C&T Publishing

Last updated
C&T Publishing
Founded1983
FounderCarolie and Tom Hensley
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters location Concord, California
Distribution National Book Network (USA)
Search Press (UK)
Publication typesBooks
Nonfiction topicsquilting, sewing, and crafting
Imprints Stash Books, Kansas City Star Quilts, FunStitch Studio
Official website www.ctpub.com

C&T Publishing is a midsize, family-run, independent publisher of quilting, sewing, and crafting books based in Concord, CA. [1] It was founded in 1983 by Carolie and Tom Hensley, owners of The Cotton Patch, a quilting and sewing supplies store in Lafayette, CA. Roberta Horton, a friend of Carolie's, wanted to publish a book on Amish-inspired quilting, so Carolie and Tom raised money from friends and followed do-it-yourself advice from a library book to publish their very first book, An Amish Adventure. The first edition sold 90,000 copies. The business grew from there, and Carolie and Tom's sons, Todd and Tony Hensley, purchased it from their parents in 1990. [2] [3] Since then, C&T has introduced two new imprints: Stash Books and FunStitch Studio, [4] as well as a website, Patternspot.com, where quilt patterns can be posted and purchased directly by consumers. [5] C&T Publishing has also made efforts to become more environmentally friendly, becoming a certified Bay Area Green Business [6] especially in light of the trend for green quilting projects. [7] In Summer 2015, C&T also acquired Kansas City Star Quilts. [8] Authors published with C&T include Barbara Brackman, Yvonne Porcella, and Michael James. C&T Publishing books are distributed in the book trade by National Book Network and in the UK by Search Press (since 2014). [9]

Contents

Stash Books

The 2010 launch of this imprint, which publishes handmade fabric arts books at lower price points than C&T's other books, signaled C&T's new focus on the book trade (the company had previously sold mainly to quilt stores and craft chains and through craft distributors). The books have minimalistic aesthetic with a lot of white space and set-shot photography. Publishers Weekly called the launch "a key factor in driving up sales" for C&T Publishing, leading to a 47% increase in sales in 2010. 10 of the books published in 2010 under Stash Books were reprinted within the following year. As of 2014, Stash Books made up about half of the publisher's catalogue. [1] [4] [5] One of the books from this imprint, Sew Adorkable by Samarra Khaja, won the Gold in the Craft Book category in the PubWest Book Design Awards in 2016. [10]

FunStitch Studio

The success of the Stash Books imprint led to the creation of FunStitch Studio, an imprint aimed at kids ages 8–14, in 2013. This imprint released 12 titles within its first year, and C&T Publishing's best-selling book of 2013, We Love to Sew, by Annabel Wrigley came from this imprint. The imprint then released 10 titles in 2014. Due to the success of this imprint and Stash Books, C&T Publishing was named one of Publishers Weekly's 11 Fast-Growing Independent Publishers for 2013. [4] Two of the books from this imprint, The Amazing Stitching Handbook for Kids by Kristin Nicholas and Girl's Guide to DIY Fashion by Rachel Low, won the Silver and Gold respectively in the Craft Book category in the PubWest Book Design Awards in 2016. [10]

Kansas City Star Quilts

C&T Publishing acquired Kansas City Star Quilts, a small publishing company based in Kansas City, on July 10, 2015. This deal also included the two imprints of Kansas City Star Quilts, My Stars and Star Stitch. [8]

Other Products

All new C&T titles launch simultaneously in print and ebook format, and many out-of-print titles have been released as ebooks. [1] The company saw a 100% increase in ebook sales in 2010 [1] and ebook sales nearly doubled in 2013. [4]

The company also has print-on-demand program for out-of-print books, which it began in mid-2009. [1] The success of this program–it saw a nearly 1000% increase in sales in 2010–was one of the factors contributing to C&T Publishing being named one of Publishers Weekly’s fastest-growing independent publishers in 2013.

In the digital realm, C&T Publishing operates Patternspot.com, a site “that allows users to upload and sell their own quiltmaking and craft sewing design patterns,” [1] Patternspot.com was launched in August 2011. The company receives a portion of the revenue from each sale, and the site also allows the publisher to monitor upcoming trends.

Beginning in 2009, C&T has also released mobile apps through the iTunes App Store, mostly content from its books and DVDs reformatted and packaged for mobile devices. [1]

Aside from its books and digital-based enterprises, the company also has products, including kraft•tex, a specialty paper made to look and feel like leather, and gifts, including postcards, notebooks, journals, calendars, and bags. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quilting</span> Process of sewing layers of fabric together to make a padded material

Quilting is the term given to the process of joining a minimum of three layers of fabric together either through stitching manually using a needle and thread, or mechanically with a sewing machine or specialised longarm quilting system. An array of stitches is passed through all layers of the fabric to create a three-dimensional padded surface. The three layers are typically referred to as the top fabric or quilt top, batting or insulating material, and the backing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quilt</span> Bedcover made of multiple layers of fabric sewn together, usually stitched in decorative patterns

A quilt is a multi-layered textile, traditionally composed of two or more layers of fabric or fiber. Commonly three layers are used with a filler material. These layers traditionally include a woven cloth top, a layer of batting or wadding, and a woven back combined using the techniques of quilting. This is the process of sewing on the face of the fabric, and not just the edges, to combine the three layers together to reinforce the material. Stitching patterns can be a decorative element. A single piece of fabric can be used for the top of a quilt, but in many cases the top is created from smaller fabric pieces joined, or patchwork. The pattern and color of these pieces creates the design.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of quilting</span>

The history of quilting, the stitching together of layers of padding and fabric, may date back as far as 3400 BCE. For much of its history, quilting was primarily a practical technique to provide physical protection and insulation. However, decorative elements were often also present, and many quilts are now primarily art pieces.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Spavlik, Janet (May 2011). "Navigating the Niche". Book Business. Book Business Magazine. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  2. King, Pam (1997-07-15). "Publisher Delights in Perfect Patches". Contra Costa Times via NewsBank.
  3. Glassenberg, Abby (2016-06-18). "PODCAST EPISODE #77: AMY MARSON, PUBLISHER OF C&T". While She Naps. Abby Glassenberg. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Milliot, Jim; Swanson, Clare. "Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2014". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Milliot, Jim. "A Pattern of Success at C&T Publishing". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  6. "Concord's C&T Publishing is Powered by Solar Energy". GreenZU. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
  7. "Can the Craft Industry Ever Be Green?". CHA Portfolio. Fall 2007.
  8. 1 2 Cindy. "C&T Publishing Acquires Kansas City Star Quilt Co. to bring You an Established Line of Quilting Books and Patterns!". FabShop News. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  9. Jane, Sarah. "Search Press Teams Up with C&T Publishing". Craft Business. Craft Business Magazine. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Book Design Awards". PubWest. Retrieved 2016-09-16.