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Popknits to Cease Publishing in 2010
Hi everyone,
Well, it’s been a great run of it and I very much enjoyed putting Popknits together for you each season, but I’m going to have to cease publishing in 2010 for budgetary reasons. The magazine is running at a loss and without advertising or donations, I can no longer continue to pay honorariums to designers out of my own pocket. I had sincerely hoped when I started this magazine that there would be some kind souls who would donate or choose to advertise with us for every issue. While I did get a few interested parties in the beginning, that is no longer the case. The economy has been tough on everyone, myself included. I can no longer foresee keeping the magazine alive if I’m the only one paying for it. I expect that I may have been able to generate more revenue for Popknits by putting together media kits and actively engaging companies for their support, but I am now pregnant with my second child and time is not on my side!
So, with all of that, I have decided to put Popknits on hold for 2010. It is possible that I may be able to publish again in the Fall of 2011, but I won’t be able to make that decision until Spring of next year. In the meantime, the site will stay live and I will still be here for questions if you have them. Thank you to all the kind readers who have contacted me and shown their support for Popknits from the beginning. It really means a lot to know that you want us to stick around. Hopefully, Popknits will be back.
Take care and happy knitting!
Stephanie.
Posted by gleek on 02/27 at 04:48 PM in General News
Champs-Élysées Beret Chart Correction
The Champs-Élysées Beret chart has been updated to correct the cables on the chart. If you have downloaded the chart PDF, please redownload it. Thank you.
Posted by gleek on 01/12 at 05:48 PM in General News
Change to Popknits Publishing Schedule
Hello everyone!
Well, I have spent a great deal of time mulling over all possibilities for the continuation of Popknits during this economic downturn. The site is fully-funded by what I make off of advertising revenue and freelance projects that I take on outside of Popknits to pay for designers’ honorariums. As you have probably noticed, there has not been much interest in advertising with Popknits in the first year. I expected as much since our catalog is so small, but it’s time that I scale back the magazine to make things easier on myself and still keep it up and running.
Starting with the upcoming issue, Popknits will be published annually resulting in a Fall/Winter edition and a Spring/Summer edition. All the patterns that I have lined up to publish for the fall with be published in the Fall/Winter issue. This means that instead of soliciting patterns for the Winter issue, I will skip it all together. My apologies to anyone who was already designing something that they hoped to submit for the Winter issue! Please know that you can still submit it for the S/S 2010 issue since Popknits is season-agnostic.
In the meantime, please think of Popknits when you think of advertising online! I would hate to shut down the publishing schedule entirely but my gut tells me that if advertising revenue does not come in for the next two issues, I will have to do so. Thankfully, hosting the site is a minimal expense that I can handle for a long time and published patterns here will never just disappear. Let’s just keep positive and hope to keep Popknits running for quite some time.
Thank You!
Posted by gleek on 08/06 at 03:40 PM in General News
Issue #04: Summer 2009 Preview Is Live!
Hi everyone!
We have a very short while before the summer issue is live! In the meantime, the preview is up and online for you to peruse. Hopefully, this is just what you need on a Friday 
View the Summer 2009 Preview Now!
Posted by gleek on 05/29 at 10:04 AM in General News
Submissions for Summer Issue Close Tomorrow & Summer Issue Ad Sale!
Submissions for Issue #04: Summer 2009 Closing Tomorrow!
Design and article submissions for the summer issue will be closed by midnight EDT on April 1. I’ve already had a few submissions come through the door, and I can’t wait to see what else you all have for me.
See Popknits’ Submission Guidelines
Advertising Rate Changes
I’ve decided to change the rates for article and pattern pages to make advertising in those sections more small-business friendly. Spring and summer rates will be less expensive, seeing as those are the down times for knitting in the Northern Hemisphere, but even the fall and winter rates are affordable at $80/slot.
Summer Issue Sale! Buy a slot on the Individual Pattern or Article page for both the Summer and Fall issues for only $100 total. That’s a $30 discount! Contact us now to secure your slot.
Posted by gleek on 03/31 at 01:23 PM in General News
Issue #03: Spring 2009 Preview Is Live!
Spring is in the air, and we have some great new patterns to celebrate it!
View the Issue #03: Spring 2009 Preview
Submissions for Summer 2009
Submissions are now open for Issue #04: Summer 2009! For our summer issue, we’re looking for men’s patterns and baby items, since these are the type most lacking on Popknits currently, but any pattern will be considered. If you have a pattern you think would be great for Popknits, please send it on. Also, feel free to submit patterns regardless of their seasonality. As temperatures climb in the Northern Hemisphere and knitting with wool becomes unbearable, don’t forget that winter is in full swing to those in the Southern Hemisphere. Popknits is season-agnostic! To find out more, check our submissions guidelines and download our submissions pack before getting your files together.
Submissions for Summer 2009 close on April 1, 2009.
Popknits Submissions Guidelines
Advertising Slots Are Now Open
Slots are now open for the Spring Issue especially on the patterns pages. This is a great slot for getting views on your advertisement. Our most popular patterns get thousands of page views. Just imagine your ad on those pages! Traffic to Popknits during the Winter Issue was extremely good. The site was host to more than 60,000 unique visitors with more than 175,000 page views! That’s 25% more visitors than our Fall premiere issue. I expect to see even more knitters visit the site for the Spring Issue.
If you’re an LYS owner or etsy seller, now is the perfect time to advertise with us. Many of our patterns use yarns that you carry! To be sure, I have posted a list of yarns that are featured in the Spring issue. If you sell these yarns or similar ones that can be substituted, consider placing an ad with us.
Posted by gleek on 02/25 at 10:11 PM in General News, Issue #03: Spring 2009
Spring Deadline Extended
A quick note to let you all know that I have decided to push back the deadline for Spring submissions to January 20, 2009 so that we can all enjoy the holidays with our family and friends. Happy holidays everyone!
Posted by gleek on 12/21 at 09:46 PM in General News
A Few Last Minute Items
The launch of the Fall Issue is coming up fast and there are a few last minute items before I hit the publish button.
It’s not too late to advertise for the premiere issue! Popknits has had over 14,000 page views and 5,000 unique visitors in August so far. That’s a lot of people that could be seeing and clicking on your ads! I definitely expect the number to climb in September when the issue goes live so get in on the action now. Prices go up with each issue! In fact, I’m making it an even sweeter deal to advertise for the first issue. Submit your ad now and save 15%!
For all of the designers out there that are looking to submit for the Winter Issue, please note that the Submissions Pack has been updated. I am now asking for your Ravelry username (which will make it easier for me to input your pattern into the Ravelry database) and have changed the order of the pattern elements. Download the newest Submissions Pack in the Downloads area.
Hope you all enjoyed the preview! See you all back here on September 1.
Posted by gleek on 08/22 at 07:47 PM in General News, Pre-Launch Information
Eleven Days and Counting
We’ve rounded the corner into June here at Popknits (my favorite month!) and I’m already starting to see a few pattern submissions coming through via email. I know it’s been silent here on the news blog but the pace will pick up in late June/early July. Besides being the editor here, I also do freelance web design and coding on the side and I’m mid-stream on a big project that’ll be wrapped up soon, at which time I can put my full attention towards Popknits. If you’re thinking about submitting, rest assured, I am sitting here with needles pointed at attention awaiting your designs.
Also, my family is taking a quick week-long vacation out-of-state next week. All of this is timed to give me (us, really) the well-deserved break we need to head into a busy summer. If I don’t respond to your submissions right away, know that I will as soon as I return home.
Eleven days left!
Posted by gleek on 06/04 at 08:54 PM in General News, Pre-Launch Information
Proposal Deadline Past
The 15th of May has passed and I’m excited to say that I received quite a few beautiful proposals for both the Fall and Winter issues! We have a few hats, some tops, and even a lace stole coming our way. I hope someone out there is thinking about submitting some socks (hint hint) as i have yet to see any cross my mail client.
This also serves as a reminder to those who wish to advertise on Popknits prior to the launch of the Fall issue. I do plan on previewing some of the knits right here on the News blog so I expect some traffic to come this way. The News blog is the most affordable spot on the site to advertise so get in quick and get your slot! See the Advertising Rates section for more details.
Posted by gleek on 05/21 at 09:04 PM in General News, Pre-Launch Information
Submission Pack Update
It was brought to my attention that I had a logical conundrum occurring between my submissions pack and the copyright information on the Submissions page. Turns out that I accidentally cut and paste the wrong information into my submissions pack documents! Just to summarize, patterns will still be published with the CC license I specify on the Submissions page. Designers are encouraged to distribute the pattern on their own website once the pattern is in archives, but until then to link to Popknits. I ask for this time leeway because 98% of people will look at either:
- the Popknits website.
- the pattern author’s website.
- or Ravelry which will have links to either..
when searching for new patterns. Three months is long enough for the pattern to gain some momentum, be distributed from (or be linked back to) Popknits, and for us to get the traffic we need to survive. Then a new issue is launched and those authors can feel free to distribute the pattern under the same CC license on their website. I hope this clears up any confusion. I think that this arrangement will work best for us all.
Posted by gleek on 05/01 at 03:37 PM in General News
Ad Rates and A Poll
Just a quick note to let you all know that I’ve posted the advertising rates on the Advertising page. I’m hoping that businesses big and small will find them decidedly middle-of-the-road. The most affordable section to advertise on is this news blog. I’ve made the rates close to Ravelry’s ad rates so that Etsy sellers can get in on the action. There’s more information over on the Advertising page, of course.
I’ve also had some interest in publishing off-season garments in Popknits and I find the idea very appealing. I think that folks in the southern hemisphere get the wrong end of the stick when North American blogs and magazines only cater to northern hemisphere seasons. I’ve set up a poll to see what you think as well. Head over to Mister Poll to give me your opinion. Polls close on Wednesday, April 30.
P.S. If haven’t joined the Popknits Ravelry group, please do!
P.P.S. I’ve also initiated the Popknits Mailinglist sign-up. You can get in on the action below. The sign-up form is at the bottom of every page.
Posted by gleek on 04/27 at 04:55 PM in General News, Pre-Launch Information
Warm Welcome
I’m happy to say that Popknits has received a very warm welcome in the Ravelry forums. I posted over there yesterday and have been answering some questions which i think that I’ll reiterate here for the sake of clarity.
- By “vintage” I mean from the 1800s to the 1970s. I’m not a huge fan of the 80s or its fashion statements (sorry if this offends some! But I doubt not many..) so I think that we’ll forget the 80s ever happened on this site. There are many fabulous design inspirations to look to otherwise so I’m sure we’ll get some great vintage submissions!
- You can feel free to either submit a proposal or go straight to the finish line and submit a finished piece. Either is fine with me.
- I hope to eventually have some yarn support for designers but I’m fairly certain we won’t have any for the Fall issue. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to take yarn or fiber as payment for ad space. Though I LOVE yarn, my apartment simply cannot hold it all. I hope to have ad rates up by the end of the week. Stay tuned!
- A Ravelry forum member mentioned that it would be great to get someone to write up how to best interpret vintage knitting patterns (i.e. difference in needle size, yarn weight and brands, and antiquated knitting terms) and i think this is a FABULOUS idea! In fact, anyone who wants to submit such a piece would have a place of honor in the FAQ and on the Articles landing page and therefore would receive a lot of traffic to their article submission and their website. If I had the time to write up a glossary, I would and make it a permanent part of the site but I’ll have to leave that to my readers. Please contact me if you’re interested in such an endeavor!
I’ve already received a few inquiries/proposals so it’s good to know that Popknits can fill this niche for knitters. Hope to hear from you all soon.
Posted by gleek on 04/22 at 09:19 PM in General News, Pre-Launch Information
An Introduction
Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Popknits! I’m very excited to show off Popknits to the world today. It’s been a long time and coming (about two years!) and I couldn’t be happier about the final timing. Just so you know, I’ll post more about the submissions, advertising opportunities, and launch details in the coming weeks. So just hang in there with me and we’ll get this show up and running in time for cooler knitting weather in the fall.
P.S. If you subscribe to this news feed with your RSS reader, you’ll get the fastest Popknits information available. Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by gleek on 04/18 at 11:10 AM in General News, Pre-Launch Information
