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Breaking: F+W Media to Acquire Interweave Parent Company

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fw mediaI just saw on Twitter news first reported by Publishers Weekly and confirmed via a press release from F+W Media that the company, which publishes craft titles under imprints such as North Light Books, Krause Books and Memory Makers Books, has acquired craft publisher Interweave Press’ parent company, Aspire Media LLC.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though F+W CEO Daivd Nussbaum said the deal will add 30 percent to the company’s revenue.

Interweave was founded in 1975 in Loveland, Colo., and was acquired by Aspire Media in 2005. That company is backed by private equity firms Frontenac Company and Catalyst Investors. Clay Hall has served as CEO since that time, and he and CFO Troy Wells will leave the company after the sale.

Interweave owns and operates 15 consumer art and craft magazines and has more than 30 special newsstand publications, has published 350 craft books, hosts 33 websites and 10 online communities, has 10 e-commerce stores, puts on 11 consumer events and also produces video workshops and three craft television programs that air on public television, according to the press release.

F+W Media itself has 20 ecommerce sites geared to different craft genres, and says its customer database will become the biggest in the industry with the acquisition. In addition to craft titles the company publishes a wide array of do-it-yourself titles, including imprints such as Adams Media and Writers’ Digest Books.

No one knows yet what this will mean for Interweave, any of the staff other than those at the top, or the publications or events put on by the company. The press release does indicate increased production of digital products in the near future: “Immediate plans for the Company include: an increased number of digital magazine/content launches through the popular Interweave digital newsstand; an expansion of the e-commerce, ebook, and digital pattern business; and an expansion of the live and online education and event business.”

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Stitch a Simple Sack Hat that Looks Like a Turkey

If your family is the sort to do a turkey trot for Thanksgiving, or even just to take family pictures, you’ll want to get started knitting up some Turkey Sack Hats with this pattern from Underground Crafter. 

The pattern uses super bulky yarn and is rated easy. It’s knit flat but there are a few skills in here around the shaping of the eyes, which includes changing colors, working bobbles and doing a wicked purl 3 together decrease. Twice. 

But that’s all in one row, and the rest of it is pretty simple. The beak is worked separately and sewn on, and the side of the hat is stitched up to make it into a hat. 

What’s great about this one is that it comes in 10 sizes, ranging from newborn to adult large, so you really can make one for everyone in the family. And because it uses super bulky yarn you can knit a bunch pretty quickly if that’s a thing you’d like to do. 

It’s also fun because you could use this base pattern to make different animals or for different holidays. Make it all in orange and stitch on a jack o’lantern face for Halloween, or make a white one that’s a snowman, for example. 

In any style this would also be a fun gag gift for that person in your life who has everything or doesn’t want gifts, or if you do a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange at work or elsewhere. 

And make sure whether you’re making it a turkey or some other character that you include the pom poms at the top! They’re just so cure and a great way to add a bit more color to the project, and they’re easy to make. (See also: ways to make a pompom with yarn.)

You can grab the free pattern at the Underground Crafter website. 

[Photo: Underground Crafter]