Really disappointed with Crochet Fantasy

[mudpie]

I just received my last issue of Crochet Fantasy, along with a letter for renewal, which I won't be using. I've been very disappointed with my subscription to the mag. This issue says it is Spring 2005. What the heck?!? Yet inside it says Copyright 2006, and next mail date August 14, 2006. Now I'm really confused. But my real disappointment has been the awfulness of patterns in the mag.

 

Now, I realize that everything is a matter of taste per individual, but really. For example, the mitred square vest. Does ANYONE want to wear a vest that has broad bands coming to a V at the front that scream, "Here is my belly"? Even the average size model looks thick in it, and the plus size model (more like my shape) looks awful in it.

 

The toddler's crochet play suit isn't actually too bad, but it's at least 3" too long, and I'm sure a child would trip all over herself wearing it that long. Couldn't they find a child who actually fit into the outfit?

 

And the Summertime Granny Go-Round! From the front it isn't too terrible, but with the split gap in the back it seems to say, "Here's my butt". Even the average sized booty on the model seems out of proportion when that kind of attention is drawn to it.

 

I think I've really only liked 3 patterns in the whole year's time, and $20 seems a bit high for 3 patterns, as they weren't exceptional. Just curious, am I alone, or have any of you been disappointed as well?

[angelfire]

I haven't seen the magazine...hopefully others have had better luck and to receive a magazine that said it was Spring 2005 in August 2006 I would definitely get in touch with the publishers

[Nutsaboutcrochet13]

I agree with you on how horrid Crochet fantasy mag is... the patterns are completely tasteless!

 

I bought one from an RK news store and haven't bought another because the patterns are crappy:angry

[monael]

I totally agree!!! I hat that magazine. I bought 2 of them about a year ago and I gave them away. I check them out in the bookstore because it is hard to believe that they would be so awful every time but they are!! There might have been a couple of so so patterns but nothing that deserves to get my money. I wish we could get foreign crochet magazines easily, because they have great patterns.

[Carol]

Couldn't agree more. Patterns like that are the reason crocheting gets such a bad rap: Everyone assumes we're all madly sewing together granny squares into every shape imaginable. I'm not impressed with any of the crochet mags out there, so I can't wait to see the new one, Crochet Today.

 

I could be wrong about this, but I think much of my disappointment with crochet mags stems from the yarn companies. Having been in the mag biz for years, I would bet a paycheck that yarn companies tell the crochet mags, "We'll advertise with you if you feature our yarns and our patterns." I'll bet mags get the yarn company's patterns for "free" in return for advertising, so why should the mag go after good designers who may or may not use their advertisers' yarns in their designs? Why pay a designer for a pattern when you can get them for free with an ad besides?

 

The yarn companies need to realize that many of us crocheters are no longer interested in fun fur toilet paper covers made out of granny squares. Just give us some of the same designs knitters get! Some classy and classic sweaters, afghans with new design and color ideas, baby clothes that are practical instead of frou-frou-cute, handbags we'd actually use, wearables we'd really wear...

[mudpie]

Amen, Carol!

[Empress Busy Bee]

I agree, I didn't like this issue at all either. I also didn't like that plus size sweater. Good grief big girls don't need to look like they have horse blankets on or feel like it.

 

I'll bet mags get the yarn company's patterns for "free" in return for advertising

Actually advertising costs a lot for any magazine whatever the product. They might have got to throw in free patterns but you can be sure they paid for those ads.

 

Oh and didn't someone say they're behind regarding the issue/sent date due to Katrina? I can cut them slack for that but not for the patterns.

[Carol]

...Actually advertising costs a lot for any magazine whatever the product. They might have got to throw in free patterns but you can be sure they paid for those ads..

 

Oh, I didn't mean they got free advertising. I mean that the yarn companies probably get to place their _patterns_ for free in return for paying for advertising in the issue. (In effect, tho, that pattern _becomes_ free advertising...)

[Empress Busy Bee]

Ah.

[NoLooseEnds]

I agree, I didn't like this issue at all either. I also didn't like that plus size sweater. Good grief big girls don't need to look like they have horse blankets on or feel like it.

 

Thank you so much...I was beginning to think that I am crazy for not wanting to look BIGGER THAN I AM!!! But then, the cute patterns (like many in Crochet!) only go up to a size Large (which is actually a medium) and you end up just sort of winging it and hoping it still looks as cute as the model...sigh:rolleyes

[viggie]

I have a subsciption which I won't be renewing either. I picked it up just because I got a bunch of subscriptions to crochet magagines cheap on a website, but it sure wasn't even worth the reduced price. I've never seen anything in it I found even remotely interesting.

[Dee738]

I bought the winter issue of Crochet Fantasy because of the article on Judith Copeland and her "modular crochet" technique. I was excited, and made a sweater using it that turned out ok (except they forgot to tell you in the article that their stitch technique causes your fabric to shrink over several rows, which would not be apparent in a guage swatch, so I have a darn near crop top sweater..lol) The "spring" issue was absolutely horrid. In addition to the already mentioned atrocities, lets not forget the bikini. *shudder*

 

And am I the only one who thinks with the length of the back, and the lacy design of the body, that the arms on the "Lacy Lilac Shrug" look bizarre?

[CLLinda]

The thing is that they are under new owners trying "New" things. They are making it a lot bigger (from 60 pages to about 100), and kind of not quite getting it right. It seems to have a lot of "filler stuff" in it than it used to, and they have changed the format also.

 

I am also thinking about not renewing when it is time, but I don't know.

 

The last issue was kind of really out there with the patterns.

 

Maybe it will get better. Also, I think I read that something happened at the printers and that's why it was so late. But they need to get their act together.

 

Linda:manyheart

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

Walmart had a couple Crochet Fantasy magazines in their craft section, and I flipped through it---pretty, pretty bad. I totally agree.

 

I also bought the new Crochet Today! Unless ther eis a dramatic improvement in the next issue, i won't be buying that anymore, either. There were maybe three patterns I thought I might make; the rest of the patterns just didn't appeal to me at all, and I thought some of the yarn selections were odd (of course, this could be because it is a Red Heart/coats association magazine).

 

Nicole

[Carol]

...I also bought the new Crochet Today! Unless ther eis a dramatic improvement in the next issue' date=' i won't be buying that anymore, either. There were maybe three patterns I thought I might make; the rest of the patterns just didn't appeal to me at all, and I thought some of the yarn selections were odd (of course, this could be because it is a Red Heart/coats association magazine).

 

Nicole[/quote']

 

Darn. Sorry to hear that. I had such high hopes.

[Shalla]

I have never liked Crochet Fantasy, either. I don't waste my money on those. Yuck.

[origami]

I just received my last issue of Crochet Fantasy, along with a letter for renewal, which I won't be using. I've been very disappointed with my subscription to the mag. This issue says it is Spring 2005. What the heck?!? Yet inside it says Copyright 2006, and next mail date August 14, 2006. Now I'm really confused. But my real disappointment has been the awfulness of patterns in the mag.

 

I could not stand it either!

 

Apparently, they didn't do a good job of proofreading which is why they ended up with the Spring 2005 on the cover. It IS the current issue just with the wrong date. But I worry about the production values of a magazine if they can't get the cover date correct. SOMEONE should have spotted that when proofing.

 

I didn't mind Crochet Today so much. There are a few things in there I will crochet (the creativity boxes for sure) but I think that someone got a hold of Mason Dixon Knitting and that's where they got their inspiration for the focus of this magazine this month (Log Cabin blanket, bibs, boxes).

[Karen C.]

It is a horrible magazine and I've said so previously. I loved the old format with fashions that I would really make and wear. Since the new management took over, it's nothing but junk patterns and the models; while I'm not going to go there. I received my last magazine of my subscription and throw the renewal notice in the trash. This magazine certainly give crochet a bad name.

[funkyreporter]

So funny to see this thread 'cause just yesterday I was going through the pile-o-bills and I came to the renewal for this mag and just tossed it 'cause I remembered being so disappointed with it... thought I was just getting spoiled with all the great patterns and designs I'm seeing here on the 'ville... Glad it's not only me

[luckybmr]

I waited and waited for it and then it took forever to get because of all the problems they had. It was okay, but I think I will look thru the next issue in the store before buying. Don't know about subscribing - going to have to have some good stuff in it first.

 

Too bad we can't find a way to forward a thread to the magazine for them to read what Crochetville people are saying about their mag - maybe they would listen. I have seen many threads on here that talk about various mags or books that might be interesting to forward to the publishers.

[benee16]

I thought the older issues were better, even though the magazine was a little smaller. I am just so tired of seeing these fashion yarns with feathers and fluff in clothes. No one I know wears these things. I won't subscribe, only look through first. Also I could swear I've seen that child's outfit maybe a year or 2 ago. My daughter would never wear anything like that.

Denise

[Sylviaf]

I used to like this magazine a lot. The new people aren't doing a very good job and the most recent issue was dreadful. With so few crochet magazines, it is very disappointing to come across bad ones.

[goldi316]

This was the first issue of the magazine that I put back on the shelf after flipping through it. I have to agree, it was dreadful. I didn't get a chance to see any issues of this magazine before it came under the new management, but I do recall people complaining almost from the start about the drop in quality. I have enjoyed some of the past issues however, mostly a few issues from last year. But it's been downhill ever since. I too will not hold it against them that their schedule got derailed by Katrina, but I WILL hold it against them for NEVER making an effort to communicate to subscribers and general customers! For cryin' out loud _ I just checked, and they have NEVER touched their web page! The information and picture that are up are STILL from last spring, when the new management took over! They could have used that page to let their customers know - in one fast easy message - about their publishing difficulties, but they never made an effort.

 

Although I usually mostly like my issues of Crochet! (only one I have a sub to right now), I have noticed that these magazines seem to be more of an extention of the marketing arm of certain major yarn companies, and I have to blame that for the seeming lack of good variety and quality and way too much reliance on the "frou-frou" yarns in many of the patterns, not to mention the unrealistic sizing. I mean, are they designing clothes for Barbie dolls or real people? Have they stepped out of their marketing office ("we've GOT to sell X amt of yards of Fun Fur to recoup our costs and see a profit! Push FUN FUR!"*) long enough to notice that real people don't look like the Barbies in their designs and aren't wearing all that fuzzy stuff?

 

I really HATE big business mentality! Especially when it's hiding inside my yarn!

 

*DISCLAIMER: this little rant is not meant to be directed at any one specific company. Mention of any identifiable brand names of products is strictly for illustrative purposes only!

[CraftyShannon]

I bought this magazine for the first time this month and did not really look at it beforehand because I was in a hurry. I knew better, but I did it anyway. I now see why you all have been complaining about it for the last few months. Most of what I saw did not look practical and I doubt I will ever make anything out of it. Chalk it up to lesson learned the hard way.

[crochetqueen]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone emailed Crochet Fantasy or Crochet! to let them know you are disappointed and why ? I am not affiliated with either one but figure it would be worth an email. After all it seems like these might be the only magazines for crochet and we want to keep them around right ? Maybe we should start another thread and everyone can put their likes and dis likes for a crochet magazine, you never know they might read it.