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Over the last couple of years, I've cut down on the amount I spend on magazines as it can really get out of hand, but as the first issue of Sew & Stitch was only 99p, I thought I'd have a look at it.
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It's a weekly magazine which has holes punched in the pages to allow each issue to be stored together in a binder. There's a seaside themed quilt project running through the series and a piece of fabric is supplied with each issue to enable you to create the next square for the quilt. Each square has been designed to help you master different techniques. This issue came with three small pieces of fabric to make a picture postcard square, three different coloured threads and some needles.
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It seems as though the magazine is aimed at inexperienced sewers, such as me, as it gives clear instructions on very simple things. A more skilled sewer may find the projects too easy for them.
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The magazine is split in to different categories, The Quilt, Recycle & Remake, Gifts & Goodies, Homestyle, Sewing Skills, Stitch School and Patterns & Templates and has clear instructions and photographs.
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I think it's a good magazine for a beginner, and the first issue at 99p is a bargain, but like most of these magazines which come in weekly parts, they end up working out expensive. The next issue is also at a reduced price, £2.50, but subsequent issues will be at the full price of £3.99. I'm sure there's plenty of good books on sewing which would cost so much less in the long run, but the magazine does offer the fabric and instructions for making the quilt. I think I'll save my money.
I bought a similar magazine to teach myself to crochet a couple of years ago, but as you said... it can work out very expensive so only bought a few copies :) xx
ReplyDeleteI think books are probably a better choice, unless you want the magazine specifically for the project they come with, they just work out so expensive.
DeleteWay back when I was a youngster I bought Creative Hands week by week.... looking back I should just have bought a book on all the crafts that I wanted to learn and it would have been so much cheaper! I will probably buy the first edition as it is so reasonable, and after that plan to teach my daughter myself. I like the look of the seaside print material, though. What's your first plan for the goods?
ReplyDeleteNo plans as yet, though I keep saying that I must learn to sew so I really need to make an effort. There's some great inspiration on blogs, projects keep popping up that I like so I should have a go. I don't remember Creative Hands, though I wasn't really very crafty, apart from knitting, when I was younger.
DeleteA dear friend of mine bought every single issue of a similar thing about crochet and never picked it up at all! About a year ago, she offered it all to me (as a gift). I turned down the folder of patterns etc as I can no longer crochet because of shoulder pain, but I accepted the wool. I started knitting squares and was going to give her a blanket but sadly, she died recently. Anyway, the point was she spent £200 or £300 and it was all wasted. I think a complete beginner who will start on the project the minute it is published would benefit from this sort of thing but I agree with you; better to get a book (from the library and later buy if you like it) and buy the fabric as you need it. Then if you like the craft, carry on; charity shops are a great source of fabric.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and leaving a comment. How sad about your friend dying, it would have been lovely to have given her the blanket knitted from the wool she'd gifted you. I'm sure a good book covering lots of techniques and enough fabric to make a quilt could be bought much cheaper than the full set of this magazine. You make a good point about trying the book from the library before you buy too.
DeleteI think it's nice to have access to the step by step instructions. I find books about sewing quite daunting. Jx
ReplyDeleteI suppose it depends which book you're looking at. I've bought children's craft books in the past, the Dorling Kindersley ones are usually really good with easy instructions and clear photographs. In fact, I must see if they do one on sewing.
DeleteMy mum told me about this magazine last week and said she had been trying to get hold of one for me. It is worth buying the first week just for the fabric and thread alone.
ReplyDeleteThese type of serialised publications usually come with free gifts so the first issue, which is often at a greatly reduced price, is worth having. I hope you manage to find one, I got mine from Asda.
DeleteThat looks like a good magazine. I don't know whether we have it here. My husband gave me a subscription to Interweave Crochet last year for my birthday but the patterns in it seem incredibly advanced. I have moderate crochet skills and am a fairly quick learner, but they mostly confuse me! I think this magazine was a good value for the price, maybe they'll keep it very affordable and you can buy it again sometime. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd certainly buy more magazines if they were this price but so many of them are incredibly expensive these days. I'm fine following knitting patterns but crochet patterns are something else, I'm not very good with them at all.
DeleteI love the idea of the seaside quilt.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of it looks really pretty, but I'm sure it could be made without purchasing the magazine. It would be much cheaper to buy the fabric yourself and a good book.
DeleteI've seen the ads for that mag on the telly, Jo, but have resisted even looking at it. Go me! :oD
ReplyDeleteAnother place to look if you ever need to *see* how to do something is youtube. There are all sorts of tutorials for all sorts of sewing - and other crafts - and it's free! Can't get a better deal than that! :o)
You've done so well with your challenge to stop buying magazines. I second the vote for YouTube, I learnt to crochet by watching the tutorials on there.
DeleteI was tempted by that one too when I saw the ad on TV, but when I worked out how much the total cost would be I nearly fainted! I've found I buy a lot less magazines since I started reading blogs - they seem to satisfy my need for pretty images and inspiration. x
ReplyDeleteThese collections can run in to the hundreds of pounds. I too enjoy reading blogs and find more inspiration from them than I do magazines.
DeleteSounds like a good magazine for a complete novice and for younger people whose Mum's don't sew.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd need to be well off to afford the whole collection, but this first one, which was on offer, was worth the money.
DeleteI MUST stop my annual subscription to Country Living magazine. I have been getting it for YEARS and REALLY the stuff they advertise is WAY WAY over budget. I will look out for this - I too am a total novice and have a couple of sewing machines. Now the weather has changed it would be a good read. I can't knit by the way.
ReplyDeleteI think the first copy is definitely worth having, even if you only want the free gifts, but I won't be buying it again.
DeleteWe aren't near to any newsagent who stocks this so I have infact started a subscription which I can opt out of anytime - I'll see how it goes over the next couple of months - but stopped CL this morning!
DeleteI picked up my copy at Asda. I hope you enjoy it, but as you say, you can opt out at anytime if it's not your cup of tea.
DeleteI'm extremely envious of your magazine! I love craft magazines and I especially love British magazines! When I am over in November I will buy one, though I won't get the awesome price you did, I will still buy a copy! Have a great weekend Jo!
ReplyDeleteTammy
There's some really good craft magazines but they're just so expensive. I do buy them occasionally but I find I can get just as much inspiration from blogs.
DeleteHello Jo, I just hopped over from Denise's blog. I don't have a TV so I was glad you showed this new mag. I am quite an experienced quilter and stitcher, but this magazine looks very interesting. I like that it can be stored in a binder.
ReplyDeleteI shall look forward to seeing what you make.
Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. I think the magazine is aimed more at the inexperienced stitcher, such as me, but I'm sure the freebies are worth 99p. I really must make more of an effort to get sewing this winter, I learnt to crochet a couple of years ago and I'm loving that and I learnt to knit as a child, but I don't know what it is with sewing, it's quite daunting. Hopefully, this mag will set me on the right road.
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