Frequently Asked Questions
How is a member different from a subscriber?
You’re right to ask—it’s a subtle difference. Digits & Threads members pay monthly or annually to access most of the content we publish, pretty much like a subscription to an online magazine. The difference is that we consider our members to be partners whose membership enables us to create the best possible online magazine and to pay our contributors fairly.
In the traditional magazine business, subscribers and newsstand readers are treated like widgets that are counted up so the tally can be used to sell advertising. Sure, a magazine might be made to cater to those subscribers so they keep putting their eyeballs on the publication, but the thing that drives the publishers of the magazine is advertising relationships and advertising revenue.
Don’t get us wrong. We love when advertising actually serves a magazine’s community. The advertising we run is exclusively from Canadian businesses that serve the fibre and textile communities. The primary focus of our work on the magazine, however, is to serve our members, and memberships are the most significant source of revenue we have. That means it’s in our best interest to make the best magazine for you, a magazine that serves your desire for great information and patterns about crafts you love. You drive us to do our best possible work. Thank you for the push, and we hope you enjoy the result!
What are the membership offerings?
We have two paid memberships: Armchair and Studio. Armchair Members have access to all articles, features and posts. Studio Members have access to all articles, features and posts, plus all the craft patterns and tutorials we publish, and are invited to take part in monthly virtual Studio Hours and the exclusive Studio Member forum.
What does "open access" mean?
Open access means the content is freely available for anyone to read. When we launched Digits & Threads, we offered a free membership level to provide a taste of what the magazine has to offer. As the magazine became established, however, we began to open up some of our paywalled content after a period of time instead. We now have quite an extensive library of open access content for all to enjoy.
How frequently do new issues come out?
Ah, yes. We don’t publish in issues. There’s really no need to online, since we have no constraints like page counts or page space or adhering to retail buying schedules.
We publish new content about three times a month, usually on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, we send a newsletter out alerting folks to newly published pieces.
Why are prices listed in CAD?
Prices are listed in Canadian dollars because our company and contributors are based in Canada.
Roughly speaking, in March, 2023, $1 CAD is equivalent to about $0.73 US dollars, $0.69 Euros or $0.61 Pound sterling. Relative currency value fluctuates, sometimes rapidly. Use a currency converter for more accurate conversions on any given day.
We welcome readers from all over the world to enjoy learning about the state of fibre and textiles and what’s being made in Canada.
Can I pay monthly?
Yes! We offer Armchair Membership at both monthly and annual renewals.
Why do I need to be a member to submit an event to the Community Calendar?
Our Community Calendar is a central location for individuals, groups, shops and organizations to post upcoming Canadian fibre and textile events. You need to be a member to submit listings because our software enables you to manage your listing after it’s submitted, so that if anything changes in advance of the event, you can update the listed information. For that to work, you need an account. Membership is free, and of course we encourage you to upgrade to a paid membership if you enjoy the magazine.
I need to download my purchased e-book again. How do I do that?
When you’re logged in, you will see a section near the top of your member dashboard containing a link to download the e-book you’ve purchased. Just be sure you’re logged in.