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Publisher F+W Media Files for Bankruptcy Protection

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interweave parent files for bankruptcyF+W Media, the publisher of many craft and hobby related publications, including Interweave books and magazines, filed for bankruptcy protection, citing changes in the industry and mismanagement for their financial problems.

The company has said it plans to sell off parts of the company in order to pay its creditors, including its communities group and its books division.

There is no word yet on whether any of the company’s magazines will cease publication, though it was reported that subscriptions across its properties have dropped from 33.4 million in 2015 to 21.5 million in 2018 (and ad revenue dropped from $20.7 million to $13.7 million in the same time period).

And while a lot of the crafting community has moved online, that hasn’t been a successful proposition for F+W (which also publishes titles like Writers’ Digest and Popular Woodworking). In just the crafts sector, the company spent $6 million in its online efforts and only generated $3 million in revenue.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Of course we always hope for the best for crafting publications and the industry as a whole, but as things continue to change companies will have to evolve in ways that are profitable and effective and inspiring for crafters.

Comments

  1. I’m still getting several emails a week encouraging me to subscribe to their magazines– Beadwork, Interweave Crochet, and several for which I have no interest in the crafts they feature. And they all require I be on an “automatic renewal” plan….

Have you read?

Adorable Ghost Knitting Patterns

Adding a bit of knitting to your fall decor is a lot of fun, whether it’s knit pumpkins or a bunch of adorable knit ghosts like these.

Knit ghosts can be super simple like this free ghost knitting pattern from Trixie Zynch on Ravelry. Using about 50 yards of worsted weight yarn, they’re worked from the bottom up and are super cute as a pair. 

This fuzzy little ghost from Forest Knitting Toys is holding a pumpkin and wearing a witch hat, though of course the accessories are optional, as is the fuzzy yarn. The main yarn is chunky and the ghost measures about 10 cm/4 inches tall. It’s worked in the round. 

Another fuzzy ghost in more of a Pacman style is this ghost plushie form South Stitch Girls. It’s worked in the round with bulky yarn and includes a sweet little bow you can make in whatever color you like. 

The ghost doll from Edith Grace Designs has little arms and a curl at the top of its head. The body is worked flat using DK weight yarn and you could also work it in glow in the dark yarn for extra fun. The body and head are worked in one piece with the arms knit separately. 

The Grim Grinning Ghosts from Susan Claudino are super cute and you can knit them in any yarn and gauge you like to make ghosts of different sizes. These are worked in the round with the body done in one piece and the arms are knit separately. The ghosts shown were knit in sock yarn, DK and worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Make a ghost with funny striped legs with this ghost shelf sitter design from Claire Fairall Designs. It’s worked in three colors of DK weight yarn, and the letters spelling out boo are made with strips of garter stitch sewn into shape.