Considering that one issue of this magazine is usually £5.99 I don't think £6 for three is bad at all, it's the equivalent of buy one get two free. Of course, I'll cancel the membership before they take any further payments.
I haven't read it yet but I've had a flick through and there's some good features including some sock patterns which I might have a go at.
There's usually a free gift included with these type of magazines. The one which was included this month is a pattern booklet and four balls of yarn which is enough to knit each of the five animals.
Paula Pig is cute so I might start with her.
How about you, do you subscribe to any magazines? Do you take up offers like I do? Can you resist popping magazines in your trolley when you go shopping? I'd love to know if you have any favourites.
I have just cancelled Mollie Makes, i subscribed for over 2 years, last year I cancelled simply crochet because as much as I love reading both magazines (and as gorgeous as they are) I never read them more than once, never look in them for ideas or patterns and never did the free kits. I am now down to one magazine subscription and it's one I will carry on for as many years as I can... Country Walking! I use the routes that are included, read the articles sometimes multiple times, and refer to the adverts for places to stay, the fact there are some gorgeous photos in there just adds to the pleasure!
ReplyDeleteMollie Makes is one I've never bought. I know what you mean about enjoying magazines but never going back to them and when you look at the price they are, you could buy a book for less. It sounds like you get your money's worth from Country Walking though.
DeleteI am blessed with a daughter who pays for a yearly subscription, we call it the gift that keeps on giving. This years magazine is Homemaker which I have been impressed with and Grow Your Own, a garden magazine. Generally I tend to pop Christmas editions into my trolley the rest of the year I am good.
ReplyDeleteI think I may have bought Homemaker when it first came out and I used to buy Grow Your Own regularly, I think that's one of the better gardening magazines out there, I always enjoyed it. I agree, Christmas magazines can be very tempting, and I'm often tempted when I'm on my summer holiday too.
DeleteI won't tut! The Farmyard Friends look rather cute. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteThey do, I'll definitely give them a go. I quite like the little freebies you get in these type of magazines.
DeleteI don't buy crafty magazines, haven't done so for a long time but I do have a subscription to Which magazine though because I am middle aged and like to know how my hoover compares.... Happy animal knitting, these creatures look cute.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Which but I think it would probably interest me, especially if I were in the market for a new appliance as I always read reviews before I buy. The creatures do look cute, especially Paula Pig, though I would say that as I have a thing for pigs.
DeleteI haven't purchased a magazine at a store in years - unlike in the UK, we don't get special offers such as that around here (not that I know of anyhow). Those animals are so incredibly cute! One of my (many) knitting WIPs is a stuffed bunny for my daughter - I purchased a book specifically on knitted stuffed animals as she adores them so much. I do find knitting such small pieces a bit difficult though - it will be interesting to see how you find it.
ReplyDeleteI remember having knitted toys when I was little, I loved them. I didn't do any knitting when my kids were little but they got animals knitted for them by various members of the family. I don't mind knitting small things, it's the sewing up I'm not so keen on.
DeleteI don't buy anymore, my daughter occasionally gets me a cross stitch mag, but I'm never overjoyed, so much I have seen similar before. I do follow Pinterest to get ideas and designs.
ReplyDeleteI've never joined Pinterest, I know I'd waste far too much time on there so best I stay away. I've bought one cross stitch magazine since I started my new hobby and thought it was really good.
DeleteNo I don't subscribe to magazines ... but I do buy the odd one from time to time.
ReplyDeleteHowever in my local Waitrose earlier today I did pick up a 'free' with 'my waitrose card' magazine ... some lovely photo's and articles to read through.
All the best Jan
I often pick up the supermarket free magazines, there's some good articles in them usually. Waitrose is one of the few supermarkets we don't have locally, I don't think I've ever been in one.
DeleteI stopped buying magazines for a while but now subscribe to three. A sewing one, crochet one & a garden one. I do quite possibly buy every Christmas editions going though, that is a compulsion that quite possibly wont stop!! Have fun with your new subscription xx
ReplyDeleteI'd never find the time to read three magazines a month. I do love magazines though, especially the Christmas ones, there's always some wonderful articles in those issues.
DeleteI'm going to ask for a subscription for christmas this year. Haven't made my mind up which one yet! I don't buy any more.
ReplyDeleteSubscriptions are good for gifts, I've bought Daniel, Eleanor, my mum and Mick's uncle subscriptions for Christmas in the past. Have fun choosing which to get.
DeleteNo craft mag subscription here. DH has Gardeners World (you get an annual pass for discounts to lots of gardens etc in one of the spring months usually so the yearly price is given back when you use that during the year - he searches for a discount price for his subscription too. WIN WIN
ReplyDeleteI used to subscribe to Gardener's World and you're right, the annual garden pass can save you a lot of money. I used to buy my subscription using Tesco Clubcard vouchers so it was a bit like a freebie.
DeleteI stopped buying magazines a few years ago as I was horrified how much money I was spending on them. I do occasionally look to see what the "free" offers are but I'm usually quite good at resisting them. Can't wait to see your Paula Piggy! :oD
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that they're not just a couple of pounds any longer, most seem to be around the £6 mark and some can even go up to a tenner. You can buy a book for less. I'm not sure when I shall get started on Paula but she looks to be a quick little project.
DeleteI go through bouts of not buying, then see one of my old favourites and away I go again. You only live once as they say and are these vices bad when you think of what some people do. Enjoy them and love to see that little piggy when done. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, you could be spending money on much worse things than magazines. I love the little pig and I think I'll probably make the dog too, he's cute.
DeleteI had a subscription to Juno for a while which is a 'green' parenting magazine but I found that I wasn't really reading it by the end. I get a magazine with my vege society membership which is a really good read it is quarterly which is a bit more manageable for me, I have been reading it for nearly 20 years. We also get quarterly magazines with our RSPB and English Heritage memberships, that's enough for me!
ReplyDeleteI used to buy the children magazines every other week but realised that that was getting really expensive, now they get a book once a month from our local independent bookshop instead they still ask for magazines occasionally tho!
I love knitting little animals tho they are fiddly to sew up and stuff, make sure you put plenty of stuffing in the too of the leg if they are standing up otherwise the legs look a bit wonky! Enjoy :)
I think quarterly magazines would work best for me too as I struggle to read them even if they're monthly. I remember getting comics and magazines when I was a child but I only bought them for Daniel and Eleanor occasionally, as you say, they work out really expensive otherwise. Thanks for the stuffing tip, I've never knit any tiny animals before so this will be a first for me, it's the sewing up bit that I hate.
DeleteI do love mags but only buy those with a free gift that I cannot resist...usually ones with free die cutters as they are usually more expensive than what the mag costs
ReplyDeleteIt's good to get a free gift that's really worth something, definitely worth buying the magazine then. The free gifts don't usually tempt me, it's the offers that do.
DeleteMy MIL gifts me The Good Food mag each year which is lovely, but the price of magazines here is astronomic, nearly double so I avoid newsagents at all costs. Unlike the UK supermarkets here sell food and a few household items such as brooms etc and a few cosmetics and do not sell anything else. So you buy everything as you would have done years ago at the right shop, so tabacs, pharmacias, ferraterias (hardware) etc all trade their own wares. That way I do not get lulled into buying mags. To subscribe overseas is also too expensive and alot of them will not include the free offers, which is frustrating. Mind you I am not adverse to browsing the shelves when on occasion I am in the UK and have been known to adopt a few on the way. xcx
ReplyDeleteI enjoy looking at foodie magazines but I rarely use any of the recipes so they're a bit of a waste of money for me. I like the idea of having individual shops but then I also like to be able to buy everything I want from one shop when I'm short of time. I'm sure it helps it helps keep temptation out of the way though.
DeleteI go back and forth, sometimes canceling and then joining again. I love the sweet little pig, that is worth the price right there.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
I have my favourite magazines and if I can find an offer I'll buy it but they've become so expensive that I never have a subscription now unless it's a special offer one.
DeleteThe sock patterns are pretty good in this issue, and a certain sock-knitting blogger is in it as well ;-) Looking forward to seeing your pig! xx
ReplyDeleteI've only had a quick flick through the magazine so I hadn't come across that certain sock-knitting blogger. Fame at last, eh?
Deleteamazing patterns ,hope to see more cute knitting wonders dear
ReplyDeleteI haven't started them yet but I doubt they'll take very long, they're so small.
DeleteThere are worse vices as Susan said, Jo, than buying magazines! And you did get a bargain there. I have had gift subscriptions in the past and it feels like a treat when the latest edition pops through the letterbox every month. Now how did I guess that you would start off with Paula Pig? ;-) xx
ReplyDeleteI'm happy when I find a bargain like this, I do love magazines, I just don't like paying the prices. I know what you mean about it being a treat when the latest edition drops through the letterbox, I think subscriptions are great gifts. You know me so well, Paula Pig it has to be.
DeleteI was brought up in my parents' newsagents shop and have always loved magazines, but only the monthly style glossies and now I write for them, so please all of you, keep buying them! Sadly, some of my favourites have gone to the wall, such as Period House, but there are still some lovely ones out there. I used to subscribe to about eight or nine, and yes, it was expensive, but they are my one weakness (if only!)
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
How lovely to be brought up in a newsagents, that must have been like a dream, all those lovely magazines to browse. Yes, it's a shame when a favourite ceases being published but as you say, there's so many to choose from these days and new ones seem to pop up regularly too.
DeleteI knew you'd want to knit the pig, aren't they all so cute.
ReplyDeleteI was sent a Country Living offer recently, a free Emma Bridgewater mug if you took out a reduced price subscription. I was tempted but the reason I gace it up a few years ago was all the adverts and the samey ness of each issue so put it all into the recycling.
Lisa x
They are, I like Douglas the Dog too. The Country Living offer sounds tempting, but as you say, you do have to look past the offer as sometimes it still isn't worth it.
DeleteThat is a good deal! I love the farmyard animals, I could imagine them selling like hot cakes at the rescue open days!xxx
ReplyDeleteThe animals are really cute, I'm sure they'd do very well at the open days.
Delete