Changing Quilt World–An Icon Dies and Modern Magazines Emerge!
After 47 years, Quilters Newsletter Magazine is being discontinued. Wow…that is stunning news….
This magazine, along with Quilting Arts, really helped me understand the quilt world when I started making quilts back in the 1990’s. I read every issue of both magazines to learn techniques. I reached out to quilters that I read about and I entered quilt shows they featured. I saved every issue of both magazines for years.
When I heard the news today about Quilters Newsletter, I realized that I hadn’t looked at this magazine for at least 5 years. My interests changed and I moved on.
The times they are ALWAYS a’changing….
We all know that 2016 is a very different time. Print periodical media is struggling unless they create a robust and innovative online strategy. Uppercase Magazine is primarily subscription supported –defying the old wisdom that magazines have to have advertising to survive.
Quilters and other crafters –modern, contemporary and traditional– are increasingly online. Online is where we make real friendships, get technique information, find out about swaps and contests, buy new sewing machines and, increasingly, buy fabric and notions.
2016 is different because of another enormous change. The myth is that only younger quilters use technology. Ha!! The technology age divide is definitely closed–I live in Sarasota FL where there are lots of quilters over the age of 55 and I teach at many ‘traditional guilds’ with older members. I estimate that at least 85% of quilters over 55 have an iPad and/or a laptop and use it for hours every week. Nearly all of them go online for classes (Craftsy, iQuilt and others). They We socialize with quilty friends on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. We text, post and comment constantly. The technology age gap is basically gone in a puff of virtual smoke.
Modern Magazines–we have to support them!
So, the lesson we can learn from the demise of Quilters Newsletter is that if you like a magazine, be sure to subscribe. And, it’s equally important to support the companies that advertise in the magazine or on their website. It’s those manufacturers that pay for all the lovely free (or almost free) content we enjoy these days.
Here are links to my personal favorites—full disclosure–I don’t subscribe to them all yet. I set a budget and buy individual copies.: Click the titles to go to their websites and look around!
Love Patchwork & Quilting–Available by subscription or scroll down to the bottom of the page to subscribe digitally. There is a special digital subscription offer through July 31 2016. This is the iTunes link.
Simply Moderne You can buy from their website or on Amazon.
Modern Patchwork (Here’s an interesting thing….this magazine doesn’t seem to have its own dedicated website. You can only find it by googling and then going to the Interweave website/store. That’s not very modern…..)
Uppercase Magazine All kinds of interesting projects and ideas in this design oriented magazine. They also sell a line of fabric. Link to their Blog here.
Make Modern — Australian based online only magazine. Great projects and instructions. Contributors are international!
Have felt for a long time quilting and all it’s related crafts is changing/evolving. Used to get fabric, pattern and supplies together for a (traditional – translation – darker) quilt and it would sit. But I would look at fabric and read the magazines and books and sew the more brightly colored, jazzier, upbeat and more current projects. Felt better and more creative sewing them. I’ve noticed other quilting magazines have disappeared so I’m not surprised about Quilters Newsletter. I, too, read Quilting Arts from cover to cover to see what’s new, what new techniques or tips they show and even though I might be intimidated a bit by them, feel they are exciting and will be fun to try.
I used to read the newsletter all the time, and like you, have not read one in several years. I am drawn to the new Modern quilt magazines and my old standbys McCalls and AP&Q. I do not really like the digital form of magazines as much as I enjoy a magazine that arrived by the good old USP!
I like paper for magazines and books as well. I even miss the old days of really good local newspapers. Aaaahhhh, the smell of paper and ink….
When I was really young, I used to run around the house begging for people to read my books to me. I think that’s why I decided to learn to read really early (smile….). And why I get such a thrill when I open up MY book!!
I do admire the folks at Make Modern for stepping so boldly into the digital world. It’s one reason I’m buying an iPad this week.
Generation Q magazine is my favorite. They have a lot of articles and real information, not just projects or patterns. I like to READ magazines but some of them have nothing to read.
Hi Tricia,
That’s an interesting comment. I guess our quilting magazines have really become project books. In the ‘old days’, the art quilt magazines had more discussion types articles. I notice that blogs have articles–I will keep this in mind in my future postings!