Online vs Magazines vs Books
 

I understand that magazines are very colorful (mostly ads), and sometimes have an article or two of interest. Books are fun to leaf through when you first get them and are good for the specific subject for which you purchased it; and which you can download on your computer or kindle.

Do you think there's as much (or more) pertinent information to be found online; videos on utube; quilting sites with patterns, tutorials, etc.

It seems to me that with all that's online FREE, that you can access immediately, with a few key strokes, that the other sources are becoming relics and dust collectors.

What is your preference? What do you think of the future of books and magazines?

I agree that online is wonderful considering all the free info! I use it and like my pinterest, too. But, I love the new magazine I occasionally pick up and I like books for the subject information. I like my computer, but most of my life I "touched" my books and magazines and wouldn't want to give that up yet.

I am on old fuddy and like to hold my book and take it with me. It goes in my tote bag, Dr office, ball park to WAIT for GS, and on my swing in the back yard. No electricity needed !!!!! The computer and I rangle almost daily.. When you are new to computers you do not know all the free sites. OOPS time for me to go to church. hugs

I love my magazines and often sit and leaf through them for ideas. Although I do look at quilts on Flickr and Pinterest, I wouldn't want those to be my only source of ideas.

Being a pre-tv gal I find that I really like my magazines to leaf thru over and over. I have a lot - a lot! As I've grown as a quilter I now like different things than I did when I originally acquired the magazine. However, recently have decided that somehow I have to prune the collection. Still deciding how. I have a huge collection of stuff from on-line but still gravitate towards the magazines. I have been way more selective toward the books I purchase - usually purchased for the techniques rather than patterns. Every year our local library has a huge donated book sale and the hard-covers are $1.00. No time to browse - so I gobble up as many as I can (support the library) haul them home and then prune them by taking to guild meetings and put them on the free table. Nary a book left so far. Have decided that part of the quilting addiction is lots to choose from. Purchased a dedicated 6 foot tall bookcase and am losing the war - I need to get busy and prune some more so they all fit on. It appears this quilter stashes more than fabric. Will be watching this thread to see if I can pick up any organizational hints.

I love all things quilting.
Have mags, books, use online and print out patterns, buy dvd's.
Dont know what I will do when I run out of room.

I think they all have their place. I like them all. I pick up magazines occasionally, do not digitally subscribe to anything yet and have a few books. As far as books go, if a technique really interests me and I will use more than once, will put the dollars out for book. Everything is good, unfortunately, magazines are so costly and if subscribers are lost, they will either up the cost or go digital. We are in the information age.

I prefer books, but will pick up a magazine if I like the cover. I do use free online stuff, but I still love my books as it is not the same.

I have a very small sewing room 9 x 9. I have ONE shelf on a bookcase for books. If I exceed this---I must pass some along.

I seldom buy magazines but often get free ones at guild meetings. Same method---one stack.

We moved from MD to Phoenix last November and I did a major purge of everything we owned. I have been successful at maintaining this.

I buy books and magazines that are technique focussed, not those that tell you how to make something specific. Most of the stuff available online is purely aimed at showing you how to duplicate someone else's work. That doesn't interest me at all so I stick with published items that I can keep as reference, use in my studio as I'm trying something out for the first few times, and share with others who are interested in learning some of the same things I am.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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

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

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.

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.

Although I use online information quite a bit I still love getting my magazines in the mail. I tend to read my magazines cover to cover, never do that with online sites, just cruise through quickly!!!

While I love to go to quilt sites and read blogs and etc there is nothing better than to sit down in my recliner and pick up that new Quilt Mag and settle back, taken it page by page, thank you If they keep going to $10 for copies as some are doing then you have lost me to mag.

I have always subscribed to several magazines but recently have let them lapse because of the changes that have been made. When I buy a magazine, I want the WHOLE magazine. Not a portion of it and then having to go online to obtain the "bonus" projects or patterns. I have to have a user name and password for every site (and remember which ones I used each time I want to access them). The magazines are getting thinner and thinner and more and more of the content is only available online. Since I pay by the gigabyte for my wireless internet use, it becomes very expensive very quickly if you have to download multiple items or sit and view them online instead of in the magazine that I paid for. Just my honest opinion, but I think the magazine companies are hurting themselves by changing to a dual format for subscribers.

I am one of those people who still enjoys quilting magazines; but most of the books I get from the library are e-books. I love the large print on my iPad. I also enjoy listening to audio books as I quilt. I have learned much about quilting from YouTube videos and from Craftsy quilting classes. Maybe one day I will like electronic magazines, just not now.

I am enjoying online magazine subscriptions. I have way too many quilting, knitting, crocheting, and sewing books and I, too, am at an age where it's just too much. I scan what I want and then give the books, magazines away so that someone else can enjoy them. I like purchasing quilting books in pdf format, rather than having a hard covered book. I guess I'm past that point in my life. I store everything on a portable hard drive, so that I don't bog down my computer. When I decide on the quilt I want to make, I just print out the directions. It's just become easier for me. All in all, it just boils down to preference. But, boy, do I like getting rid of all those magazines and books!

This is a very timely question. I was just looking at my quilting bookshelves and thinking they take up too much room. I want the info, just don't want to consume so much space. And because I have them, I can go back to 20 y/o books that still have good info.

Magazines: I'm thinking more of computer storage, especially if they have a good index. This would be way easier to find the article I'm interested in. I like the ads in magazines. I often go to the computer to find out more and check them out at the next major quilt show.

Computer tutorials and Pinterest are totally new to me. They can replace some things. I teach quilting and I hope my encouragement and feedback will never be replaced by a computer. There's something personal about classes.

I'm still a relational character and the interaction in class and on QB can't be replaced by magazines, books, or online.

Same here, neighbor!! I love the QB but as far as saving, etc on the computer, I'm a dud! [I'm not "new" to the computer, just a slow learner.]I love my books. I too, carry the magazines to enjoy while waiting (even at the casino!:D). I like hard copy, so hence the volumes of printed patterns stored in ring binders.

After further reading: I do LOVE the tutorials. I have learned so much from them.

Most of my quilting knowledge has come online. Youtube videos, blogs and tutorials are where I go. I can take my phone with me to the store with the yardage and pattern plus my pinterest is on my phone. I don't belong to a guild, I've never subscribed to a quilt magazine but I do check out quilt books at the library sometimes to leaf through or if I need to learn a technique but their books are fairly old (some have no rotary directions!). Online is where I'll stay but I can appreciate books and magazines for those who still want them.

I like magazines and find it rather annoying to have to go online to get 'the whole story', so to speak. To move magazines totally to book readers like kindle would be terrible! The formet is so compact I don't think quilting magazines would transfer well. I like to relax and flip through a magazine at leisure, not in front of my computer. Same with books. Only advantage with e-book or computer is a robust search engine to find something fast. That would work best for a quilting book that was not a pattern book.

I've pretty much quit buying magazines. I buy the quilts n more 4 times a year and occasionally I will buy a book if it has things that I really love in it. I would rather find free patterns online or even buy pdf file patterns-they don't take up any space in my sewing room.

That said, I really don't enjoy online magazines. I'm not sure why. I also don't watch many videos. I have bought some craftsy classes and it takes me forever to get them watched.

As a relatively new quilter almost all my info has come from this board. Thank you all you wonderful people!!!!

Initially I did also have some magazines given me by a friend. However I find that magazines can be fragile as they age, especially if a young grandchild is around! Also much of the info in the magazines was not what really suited my interest, although I did get ideas that sparked my creativity in ways the authors probably never would have recognized as related to what they wrote.

Now that I have an iPhone, I use the "notes" feature to keep up with links to designs I might want to try at some future date. Very handy and always with me.

All that said, even though I have EQ7 on my computer, I find that I still prefer drawing out designs on quadrille graph paper with hand written notes as to cutting info - like "2 ea 2-1/2 x 4-1/2 and 4 ea 2-1/2 sq of each color, can get x sets per 2-1/2 x WOF strip."
Find it interesting that some of the designs I used to color in on graph paper as a teen I now recognize as quilt designs!

So I'm not totally a techie, but sure rely on it a lot. BTW - my second computer was a Commador 64. Don't remember what the model of the littleTI that I plugged into my TV monitor was.

In the evening when I'm relaxing, I want a magazine or book in my hands, not something glowing. Granted I'm biased, coming from a family who worked in publishing and a house full of books and magazines.

I discontinued my magazine subscriptions several years ago... so much seemed the same or in styles not to my taste. The internet does have a seemingly limitless bounty of patterns and inspiration. That being said I have kept my library of old magazines and books. I love to periodically peruse these pages, and find it very relaxing in a way the internet does not offer. I do miss the delight of finding a fresh issue of a magazine found in my mailbox on a day that is unpredictable. I do not miss the disappointment of opening the magazine only to find the contents consists of re-run patterns and ever increasing advertizement that started to become previlent.

I, too have a lot of patterns etc saved on my computer, and I love the utubes, but I have to have books to sit and go through. I find my taste changes and so some patterns seem "new" to me even if I have read it before. I also take books to my appointments as I am chauffeur, too. for my parents

Online is fine but if you download like I was doing and have your computer stolen all is lost. I paid for some pattern and lost them along with my computer. I will never again pay for something that I have to download. There are free patterns in most of our quilting magazines, I cut them out and put them in binders. I don't think a thief will break into my home to steal my patterns. I use my computer to find information and I print it if I think I will need it again.

I like having books and magazines in my hand. I can read them anywhere and enjoy that rather than having something online.

IMO - I really believe when we subscribe to hard copy magazines, we should get the digital copy FREE, rather than having to pay dual fees. A few of my "other" (non-quilting) subscriptions allow me to view digitally, and I appreciate it. For magazines that do not, I'm seriously considering going to digital-only. The sad thing about doing digital only is that when enough people go this route, it will eventually put a lot of people who have anything to do with the magazine, sales, delivery, etc., out of work.

I prefer online. BUT if I'm out and about and see a magazine (fairly inexpensive) and it has a pattern with a lot of detail, I just might purchase it. It goes into my file drawer for future reference. I have some quilt books that a couple I've purchased at the store or estate sales. In those books I usually insert a tab on the page of the project and the tab is of course marked. One of the books I purchased was a $25.00 book that I paid $3.00 for and worth more than the $25.00. Has templates and patterns. Nice size templates with instructions on how to increase/decrease the size of the templates. I often take these books with me for reading material.

I pray we never ever give up the chance to hold a book or magazine or to read one, or to smell it. There is history there between our hands, not only in what we are holding, but in the writing of, and description of what someone has taken the patience to explain to us on how to put together and sew and what the outcome can be or become to someone so special in our life. This is a gift and a treasure I hope we never give up. Computers may be great, but they have viruses, Trojans and the like and are so aggravating when we just don't have the time for them to be so. We have lost out on the personal touch by computers. With a book or magazine you can hold it and still talk to someone in the room and still be civil to the people around you. How many do you see doing this with computers or these hand held cell phones or hand held computers that have all these different applications such as your magazines you were speaking of on them?

I love it all. I have found lots of great free stuff on the internet. If I find something in a magazine that I like I cut it out and pass the magazine on or through it out. But I love my books the best.