Prime Publishing LLC

Prime Publishing Recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Northbrook, IL – Prime Publishing hosted the “Hands-on-Heart Breast Cancer Pillow-Making Party” on October 4, 2014. 24 Girl Scouts from two different local troops came to the office to make the Hands-on-Heart Pillow, which was specially designed to fit comfortably under the arm of a post-op patient, relieving some of the pressure from that area and protecting it from painful bumps and bruises.

With filling from Fairfield World and machines donated by Bernina USA, the event was a huge success. The Girl Scouts created 24 homemade pink pillows destined for donation to the American Cancer Society through the American Sewing Guild of Chicago.

The event ran from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and included both breakfast and lunch.

For more information on how you can participate in the Hands-on-Heart Breast Cancer Pillow-Making Drive, please visit our website.

Visit our Events Page here to check out some pictures.

 

Prime Publishing Yarn Sites Celebrate I Love Yarn Day

Northbrook, IL – In celebration of the Craft Yarn Council’s annual I Love Yarn Day, the yarn sites of Prime Publishing are teaming up to take it to the next level.

AllFreeCrochet.com, AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns.com, and AllFreeKnitting.com will be celebrating the yarniest day of all, Oct. 10, with a week of amazing new patterns, exciting daily prize giveaways, and social media activities.

Visit our yarn blog Stitch & Unwind at www.stitchandunwind.com each day Oct. 5 through Oct. 11 for a prize sponsored by Lion Brand, Red Heart, or Spin Brite. For the full giveaway schedule, visit our blog.

On I Love Yarn Day, Oct. 10, we’ll give away a grand prize including yarn, books, hooks, needles, a travel bag and more!

Watch the editors of Prime Publishing explain why they’re so excited for this fiber-tastic day in our official video.

The Craft Yarn Council’s tips for celebrating I Love Yarn Day, which is held annually on the second Friday in October, include: create an I Love Yarn Day badge, teach someone to knit or crochet, do something for charity, wear a knitted or crocheted item, give a gift of yarn, take your yarn to work day, host a yarn-a-bration party, or knit, crochet and craft in public.

Learn more about I Love Yarn Day at the Craft Yarn Council website, and celebrate with Prime Publishing at www.stitchandunwind.com.

Contact:
Caitlin Eaton
Prime Publishing
847-205-9375

About Prime Publishing:
Prime Publishing LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, they are an Internet Media Company that operates web sites, eMagazines, and communities focused on the niche areas of crafting and cooking. A full list of web properties, free newsletters and free eBooks can be found at www.primecp.com.

AllFreeCrochet.com is a website dedicated to the best free crochet patterns, tutorials, tips and articles on crochet. Find all varieties and skills levels, from easy to crochet afghan patterns to complex Tunisian crochet patterns.

AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns.com is a website dedicated to the best free crochet afghan patterns, tutorials, tips, and articles on crocheting. AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns finds and delivers the best free crochet afghan patterns from all over the web , from easy to crochet mile-a-minute patterns to complex granny square patterns.

AllFreeKnitting.com is dedicated to the best free knitting patterns, tutorials, tips and articles. Never buy another knitting pattern again! AllFreeKnitting finds and delivers the best free knitting patterns from all over the web , from easy to knit afghan patterns to complex knitting patterns. Variety makes things exciting and AllFreeKnitting has the right thing for your next knitting adventure.

 

AllFreeCrochet Hosts Baby Hat Charity Drive

Northbrook, Illinois – AllFreeCrochet.com is excited to announce they are hosting another charity drive! They are working with the Red Heart Association on their initiative, “Little Hats, Big Hearts” to donate homemade hats to newborn babies. “Little Hats, Big Hearts” is a wonderful project to help raise awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country.

This is not Prime Publishing’s first time donating to charity. In fact, Prime Publishing has successfully hosted a number of charity drives in the past and worked with a variety of organizations including Project Linus, Special Olympics, Mittens for Detroit, and the Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois. With the help of our charitable (and very talented) readers, Prime Publishing has donated more than:

–200 homemade blankets (crochet afghans, baby blankets, and quilts) to Project Linus
–100 homemade knit and crochet mittens to Mittens for Detroit
–1,700 baby hats to Northwest Community Hospital

Head over to AllFreeCrochet today to learn more about “Little Hats, Big Hearts,” and how you can help. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to make a difference through knit and crochet.

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Contact:
Jeanette Benoit, Editor
AllFreeCrochet.com
Prime Publishing
847-205-9375

About Prime Publishing:
Prime Publishing LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, they are an Internet Media Company that operates web sites, eMagazines, and communities focused on the niche areas of crafting and cooking. A full list of web properties, free newsletters and free eBooks can be found at www.primecp.com.

 

Prime Publishing 2014 Internship Program a Success

Northbrook, IL – Prime Publishing’s summer internship program continues to grow year after year. In 2014, Prime Publishing hired a total of 16 interns between the marketing and editorial departments. The 2014 class of interns was essential in pushing through big projects for the company, including boosting blog traffic, making improvements to the eBook library, strengthening blogger relationships, and more.

The Prime Publishing internship program continues to evolve each year to ensure the students are able to learn as much as they can about the publishing industry and the company can learn from their innovative ideas. Interns are taught a new skill each week in a classroom-type setting and apply that skill through their work with the guidance of their mentors. At the end of each week, they review each skill with the training director to maximize understanding and application.

“The friendly feedback allowed me to stay calm even after I messed up so that I did not harbor any resentment towards my editors,” one 2014 intern said in an anonymous survey. “It made me want to do my best all of the time.”

Regular weekly intern tasks included writing blog posts, posting projects and recipes on the various web sites, creating recipe and project collection pages to be featured in newsletters and on social media, and cooking a variety of dishes in the on-site test kitchen.

“You get to do real work in this internship—you produce visible content on a daily basis—and you’re the only one who limits the amount you’re able to do,” another class of 2014 intern commented.

For more information regarding the Prime Publishing internship program, check out our internship overview page and watch our video below. You can also check out our job listing on our careers page.

Prime Publishing Launches Innovative Web Magazine

Northbrook, IL – Prime Publishing has expanded its reach in the crafting community with the launch of its brand new digital subscription magazine, I Like Crochet, in August 2014. An innovative venture from the founders of AllFreeCrochet.com, the I Like Crochet magazine features 30 exclusive projects and up to 7 tutorials in each issue, complete with professional, full-color photos and in-depth videos. Issues are released bi-monthly and are currently available in both website and tablet versions.

“Given the great success Prime Publishing has already seen with our free website, AllFreeCrochet and AllFreeKnitting, launching online premium content was the next logical step,” says Caitlin Eaton, Managing Editor of I Like Crochet. “We serve a passionate audience, one who’s always looking for more projects, more tutorials, and more tips and tricks. And now we’ll be able to offer all of those things on a higher level using the hand-selected content that appears in our magazines.”

The I Like Crochet digital magazine is the first of its kind on the market, originating and existing completely on the web. Prime Publishing partnered with the Mequoda consulting firm. Mequoda’s CTO and Lead Architect Aimee Graeber helped to develop the magazine’s foundation.

“Usually, when we’re talking about a tablet magazine we have to reconcile future goals and technology with current design, editorial, and staffing,” Graeber says. “In this case, we worked with… the team at Prime to create an entirely new magazine from the ground up, taking advantage of all our current best practices.”

Not only does an innovative digital magazine offer new ways for crafters to discover new patterns and techniques, but it offers designers the chance to expand their horizons as well.

“I think the biggest value we bring into the industry is opportunity,” Eaton states. “Another publication means another platform for both companies and designers to showcase their talents and products to a new and passionate audience.  Since consumer habits are shifting into the digital realm, we knew our magazine would be a digital-only publication. We strive to offer a convenient and engaging experience as consumers are able to access quality content.”

The I Like Crochet magazine differs from the typical flipbook magazine that has become standard practice across the web. The tablet version functions as an app with patterns and charts appearing directly over the pattern itself. The website version comes with page-by-page navigation and a linear reading experience. Website subscribers can then find previously featured patterns in the I Like Crochet library, a feature not typically found with flipbook magazines.

According to a recent article by Mequoda, “flipbooks tend not to be particularly reader-friendly, offering a poor user experience, which is reflected in the reader engagement data showing readers usually only stick around for 8-10 minutes with a flipbook edition of a magazine (versus 50-70 for a typical print magazine).”

Reviews from bloggers have already been pouring in, and the crochet world is already chomping at the bit for more.

“Every publication needs to find its groove, but I Like Crochet seems to have hit the ground running,” says Tamara Kelly from Moogly Blog. “I was genuinely surprised at the great range of patterns included in just one issue. And I really enjoyed reading the articles too – and it was all super easy to navigate.”

“I. Am. Hooked!” says Bethany from Whistle and Ivy. “[The magazine is] full of beautiful photography and gorgeous modern patterns, several of which I cannot wait to get started on.”

Fiber Flux also had positive remarks about I Like Crochet‘s debut issue. “The magazine is bursting with patterns in lots of categories, from afghans to shawls, several hats and even jewelry,” they state. “I found that the patterns accommodate all skill levels and regardless of where you are on your crochet journey, there’s a project just for you.”

Crafters can subscribe to the I Like Crochet magazine tablet version for $19.97/year, website version for $29.97/year, or both for $34.97/year.

 

Craft Blogger, Tanner Bell, Visits Prime Publishing

Northbrook, IL — Popular craft blogger, Tanner Bell, visited the Prime Publishing offices during the last week of July 2014, working closely with FaveCrafts and the entire craft team to create new and exciting videos and tutorials. Bell and his friend, Courtney Chambers, launched the blog A Little Craft in Your Day in March 2013 when Bell was just 14 years old.

Bell began working with the editors at FaveCrafts in the spring of 2012 and currently has over 70 projects featured on the site. FaveCrafts editor, Julia Litz, says that Tanner regularly contributes new projects to the site, submitting an average of 5–6 new projects a month.

“Tanner is always so sweet in e-mail but when I met him, it really solidified how great he is. I walked in to the room and introduced myself and he ran over and gave me a huge hug!” Litz said. “He has such a great personality and is so much fun – he makes crafting exciting and I think that really resonates with the audience.”

Bell has been making video tutorials since March 2010 with particular interests in stamp crafts and DIY crafts for teens. Bell and Chambers frequently work alongside other companies, providing content for brands such as Sizzix and Clearsnap and even appearing on The Today Show as part of the 2014 CHA conference.

Litz adds that Bell “has been integral in helping us branch out gain a new audience, teens and younger crafters. He will continue to submit videos and projects for us, and hopefully we can continue to reach a new audience.”

Check out some photos from Tanner’s visit below!

Plus, check out one of the videos he shot for CutRateCrafts.com during his visit!

101 Days of Holiday Recipes and Crafts Newsletter Releases First Free eBook

Northbrook, Illinois – With the fall and winter holiday season approaching, it’s time to start planning. The 101 Days of Holiday Recipes and Crafts newsletter is celebrating the holidays with its first ever eBook,  The Essential Guide to the Best Holiday Recipes & Crafts: 20 Ideas for a DIY Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. This guide is an extra special release for the holidays because it is the first eBook from Prime Publishing to combine crafts and recipes for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all together. Now you can find all of the DIY holiday ideas you could ever need in one place!

According to a MarketWatch survey from November 2013, 65% of people cite tasks such as decorating, cooking, cleaning the house, or finalizing the holiday menu as activities they need help with during the holidays. This survey also found that hosts were spending more time preparing for the party than with their guests. However, with the help of this eBook and the 101 Days of Holiday Recipes and Crafts newsletter, no one needs to feel overwhelmed with decorating or cooking for the holidays anymore.

With the ideas from the now daily 101 Days of Holiday Recipes and Crafts newsletter and The Essential Guide to the Best Holiday Recipes & Crafts: 20 Ideas for a DIY Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween eBook, this holiday season will be a breeze. The ideas inside of the eBook are just an example of what you will receive daily if you sign up for the newsletter. In this free, printable eBook, you will find craft projects like Witch Legs Pillow (pg. 18), Li’l Turkey Crochet Pattern (pg. 25), and Sensational DIY Advent Calendar (pg. 40). You can also find recipes like Halloween Rice Krispie Treats (pg. 9), Sweetest Sweet Potato Casserole (pg. 23), and Candy Cane Buttercream Frosted Brownies (pg. 35).

Download your copy for free here: http://www.allfreeholidaycrafts.com/Editors-Holiday-Craft-Picks/Essential-Guide-Best-Holiday-Crafts-Recipes-Ideas-DIY-Christmas-Thanksgiving-Halloween-free-eBook

For additional information on our holiday crafts and recipes or this free eBook, please contact AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com editor, Jennifer Hendrix.

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Contact:
Jennifer Hendrix, Editor
AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com
Prime Publishing
847-205-9375

About AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com:
AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com is a website dedicated to the best free holiday projects, tutorials, seasonal crafts, tips and articles on holidays including July Fourth, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and more. AllFreeHolidayCrafts finds and delivers the best holiday crafts from all over the web, from holiday decor to holiday clothing and accessories. Find hundreds of DIY holiday gifts, kids’ holiday crafts, holiday card ideas and more at AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com.

About Prime Publishing:
Prime Publishing LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, we are an Internet Media Company that operates web site communities and e-mail newsletters in niche areas such as crafting and cooking. To learn more, visit www.primecp.com.

Tablet Ads Match Print Ad Performance

Northbrook, IL — As more web sites adjust their site layouts to accommodate for the increasing number of consumers absorbing data via portable tablets and smart phones, businesses wonder how their ads perform in this changing format. A July 2014 performance study by advertising research firm, GfK, reveals that tablet ads get as much interaction as desktop and laptop ads.

The company’s MRI Starch Advertising Research unit found that tablet versions of magazines recorded a 52% recall, the same amount recorded by print editions. The study surveyed the recall of nearly 29,000 ads in 805 tablet issues published in 2013.

This is good news for web publishers, such as Prime Publishing, as consumers spend more time browsing the Internet via tablets. In fact, overall tablet traffic increased by 67.7% for Prime Publishing sites from June 2013 to June 2014.

Not only did tablet ads perform well in recall, but consumers also reported having a positive experience with tablet ads. 62% of respondents awarded interactive tablet ads with a five or six star rating out of six, and, according to Adage.com’s article, cited how “interactive features help them learn more about products and services.”

Mickey Galin, exec VP-GfK Starch Advertising Research, said, “We have found that the tablet magazine readers not only are engaged with the editorial and advertising content, but that digital ads have the power to grab attention.”

 

Fiber Hooligan Podcast Reaches New Heights

Northbrook, IL — The Fiber Hooligan podcast, sponsored by Prime Publishing, has flourished in recent weeks, landing the #5 spot on the top iTunes podcasts in the Hobbies Podcast category, the highest the podcast has ever ranked on iTunes. Fiber Hooligan airs a one-hour podcast every Monday at 11am CST, hosted by XRX, Inc. CEO Benjamin Levisay. XRX, Inc. is the home of Knitter’s Magazine, XRX Books, and STITCHES Expos. Each podcast features the latest fiber-related news from the latest trends to interviews with industry experts to tutorials and much more. Guests have included Drew Emborsky from “The Crochet Dude;” Kristin Omdahl from Styled by Kristin; Nicole Snow, CEO of Darn Good Yarn; and Stuart Hochwert, President and CEO of Prime Publishing, LLC, among others.

Levisay covers the entire gamut of the fiber industry, discussing topics regarding crochet, knitting, spinning, weaving, and more. Each episode is accompanied by a written biography about each yarn enthusiast or designer and is featured regularly throughout Prime Publishing’s yarn-related newsletters. The podcast has experienced consistent growth with each successive show since moving over to AllFreeKnitting. iTunes has also featured it as “New & Noteworthy” on their hobbies podcast section.

Reader feedback has also been overwhelmingly positive. “The hooligan is a great way to hear what is going on behind the scenes in the fiber and yarn industry,” said iTunes user, Rmiskin. “[Levisay] knows EVERYONE. Each episode he invites a friend on to share some of their experiences. They are fun, informative, and really a great way to spend 60 minutes.”

The podcasts aren’t just for idle listening. Listeners have shown an active interest in the innovative products discussed in the episodes. Ravelry user SallyG commented on Fiber Hooligan’s January episode with Romi from Designs by Romi that she “Loved this episode especially since I’ve enjoyed Romi’s designs for years. Great to hear her story, what a fascinating woman! It cracks me up how this is a free podcast but it ends up costing me money. This week it was Romi’s Craftsy class (which I thankfully got on sale) and the Knit Companion app. Do I dare listen next week?”

Listen to a sample episode of Fiber Hooligan’s podcast below.

This is not Prime Publishing’s first successful partnership with Fiber Hooligan and XRX, Inc. AllFreeKnitting.com has, in fact, put together three free eBbooks for the annual STITCHES shows for the East, Midwest, and West, which have generated around 240,000 downloads in total.

 

RecipeLion Teams Up with Food Companies to Produce Must-Have eCookbook

Northbrook, IL – For the very first time, RecipeLion has teamed up with 17 top food companies to create a free eCookbook that is filled with a variety of delicious recipes with a summer twist. In this eCookbook, The Best Dinner Recipes, Delicious Desserts & More: 20 Must-Have Recipes, you’ll find salads, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts.

This eCookbook wouldn’t be possible without the participation of these top food companies: Blendtec®, Goose Island® Beer Co., Gourmet Cooking Online, Hamilton Beach®, Kellogg’s®, Klondike Brands®, La Preferida®, Mullen Foods, Naturipe® Farms, Neat®, PB Crave™, Pearls® Olives To Go!, Pigchaser™, Sheila G’s Brownie Brittle™, Smart Grillin’, Swiss Diamond®, and Zoye®. They provided exceptional recipes that you will use over and over again.

To celebrate the release of the new eCookbook, RecipeLion has teamed up with 17 sponsor companies to bring consumers daily giveaways throughout July, as well as a grand prize giveaway worth more than $2,000. On August 14th, one winner will take home the Ultimate Food Lover’s Grand Prize, which includes a Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker, a Blendtec High-Speed Blender, a Swiss Diamond Nonstick Fry Pan, a TitanChef Knife Set, and more.

Find more information regarding the daily giveaways, grand prize giveaway, and free eCookbook in the following locations:

• Daily giveaway information: http://www.recipelion.com/Editors-Picks/Must-Have-Recipes-and-Giveaways-BOS-eBook
• Grand prize information: http://www.recipelion.com/sweeps/Ultimate-Food-Lovers-Grand-Prize-Giveaway-BOS-eBook
• Download the free eCookbook: http://www.recipelion.com/Editors-Picks/The-Best-Dinner-Recipes-Delicious-Desserts-Must-Have-Recipes-BOS-eBook.