Linda Ligon, John Bolton, and Anne Merrow have come together to buy Spin Off, PieceWork, and Handwoven magazines and related products that were formerly part of Interweave from Peak Media Properties. The new company is called Long Thread Media LLC and is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Long Thread Media was a backup bidder in the F+W bankruptcy auction. Peak Media Properties is owned by Terry O’Toole, former chair of the board of F+W.
“Looking at these rich, niche crafts, we knew that they needed a very personal approach in order to thrive today and in the future,” says Merrow. The three subscription magazines—Handwoven, Spin Off, and PieceWork—will continue publication and remain at the core of the new company, which will also develop video, multimedia, events, print, digital, and other products in those crafts. “Spinners, weavers, and traditional textile buffs count on authentic community and solid technical information. Linda and I know them; we are them,” Merrow adds.
The name Interweave will remain with its new owner, Peak Media Properties, and will continue to be associated with publications such as Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, and Interweave.com.
Ligon is the founder of Interweave where Spin Off, PieceWork, and Handwoven originated. She sold the company in 2005 to Aspire Media. Aspire in turn sold to F+W in 2012. Ligon is now also the publisher and director of Thrums Books, a publisher that celebrates indigenous textiles and artisans from all over the world. Merrow served as Editorial Director of Interweave’s Yarn and Fiber Group. Bolton co-founded Quilting Arts which was acquired by Interweave in 2007 at which point he became Senior Vice President and Publisher at Interweave. He left in 2013 but returned for a short period as General Manager in 2016.
Bolton’s other company, Unfiltered Media Group, a craft beer media producer founded in 2013, will be handling the non-editorial operations of Long Thread Media. Unfiltered Media Group publishes Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine and produces related events, education, and other media offerings.
“Acquiring these legacy titles from Peak Media Properties and helping breathe new life into them is exciting and a privilege,” Ligon says. “One doesn’t often have an opportunity for a major do-over, and to see such a solid creative team prepared to take Long Thread Media forward fills me with hope for the future.”
Merrow is bursting with excitement at the news. “Having worked with Linda for years, I can’t wait to start a new old company with her,” she says. “The last few months have been so difficult for everyone as our former owner, F+W Media, went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. What kept us going was trying to do the very best we could by the readers, contributors, and other members of the community.”
The magazines and web content are continuing uninterrupted and Merrow says Long Thread Media is working to get the new websites up as soon as possible.
Thrilled to hear this news! I was so worried those magazines would not find a new home — and this one couldn’t be better.
Absolutely thrilled at this news! SpinOff, Handwoven & PieceWork could not be in better hands than Linda & Anne’s.
Here’s hoping that this may lead to many more year’s of wonderful fiber, fabric & needlework and, if we’re really lucky, the re-start of SOAR!
Soooooooooo happy to read this!! Bringing these magazines back to their roots! Thank you all so much for taking this on. I TREASURE my Handwovens and Pieceworks and Spin Offs!!!!
Glad to see Linda Ligon at the reins. I have admired her for many years and feel that my favorite magazines will thrive in her hands
What about current subscriptions to the magazines?
Yes, curious about mine as well
This is the most wonderful news! Linda, John, Anne, thank you!
Oh my! Thank you – can you please bring back SOAR so that I can finally come? I so hope – looking forward to keeping up with Spin-Off and Piecework!
It would be amazing if SOAR came back and I’d be there with bells on because I miss it like anything, but it was also an absolute TON of work, so I’d understand if it did not happen for a while/not at all.
Such very good news. Wishing all involved, all subscribers and fibre enthusiasts much success.
Will someone revive Cloth Paper Scissors!!!
What exciting news!
It’s nice to see these publications are going to continue. I was sad when I thought they might not have continued.
Oh thank goodness!! My subscription is about halfway though and I was worried there wouldn’t be anything to take its place. So glad to see familiar names once again taking the reins.
Thank the dieties that someone who cares about these crafts is in charge once again. I’m afraid that F+W didn’t quite get it.
How about kits and other such merchandise that were available through Interweave? Will they still be available, and if so, where?
Thank you,
Donna
P.S. I”m also glad that these magazines will continue on as I am a spinner and knitter and have subscribed for many years.
Please reach out to Long Thread Media directly: https://longthreadmedia.com/
I spent a large amount of money for the spin-off magazine and content last month. What happened to that subscription?
Please reach out to the publisher directly for customer service questions.