Thursday, November 19, 2009

Threads Magazine: Yea or Nay?

I've made my love of Threads Magazine well known around these parts. I've learned many advanced techniques from their crystal clear instructions: bound buttonholes, boning a bustier, fitting secrets. But I have to confess, the first time I picked up an issue, I was immediately turned off. I think the first thing I saw was a technique to applique and embroider t-shirts. (Eeek.) I wanted something that spoke more to my fashion sensibility. But then a dressmaking teacher showed me some of the excellent articles in his favorite back issues, and I became a true fan. Once I learned to look past the styling, I discovered a treasure trove of information.

I amassed a decent collection of back issues from eBay, and have read through them more times than I can count. I certainly don't look at Threads for style inspiration, and I skip over articles on things like machine embroidery and quilting. I have to remind myself to ignore the styling of an article, and to focus on the techniques and how I can adapt them to my own taste.

I'm now a subscriber, and even though there are some articles I skip, I still love it. This month's issue is a pretty clear representation. There's stuff that's definitely not for me, like this:

But then so much that is. An article on the restoration of a couture vintage dress at Madame Paulette's, the "World's Leading Custom Couture Cleaner."

A profile of various trims and how to care for them.
And then an article on different tailoring methods, just in time for my coat project!

I figure it's a lot like the challenge that the pattern companies currently face. They have to keep a wide variety of sewists happy, so every article isn't going to be to my taste. No big deal, I'll just skip to the articles that are.

How about you: are you a Threads reader? Or do you have other sewing magazines to recommend?

37 comments:

  1. I am actually about to get my first ever 4 issues of Threads for free. A blogger I follow was getting rid of some double issues she has and is sending 4 of them to me. I am so excited.

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  2. I'm with you -- I'm a big Threads fan, but there are definitely features/styling that don't match my taste. I think they feature wonderful information and creative techniques.

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  3. I am most definitely a Threads reader. I agree with you about the more crafty articles. Some are just plain hideous. But the articles on basic and more advanced techniques keeps me excited to see it in my mailbox.

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  4. Have been enjoying your blog for a couple of months now, thanks for writing it! Regarding Threads, I've subscribed since sometime in late 80's/early 90's, and for the most part have loved it. There was about a year recently that I was thinking of not re-newing. Fortunately, by the time my renewal came up, they had again made changes (staffing/editor ??) and the articles were closer to what they had been in the past. My big regret - due to space issues, I kept only the articles that interested me at the time. I am considering getting the new DVD and start saving the entire issue of all the ones I get going forward. I agree also, ignore the styling, and there are some gems. There are even more gems if the subject can be applied to another area - i.e. use some of the quilting ideas/hints on clothing, combine knitting with clothing, etc.
    As far as other magazines to recommend - SewNews and SewStylish are more basic sewing. SewBeautiful is good if you're into the lacy baby/little girl or romantic/victorian style sewing, at least from what I've seen. I'm sure there are other good magazines that I haven't seen, I look forward to what others like.

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  5. I really like Threads. I do not subscribe to it anymore because for a while I thought I was wasting my money because I did not enjoy all the articles in the magazine. I am excited that they have the DVD and have put it on my Christmas/Birthday wish list.

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  6. I LOVE Threads. I have a subscription. I, like you had purchased several issues from Ebay before my subscription. At one time I canceled my subscription. Then saw some of the issues I had missed, and there were techniques I thought were very good. So I then renewed my subscription. I don't read all of the articles either, like the sculpted necklace one. Not my style at all. I also have a subscription to Sew News. And I buy Sew Stylish when an issue comes out. I am in love with Sew Stylish!

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  7. I've been reading Threads for over 2 decades now and I think it's the Mercedes of sewing magazines. Gertie you're going to find that articles that don't mean much to you now will become important at different times in the future. My Threads are a valuable resource and one of the reasons that my sewing has grown and improved.

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  8. I used to subscribe to Threads way back in the Dark Ages but I have a lot of sewing books and no need for more instructions. I think too many of their projects are just way too much work for the silly thing you get.
    I actually enjoy Vogue Pattern magazine more--they have nice articles on accessories and trends and pretty clothes. They also have how-to stories, and it's fun to try and pick out which of the models are boys. I do get tired of all the relentlessly positive feedback they print.

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  9. Sew Beautiful is the only sewing mag. I get presently, but I've never read Thread's before. Now that i've seen your post, I am going to check it out.

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  10. Count me as a YES! I love their articles.

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  11. I just picked up Threads again this month, after having not touched one since the late 90s (I got scared away by the artsy/crafty stuff as well). This months issue is great, though, I picked it up pretty much specifically for the tailoring article, but there's all sorts of other good stuff in there,too. I may have to look at getting a subscription if I find more good stuff like this!

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  12. I know exactly what you mean. I recently bought online a copy of Kenneth D. King's "Cool Couture". It had good write-ups and I thought it might offer some more 'dummy-friendly' tips than some of my vintage sewing books. Full of excitement I opened up my Amazon package and, Egad! I simply cannot get past those clothes... The kind of book that I would have picked up in a shop, howled '"Couture", that??!!!, and put straight back down again... Hopefully somebody will tell me that it is full of very useful tips and to stop being so shallow... otherwise, my local Oxfam shop beckons.

    Threads, on the other hand, seems great, but I've looked in the past at subscribing and they only seem to cater for the US market (if they do international, I couldn't see it on their site).

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  13. I've been a Threads subscriber for years and years and years. I admit, the magazine is not what it used to be, but I certainly enjoy it more than Sew News or any other magaize out there. There are not a lot of sewing magazines for us to choose from, unfortunately.

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  14. I feel the same as you. I love Threads articles on techniques, history and notions info. The styling, like the lace applique on the denim skirt made me cringe.

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  15. I have quickly become a Threads lover, with much the same taste as you. I love some of the techiques and tricks but tend to skip over the emboidery and crafty things (like that vile sculpted necklace)

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  16. My mom gave me a subscription to Threads for my birthday last year. Honestly, I don't look forward to getting them, but it's nice when they appear in the mail. They are fun to look through and a few articles are inspiring, but I won't be rushing out to renew the subscription when it runs out in a few months.

    I'd much rather have a BWOF subscription ;)

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  17. I don't read Threads, mainly because I find it too tedious to slog through all the stuff I don't like to get to the one nugget I'm interested in. I usually go to the internet or my sewing books for techniques though. I do take an Ottobre subscription (Woman not kids) and I love it.

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  18. I LOVE Threads. I don't subsribe right now (it's expensive!) But when I'm at a bookstore I always pick one up and look through it and buy it if there's any articles I think I can use. I use their website to search through pretty often, too.

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  19. I am a loyal reader of Threads and, like you skip over many articles. On the other hand, I appreciate the pattern reviews, the Master Classes, some of the basics and the back cover. The Embellishments section leaves me cold... but my sister loves that stuff! Look at these articles as what they need to do to keep circulation up!

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  20. To borrow from the old rhyme: When Threads is good, it's very, very good; but when it's bad, it's horrid. I check out copies from the library and copy only those articles that are useful. I agree with others - I'm not spending money for a publication where 2/3 of the articles are tedious, ugly, or ridiculous. And you're right, Gertie, they do try to hard to satisfy the masses.

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  21. Threads is sewers heaven as far as I'm concerned. It has very very useful articles than can be applied to modern aesthetic. By contrast Australian Stitches is totally daggy, full of terrible embellishments and horrible fabrics. My sewing compatriots reckon that we should purchase Stitches over Threads so that it doesn't die. Well call me a murderer!

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  22. I used to be a Threads and SewNews subscriber, but not any more. I let my subscriptions lapse about 4-5 years ago. It used to be that SewNews was practical and Threads was for advanced sewists. Not any more! Threads no longer has the articles that I find useful and I really miss the amazing pieces on vintage or historic garments that used to be featured on the back cover. SewNews is now abysmal! All the articles are for beginners or time savers. I no longer read any sewing magazines.

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  23. I subscribe to Threads and really enjoy the articles on technique, the crafty and embellishing stuff I leave behind. I also like Australian Stitches which is a little difficult to find so I only have a few issues but they have great articles. They also use models that are normal sized women and it is nice to see.

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  24. I love Threads. Like any magazine, or book, every article isn't going to appeal to every reader.

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  25. Yea! I love Threads and have for many years! I also like the article of couture cleaning.

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  26. I went to FIDM and their sewing teaching is about a half a quarter. If it weren't for threads I wouldn't even know how to baste.

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  27. I love Threads magazine. I have every issue except one - #9. I do love the old Threads better then I love the new Threads. The old Threads had articles that was about, well threads. It had knitting, weaving, quilting. The articles were interesting. I would never go up in or make a hot air balloon, but the article they had was interesting. Now some times(well a lot of times) I think I've read the same article before, and some times I think there nothing new under the sun.But I'll will not stop reading My Threads magazine. And yes I'm saving my pennies for the dvd all
    threads.

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  28. I subscribe and lapse and subscribe and lapse. I find now I get more inspiration from online. But I'd still love that DVD collection.

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  29. I started reading Threads a couple of months ago, and I do appreciate the content though I don't get the embellishment/embroidery stuff. I've been picking up back issues at the library and I hope Santa brings me my own subscription because it's a bit tedious waiting 2 months to be able to check out an issue.

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  30. I have never read Threads, but I only started sewing clothing seriously a few months ago. After reading about it on your blog and some others, I want to get a copy and see it for myself! I read about Burda on blogs and quickly became hooked!

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  31. pick the Kenneth King back up again Nathalie, the techniques are worth it. The welt pocket using a ribbon is worth the price of the book. The clothes date from when he was doing custom work for Elton John.

    Vogue pattern magazine is the one for the advanced sewing articles. The Claire Shaiffer column is outstanding.

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  32. Sounds like I'm in the same category as a lot of readers here, I take what I like from Threads and ignore the rest, but it's definitely been worth subscribing!

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  33. Definitely a Threads admirer, since the early nineties. I'm really excited about this new DVD, which sounds great: All issues 1 through 146, in their entirety and searchable! While I don't always use a technique immediately, I never fail to go back and peruse older issues.

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  34. I like Threads, but I read it at the library and purchase the issues that interest me. I'm a big library girl! :)

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  35. I felt like I was reading my own thoughts with this one. I stood in JoAnns and read this issue and while I enjoyed the articles, the tailoring info didn't seem to be any different than what is in the Tailoring book you showed on a later entry (which I also have) so I didn't buy it because I've already far outspent my allotment at the fabric store. But in the past I have bought issues simply for reference for later - agreeing wholeheartedly on style being not right for me, but technique - invaluable information! I also tend to gravitate toward people's books who have had involvement with Threads because they seem to pick people with great experience to write for them.

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  36. I absolutely love my Threads magazine. I read them just for fun. One issue helped me a lot when I was making two strapless princess styple bridemaids dresses with boning for my daughter's wedding.

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  37. I've been a subscriber since Issue #1. You're right -- there's a lot in there that isn't useful, but so much that is! I used their article, and their article only, to make custom slipcovers for my sofa. There's a wonderful old article on how to make Dior roses -- not at all cheesy, and they lay out the technique perfectly. Their articles on fitting have be very helpful, too.

    I'm sure you know by know that you can purchase something like 150 back issues on one cd. I own that now, so now I can purge much of my old collection. I just need to get around to that now....

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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