In July the quilting community was saddened to learn that Quilters Newsletter, the beloved magazine started by Bonnie Leman 47-years-ago, was being shut down by F+W Media.
Leman founded Quilters Newsletter in 1969 and published the first issue in September of that year from her kitchen table. Quilt historians and experts agree that by researching and publishing information about quilting Leman shaped and guided the revival of the craft that began in the mid-1970’s and continues to this day.
F+W has announced that it’s donating Leman’s papers to the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. The magazine archives include Leman’s handwritten and typewritten notes, copies of every issue of Quilters Newsletter, and quilt patterns from the magazine and the mail-order catalog company that was part of the Quilters Newsletter brand. Leman’s collection of patterns from other publications, some of which are nearly 100 years old, are included in the donation.
Prior to this Leman’s papers were not readily available to the public.
Bonnie Leman talks about the first issue of the magazine and her vision for it in this 2002 video created by Quilt Treasures.
The cover of the first issue of Quilters Newsletter.
The coversof the 15th anniversary special issue, the 30th anniversary issue, the 45th anniversary issue, and the October/November 2016 issue which is the last.
“Researchers and future generations of quilters will have access to an abundance of quilting history, and the legacy established by Quilters Newsletter founder Bonnie Leman will be preserved,” says General Manager of F+W’s quilting and sewing devision Kristi Loeffelholz. “The Briscoe Center has an extensive collection of quilt history documentation and we’re thrilled to be able to add to that valuable collection.”
Declining ad revenue is having a serious effect on the magazine business right now and I realize that it’s not possible to keep every publication going (F+W also publishes McCall’s Quilting, Quiltmaker, Quilting Arts, and Modern Patchwork magazines), but Quilters Newsletter has a history worth honoring. I wish instead of cancelling it F+W would have chosen to infuse it with new life.
Leman was an innovative publisher dedicated to furthering the understanding of quilting as an art form. I feel confident that despite the changes in the media market, or perhaps because of them, there’s an audience for in-depth content on quilt making and on the quilting industry even if it means going digital. Although I’m thrilled that Leman’s legacy will be preserved, and I hope to be able to visit the Briscoe Center and spend time with her papers myself, I can’t help but feel that there was a real missed opportunity here.
Kate G says
Less costly ad-free or marketplace ad publishing models are possible if there’s a subscriber base to support them. A subscriber-only newsletter (both digital and printed) might be a worthy publishing model. There is a such an extensive back library, that repurposing content might find a new audience.
Rebecca Grace says
I totally agree with you about the missed opportunity, Abby. If you find a publication that is stepping in to fill that gap, please let us know! What I loved about QNM versus other magazines was similar to what I love about reading Vogue or Architectural Digest. It was aspirational and inspirational. I loved seeing those masterpiece quilts from shows all over the world, quilts I could never see in person and with a skill level that I couldn’t expect to achieve myself. Every issue opened my eyes to greater possibilities for creative expression with needle and thread, encouraging and motivating me to work harder for accuracy and to push the boundaries of what I could create. I can’t afford to buy the couture brands in Vogue or the ultra high end furnishings in AD, but I find wonderful ideas there that can be translated to my “real world.” It was the same with QNM, except that quilting fabric is within the economic reach of quilters, and the greater the intricacy of a particular quilt, the MORE affordable it becomes when you look at fabric cost in relation to the amount of time you spend working on a project. $300 for a project that you labor over with love for 3 years is more “economical” than $100 for a “quilt-in-a-day” project, if you catch my drift. I saved all my old issues of QNM, because even though the Intermediate and Challenging patterns weren’t within my reach when I first began subscribing, they were goals to work towards for someday. I have stopped buying other quilting magazines because they are disposable — the patterns are boring, designed to showcase advertisers’ fabric collections and so easy that they don’t even REQUIRE patterns.
Becca says
I am eager to know if the articles etc.. will be available on line.
I attended a “Code-In” day to get volunteers to become Wikipedia editors and get articles in Wikipedia about women Artists.
This is especially relevant about QUILTERS. I am sure there are articles in the Quilters Newsletter Archive ABOUT the Artists and what we feel are famous American quilters, but how can I get the information from old issues of QNL and get it into Wikipedia?
many of the quilters have their own active websites, however Wikipedia wants articles written About the Artist or Quilter – secondary sources rather than primary ( written by the person them selves) altho Bibliographies of their books is quite welcomed.
I was surprised that the Quilters Newsletter website is still on line and available, it has several indexes by pattern and by topic, but once I get a reference – I have to order a back issue? I’m eager but not that dedicated.
Abby says
I don’t think there’s plans to digitize the back catalog.
jo Wray says
I have read Quilter’s Newsletter for much of it’s life. I will truly miss this magazine. I’m not at all happy that it will no longer be published. I learned so much from this magazine. There was a great quality to it. Quilting Art’s can not replace Quilters Newsletter. I did buy the last issue last year. Sad.