I am having a good think about my current craft magazine subscriptions and a lot I will not be renewing. The problem with craft magazines, knitting ones in particular is that one tends to hold onto them once you have flicked though them. I think it’s because they have the knitting patterns in them and there is that way of thinking that I might need this pattern one day. It’s ridiculous really. If I was to buy one of the glossies for the same price I would recycle it once I’ve flicked through so why can’t I do the same with my craft ones. Every year I go through them all and see which ones I really am unlikely to need and either give them to a group or friend or I recycle them.
This time around I thought I would go the digital route. This would mean I could have all my copies on my tablet or laptop to browse at my leisure and never have to throw a copy away again. I browsed the various formats and imagine my shock and disbelief when I saw the price. The digital copy of Knit Now is £20 more than the hard copy. What makes it even worse is that you don’t get the cover gifts or any free gift that is offered if you take out a subscription and you don’t get your magazine until release date. I’m not fussed about the free gifts but if I am not getting them I would expect the subscription cost to reflect that. I have looked at other magazines as well and they all appear to be the same. You pay the same price for digital or hard copy yet with some of the hard copies you get a free gift as well.
As you can imagine I have gone with the paper copy. Twenty pounds was too big a difference to pay.