! Happy days chrisb.
Gorgeous patterns Corrie! I can understand why you bought the book even if you can’t read/speak the language! A picture paints a thousand words apparently!!
Love love love! I would give it a crack… armed with a year of french in unit, a french dictionary and mr Google, I would give it a try… will keep the mags in mind for when there is a lull in my busy-ness.
Fear not – we’ll nut them out together!
wow how brave are you! I live in France but far from fluent in the language and I wouldn’t attempt a pattern in French! Heck I sometimes have trouble with them in English LOL. Good Luck. Linda
Those knitted garments are so very sweet. Good luck with the translating. x
I’d say if this only ends up being a magazine that you’ve bought for the lovely pictures, then there’s nothing wrong with that! The photography is gorgeous! Having said that, the knits are gorgeous so definitely worth the effort translating the patterns! Let us know how you get on…
Danielle in canberra
Oh the images, well worth the ‘lack of translation’ & how many Japanese craft books have i bought from you & i no speak Japanese. Luckily my 4 children can make out an awful lot of the words, they are gorgeous to look at & the patterns (sewing, i’m assuming VERY different to knitting) are possible to work out.
Happy knitting, it’s such a joy, love Posie
That sweater is gorgeous! All of their designs looks great. The pictures! Swoon!
If you get stuck, I can try to help… send me an email.
Oh dear – those patterns are amazing! And surely knitting patterns are universal – knit and purl surely can’t be too different in french?
Good luck – can’t wait to see what you create!
Corrie, you are so lucky, that magazine is sold out, i just went to the phildar site, my girls have been drooling over the beautiful knits, oh well i’ll just have to have a squiz on ebay and cross my fingers one shows up.Such pretty designs.
I can see why you couldn’t resist – everything is adorable! Might be worth finding a native speaker in your area to translate for you. A friend of mine does that work (though not in french) and she loves small jobs like that. Can’t wait to see what beauties you create. And a big hug that you’re mum isn’t here to sit next to you and help you figure it out. xx
Haha, this is funny Corrie. I can totally see how you fell in love with the patterns though, they are gorgeous knits. Good luck with the translation :o) xo
Pretty pink misses – i too tried to buy the mag but alas it is no longer in print and sold out – sooo disappointed!
hello, i´m french and i have a lot of Phijdar magazine, so, if you need help, i can help you. I know, you don´t know me but i come to see your blog a lot of time. Love it. But i never writ a comment ´cause my bad english! but i use to knit in english. Hope you understand what i wrote….
I too just love French knitting patterns and in the past have considered purchasing some however the language barrier has always put me off. Great post, I think I might give it a whirl.
I did worse, I bought French knitting magazines in Paris figuring I could work them out since I took 8 years of French. No, there is nothing google translate can even dicipher! But I found an English to French knitting cheat sheet on Ravelry which I have copied to a word doc. It is my dictionary now since I have insisted on knitting one of these lovely projects. I even have a daughter who lives in Paris but without knowledge of knitting, her French degree isn’t even helping like this little cheat sheet! Lmk if you need it.