From some random cubicle...

Kim Werker wrote

on Dec 2, 2005 11:52 AM

This issue. This issue. This issue is last, first, and in the middle.

It's the last in our now formerly bimonthly publication schedule. After fourteen months of non-stop inflexible deadlines, massive growth, and after careful brainstorming and creative decision making, we've decided to go quarterly. A step back, you say? Au contraire! You'll still get fabulous, new content at least six times a year. Just not necessarily on the first of every second month. The rigid schedule was, to be frank, stressing us out. And who needs more stress, especially when it comes to doing something we actually enjoy? Not us. So. In addition to the four seasonally published issues, we'll put out at least two special theme issues. The first is coming next month, and the theme is love Love LOVE. Then our spring issue will come out toward the end of February.

This issue is the first to be published in our new, techy-fab back-end system. Really, what that means is the features I've been teasing you about for months are finally here. Now, we are still in the process of copying and pasting the back issues into the new system. So please be patient until you can access everything (though, no fear, any links you've saved still work!). You can now browse all the content in Crochet me, by category. And at the very bottom of each pattern and article, you'll find what I consider to be the longest-awaited and most fabulous features of all: you can email pages to your friends (we just had to make it easier for you to spread crochet!), and you can ... drum roll, please! ... click for printer-friendly pages. No more browser crashes! No more angry emails in my inbox! Whee!

And, finally, this issue is in the middle. "In the middle of what, Kim?" you ask. Well, it's in the middle of everything, really. It's a narcissistic issue. It's smack in the middle of the crochet fad that's sweeping the world. The world, people! Crochet's on the runway; it's in the newspaper; it's featured in more and more rad books; and, of course, it's on our minds, like, all day long.

But wait, there's more! For many months we've been hearing feedback that you want more garments. We've let you know that we simply weren't receiving many garment submissions. And you came through. In this issue we have a skirt that will make you cheer, a swirly cardigan in the hippest design around, and a stash-busting vest hoodie. And we also have baby stuff, our first amigurumi-influenced pattern (look for a special feature on amigurumi in our spring issue!), and rad fabulous wicked cool accessories. Not to mention articles on gift giving, choosing crochet over knitting, and a loop stitch tutorial.

As you may know, our magazine is trying very hard to start bringing in enough money to pay for patterns and articles, and we're committed to never charging subscription fees. That's my plea for you to support our sponsors! Also, you'll notice that we've switched our book-related affiliate partnership to Powell's Books. I went to Powell's City of Books in Portland, OR, a couple of weeks ago, and it rocked my world on so many levels. It's an independent bookstore that manages to stock everything. New, used, rare -- it's all there. The place is enormous. Their customer service is friendly and helpful, and I'm excited to do my best to send as much business as I can their way. They ship worldwide, and I bet you'll feel great when you support a family-owned business in our world that's busting at the seams with big-box chain stores. Whenever you make a purchase at Powell's after following a link from our site, we'll get a cut and we'll love you forever. How convenient that a massive gift-giving season is upon us!