Craft magazines have adapted well to 2026, with the best publications combining high-quality print production, downloadable digital patterns, and exclusive subscriber content that extends well beyond the printed page. Whether you’re a quilter, paper crafter, mixed media artist, or general DIY enthusiast, a good craft magazine delivers monthly motivation, new techniques, and patterns that online content rarely matches in depth or presentation quality.
| Product | Price | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quilts and More Magazine | ~$8/issue | Quilters and sewers | 4.6/5 |
| Cloth Paper Scissors | ~$9/issue | Mixed media and collage | 4.5/5 |
| Papercraft Inspirations | ~$12/issue | Paper and cardmaking | 4.7/5 |
| Make It Today Crafts | ~$10/issue | General craft beginners | 4.4/5 |
| Uppercase Magazine | ~$18/issue | Illustrated arts and design | 4.6/5 |
Quilts and More Magazine - Best Craft Magazine for Quilters and Sewers
Quilts and More is one of the most consistent quilting publications in print, delivering 4 to 5 complete quilt patterns per issue alongside smaller sewing projects, technique explainers, and fabric roundups. Patterns are sized for twin through king and include full cutting charts, fabric requirements, and step-by-step photography. The magazine targets intermediate quilters but includes beginner-accessible projects in every issue. Subscriptions include access to a digital pattern library with past issues. For sewers who want a reliable source of project inspiration and accurate patterns delivered on a regular schedule, Quilts and More is the most practical choice currently available in the quilting magazine category.
Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine - Best for Mixed Media and Collage Artists
Cloth Paper Scissors serves the mixed media art community with tutorials covering collage, book arts, surface design, encaustic, and fiber techniques that rarely appear in mainstream craft publications. Each issue features step-by-step artist tutorials, supply spotlights, and gallery-quality project photography that functions as both instruction and inspiration. The magazine introduced many readers to art journaling before that genre became mainstream, and it continues to cover emerging techniques ahead of larger publications. Available in print and digital editions; the digital version includes video tutorial supplements. Recommended for crafters who have moved beyond single-discipline projects into experimental mixed media work.
Papercraft Inspirations Magazine - Best for Paper Crafters and Cardmakers
Papercraft Inspirations is the most widely circulated UK-origin paper crafting magazine with strong North American distribution and a loyal subscriber base. Each issue includes stamping techniques, cardmaking projects, paper art tutorials, and a pull-out pattern sheet. Exclusive stamp sets and craft tools are frequently bundled with issues as free gifts, which makes the cover price significantly better value than it appears. Projects span beginner to advanced skill levels and are organized by technique type. The photography and layout quality are among the highest in the craft magazine category. Cardmakers and stampers rate this as their primary reference magazine consistently across years of publication.
Make It Today Crafts Magazine - Best General Craft Magazine for Beginners
Make It Today is a multi-discipline craft magazine covering knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, jewelry, and paper crafts in each issue, making it the best option for crafters who haven’t settled into a single discipline yet. Tutorials are written for beginner to intermediate levels with detailed photography at each step. The variety format means subscribers encounter techniques they might not have tried otherwise, which is how many crafters discover their primary craft interest. Pattern quality is solid and the project selection favors wearable and giftable outcomes. The subscription price is among the most competitive in the craft magazine category for the breadth of content delivered per issue.
Uppercase Magazine - Best for Illustrated Arts and Design-Adjacent Crafting
Uppercase is a Canadian quarterly magazine that occupies the intersection of illustration, graphic design, and craft culture. It profiles independent makers, illustrators, and surface designers while including practical content on pattern making, fabric design, and the business of craft. Production quality is exceptional. printed on heavy stock with full-bleed photography and hand-lettered features. It is less a step-by-step tutorial magazine and more a design-culture publication for crafters who care deeply about aesthetics and the broader creative community. Readers who also follow independent printmakers, ceramic artists, and textile designers consistently rate Uppercase as essential reading alongside their technique-focused publications.
What to Look For
- Pattern inclusion. The best craft magazines include ready-to-use patterns in print or digital download rather than requiring additional purchases to complete featured projects.
- Tutorial photography quality. Step-by-step photos need to be clear enough to follow without supplementary video; test an issue before committing to an annual subscription.
- Publication frequency. Monthly publications suit active crafters who need ongoing project content; quarterly magazines often deliver higher production quality and fewer filler articles.
- Digital access bundling. Subscriptions that include digital edition access or pattern download archives significantly extend the value of the subscription price.
Final Thoughts
The best craft magazine for you in 2026 depends on your primary craft discipline. Quilters start with Quilts and More, paper crafters with Papercraft Inspirations, and mixed media artists with Cloth Paper Scissors. If you’re still exploring which craft resonates most, a few issues of Make It Today across different disciplines will help you identify where to focus your subscription budget.
Frequently asked questions
Are print craft magazines still worth buying in 2026?+
Yes, for crafters who benefit from physical patterns, curated project guides, and content that does not require screen time. Print magazines also typically include pull-out pattern sheets, fabric swatches, or tool samples that digital editions cannot replicate. Subscriptions deliver better value than newsstand pricing, often cutting the per-issue cost by 40 to 60 percent for committed readers.
What is the difference between a craft magazine and a crafting book?+
Craft magazines publish on a regular schedule (monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly) and focus on seasonal projects, new product reviews, and trend-driven content. Craft books provide comprehensive technique instruction for a single discipline without time pressure. Magazines excel for ongoing inspiration and keeping current with trends; books are better for structured skill building in a specific area.
Can I access craft magazine back issues digitally?+
Most major craft publishers offer digital archive access through their websites or through subscription services like Readly and Zinio. Some publishers bundle digital access with print subscriptions at no extra cost. Back issues are valuable for pattern archives, and digital access makes searching by project type or technique significantly easier than physically storing years of print issues.