BellaBoo

My kindle will accept pdf files so I scan patterns from magazines and keep them on the Kindle. Digital patterns are sent directly to my Kindle. It's handy to have the fabric requirements of all the patterns I like with me at all times. I also scan swatches of the fabric I have that needs matching fabric and send that to my Kindle. Everything I need when I find a fabric sale all in one place.

AliKat

I'll take whatever article or pattern I like and scan it into the computer and then on a flash drive. No pile up of paper or books. No storage mess. Easier to share with others as nothing is torn out of the magazines.

I do prefer the hard copy: books or magazines to look at. just not to store.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

I do not like magazines. This pretty much means all magazines not just quilting ones. They have become so full of ads and have such a small amount of actual content that I can't see paying the price for them.

Books are wonderful but take up too much space and need to be dusted.

I can find just about anything I want to know about quilting for free on the internet. Usually, by just coming here and asking the experts.

romanojg

I try not to buy magazines since I've been trying to declutter and this is one thing that can get out of hand. The online magazines are great as long as you can download them so that you have a copy of them if you need them. I like the embroidery ones because you get free designs and free projects and learn so much. There are also a lot of great sites and tutorials out there as well. I agree its nice to thumb thru a magazine but I'm trying to look at the other side where it takes less to store the online magazines. Plus with online videos, it's like most everything else, you have to go thru lots of them to get to what will work for you. I think we are lucky to live in a time with all of the information available to us online, even if you have to really pay attention to what you read and realize not all of its 100% true.

charsuewilson

Online info, and magazines are convenient for their weight, and all the information in one place -- your computer IF you are where your computer is. But what if you're waiting for an appointment somewhere? Or on a long trip in the car, train, bus, plane, commuting? Then I want something I can leaf through. So far, tablets have been too heavy and cumbersome for me to comfortably hold in my hand, and they don't have anywhere near the storage space as your computer. On car trips and some others I take throwaway magazines - those that I don't want to keep, to read and maybe tear out a thing or two. Books I usually use at home because of the weight, although they may go on a car trip.

And if you're talking about online as in search for it on line and read it there, there are too many places where there isn't wifi connectivity, including a number of my relatives' homes. So, that means that you have to go someplace or stop someplace to be able to search the web. That just isn't practical. I will search the internet while at home or if I know I'm going someplace with internet connectivity.

nygal

I love decorating magazines especially cottage, country French décor etc. But now that I've found Pinterest....I am not sure I will even buy any more magazines since I am seeing GORGEOUS things there for free!!

QuiltnNan

i LOVE the amount of information available with a few keystrokes. but there's nothing like having a magazine to take with or just sit in the yard and read

alisonquilts

Magazines don't work for me - too many ads, too few ideas, and the projects are too specific - not to mention the storage issues. Also, I find magazines affect me the way a trip to the mall does: I see things that I didn't know existed, and find that I now desperately need them! Magazines end up leaving me feeling dissatisfied...

As many have said above, I prefer books that focus on a particular technique that I can learn and apply to my own ideas, rather than books of patterns. For any specific, need-it-RIGHT-NOW information it's the web for me (and usually QB, of course).

Alison

Luv Quilts and Cats

I like magazines and books. I can take them with me (I don't have a lap top or tablet) to work, on car rides, with me to the fabric store. Not growing up with computers, I want to hold a book while reading, or a magazine. I don't enjoy sitting at a computer all day at home because I work on one all day. Give me a book or magazine any day. Probably a bit behind the times, but I think books and magazines allow you to slow down and savor them. Somehow I just can't see savoring an e-reader or tablet.

Prism99

Now in my retirement years, I am finding my collection of magazines and books burdensome. I am gradually going through them and donating to Goodwill, friends of the library, etc. My magazine collections go back to the 1980's!

I think it depends where you are in life whether magazines and books for a personal collection are worthwhile. I already have more printed patterns than I can complete in a lifetime, so I really do not need more.

Recently I tried a digital subscription to Quilter's World and was able to download something like 10 years' worth of old issues in addition to receiving the current issues for a year. I am liking this a *lot*! However, the other magazines I have checked use different (and more complicated) download or access arrangements. I like having the magazines on my hard disc forever; I don't want to have to log on to someone's website to access issues I have bought.

When I need a "fix" now, I go to the library and check out some books and magazines. I might still buy a magazine if it has a quilt I just have to make right now, but the "right now" qualification is limiting. I used to buy magazines for quilts I might want to make "someday" and don't do that anymore.