Thanks for all your feedback! We really do love to hear what you think, even when it’s a little critical. It helps us do a better job for you.
I just want to assure you all that the focus of our newsletters isn’t changing and you won’t be getting it daily. We chose the focus of this particular post because weaving is a great way to use handspun. As someone who has been weaving longer than spinning, I am really excited about the possibilities of using yarn I spin in my weaving. We often talk about a new books and other stuff going on at Interweave because we’re excited and hope that you will be, too. It was just an unfortunate coincidence that a newsletter with a weaving focus coincided with the name change. Interweave already has a community called Weaving Today so this is in no way an attempt to combine the two crafts.
Liz GoodManaging Editor, Spin-Off
I agree 100%. Not much meat to the postings, just selling products. I have gone to the weekly reviews but am sure I will unsubscribe to those also.
bessT: ...The new message title 'Helping you spin daily' is catchy as well, then I looked for something that might help me spin 'today' - like a tip, or hint, or link to someone's new fiber line... so for sure reflect all the things that go on at your end, but please emphasize spinning in this Daily!
...The new message title 'Helping you spin daily' is catchy as well, then I looked for something that might help me spin 'today' - like a tip, or hint, or link to someone's new fiber line... so for sure reflect all the things that go on at your end, but please emphasize spinning in this Daily!
Silly me - there is a fabulous treat today - the 3-free-scarf-knitting-patterns booklet, using beautiful handspun. It is a whopper of inspiration, thank you so much!
The knitting patterns are inspiring me to think of doing the same in weaving, and how I'll spin the next skein for the purpose...
(and so, as the newsletter is 'free' - the ads pay for it...). cheers...
Let's lighten things up with some fan mail.
When I signed up, I expected to see advertising. Interweave publishes good things that I'm interested in. I turn to Interweave for information about fiber arts the same way that I turn to O'Reilly for information about computer programming. I'm about to learn how to use a rigid heddle loom, so, yes, I am interested in weaving. I'm at least mildly interested in all fiber arts, so if you sent me a newsletter that had information about bobbin lace or inkle looms, I would read it happily. The website make-over looks good.
I agree with the folks who feel there are too many ads, and too many duplicate ads, in the Interweave e-newsletters. When Knitting Daily started, it was full of interesting content - handy tips, announcements of free patterns, discussion of construction techniques & unusual stitches - and it was always the first email I opened. Now, at least three times week (and often more) these e-newsletters are simply blatant ads - I leave them for last & often delete them after just a 2 or 3 second glance. This trend to hard sell has made me value my SpinOff & IK subscriptions less, too - there is just too much push to buy them in the newsletters, they don't feel fresh or exciting after that. For the first time, I didn't automatically renew my subscriptions last year and although eventually I did after a couple of missed issues, I might not next time - it isn't feeling so much like the joy of craft but more like business of selling. I get that this is a business, but when the selling comes across more than the love, it loses its appeal!
I really like the logo with the SpindleWood Spindle Co's spindle on it along with the fiber and niddy noddy and beautiful batt of fiber behind "Spin-Off". It reflects what Spinning Daily is all about. The new logo is hohum....no zip or much indication of what the newsletter is about. My theory is: If it aint broke, don't fix it. Sorry to burst your bubble but you did ask what we think about it. I thoroughly enjoy reading about spinning and methods to accomplish the task; the articles that pretain to fiber and animals and plants,etc the fiber comes from. Please rethink how this decision will affect your readership. As for all the ads that come to my computer from Interweave, I don't think they're all necessary. I have better things to do than delete ads. A loyal subscriber to Interweave Spin-Off and Knits.
I love the idea of Spinning Daily so long as that is what it is. We want inspiration and motivation to use our stash, not advertisements to buy more. Knitting Daily has lost its spark since Sandi Wisehart left but I keep hoping for improvements. Please keep the sparks flying.
I love the name - not as crazy about the logo (although I don't dislike it). Didn't notice the ads, actually - my eyes went right to the text, and I wasn't offended by hearing about someone's pleasure about a new loom (geez - give the woman a break!). I'm surprised at the negativity of the responses. Change is life/life is change - I'm for giving something new a chance.
By the way, the name had exactly the intended effect on me - it reminded me that spinning IS something to do daily.
NOT a good idea to have the first e-mail of the re-vamp dedicated to weaving! I don't weave and have no intention of weaving. It should've been left for a few weeks.
Also, agree about the ads. Most of the messages are 'fluff' anyway and I wouldn't feel deprived if I didn't get an e-mail so will seriously contemplate unsubscribing as, now I think about it, there's been nothing of substance for ages..
I am with you Shelley, Spinners and weavers are Special Customers. I have been involved with some sort of fiber all of my 54 years and one of the stipulations of moving 40 miles north from where I grew up, was having sheep...if we moved, we would have them, and that was nearly 30 years ago. So, spinning and wool is a life. OK, that being said, THERE IS NOTHIN' NEW UNDER THE SUN! I know, we have spent a lot of money for it, and it is sitting in my cellar taking up space...Daily Spinning would be more ballast in the book shelves and less padding in the saving's account! I might like to see something once a week, something that reminds me, something that goes into depth, or a solutions of the week thing to help new spinners, that sort of thing...a source post, where we can look for breeds of roving, or old wheels or tools...but updated once a week...and honest book reviews...I have a lot of books that were reviewed well, but are just "dead tree carcasses", and the authors are probably on to other pursuits like "raising beads or fostering old cell phones" or something less useful. What we need is something different than what we are getting...as for now, the delete button works realllllly well! Donna
BRAND CRISIS!! What is Spinning Daily?? Did you rename the Spin Off Forums? There's not enough info. I identify with Spin Off. Spinning Daily sounds like a local access program. Sorry, that's where I stand. Stick with Spin Off, it's a known brand.
Spin Off....."spin daily!" you should have just reworked your graphics.
P.S. I don't mind hearing about all things yarn. It's good to know what's trending. It helps me glean more info for my fiber biz!
Dye it, card it, spin it! Color is my life ;)
WOW! Not only did you ignore all of the feedback from everyone on this list but you have now ignored your own statements as well - like the one about not changing the focus of spinning daily. The first thing this morning my spinning daily "newsletter in disguise" suggested I start weaving and offered me a handy link to subscribe to your weaving magazine. The ENTIRE message is an ad for your weaving magazine.
Are you trying to alienate your readers? It is like a challenge or something. You have all this feedback from people who by and large want the newsletters to remain about spinning and have less ads - you do the exact opposite in the first newsletter after all the feedback. I have unsubscribed fully to all your newsletters. You get an A+ for driving customers away.
Add me to the list of unhappy email subscribers. I am also tired of getting glorified advertisements in the guise of someone sharing a story and Gee! Isn't this amazing how I can now buy *something* that has to do with the story I just wasted my time to read!? No- it's not amazing and mostly it comes across as unauthentic. I don't like that at all. Please stop insulting the intelligence of your readers and start delivering genuine interest stories and not have anything to buy once in awhile- just say "Hi, I wanted to share this with you today!" It's OK if it's not daily. Weekly is fine. As long as it's REAL!
I am not a weaver ( and doubt I ever will be) nor am I a knitter! If I want to know about other Interweave products, I will visit your site! I am a spinner and deeply proud of it! It's my passion, sometimes my obsession- and I like to support others in the spinning community. Every time I get an Interweave email any more I feel less and less like a community member and more like an Interweave cash cow! I also like to support companies who appreciate and respect their customers.
I find it interesting that you didn't offer a " I Don't like it much at all" button for the poll. I know humans tend to dislike change, but I also think to not offer a choice similar to this is rather "rose-coloured glasses" of you all. (But then again- I 'm not sure you care much for what we would like- or you wouldn't be sending the kinds of emails you've been sending more and more of lately. )
I would like to take a moment to say - I realise your poll wasn't about the daily newsletter but about the site changes in general. The colours are nice- the new logo/graphic at the top of the page is nice. But again, I find it interesting how many of us are using this opporunity to draw your attention to the fact that we aren't happy with the ''communication" we are receiving from you.
One last item-I find the new name to be a confusing change. Will you be changing the Spin-Off Magazine name too? Or will you keep the Spin-Off web address viable as well? It's confusing when you know a magazine title/branded item and try to find it on the web, but can't because it's under a different name.
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to express ourselves. We can only hope you'll listen and realise 'friends support friends' in the handcrafted arts community. Be our friends!
Thank you! However I am usually a "no e-ail" person. I want to spend my time doing fibery things, not reading about them. In other words, when I want info on something, I look for it when I want to.
fairfaxweaves
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