When I get the latest issue of my favourite quilting magazines, I read it from cover to cover, then flip it over and do so again. Websites allow you to devour even more.
Browsing through a quilt magazine's online site is typically like receiving a smaller issue within: a lot of sites include "web extras" that allow you access to more patterns or downloadable goodies; or you'll find interesting things available such as recipes, quilting motifs, artist profiles, and quilt labels.
Fortunately, these websites don't replace the hard copy version of the magazines. They serve to augment what you are holding in your hand, let you know what you're missing if you haven't bought it yet, or show you what you will find when you bring home that issue.
Here are a few of my favourite quilt magazine sites:
Primedia publishes several quilting magazines, all worth picking up at your local shoppe:
Quick Quilts http://quickquilts.com
Quilter's Newsletter Magazine http://qnm.com
Quiltmaker http://quiltmaker.com
McCall's Quilting http://mccallsquilting.com
Quilter's Home http://www.quiltershomemag.com
New to the quilt magazine scene, but filling a niche for contemporary quilters, is Cotton Spice: http://cottonspice.com
Quilt Magazine and its sister publications are produced by Harris Publications. Each issue is available at different times of the year, and special issues are sometimes found on the newsstands:
Full of paper- or foundation-pieced patterns and written by the joint owner/editors, Quilts With Style offers free Internet downloads to subscribers:
Always filled with great patterns and techniques, The Quilter Magazine often publishes special seasonal magazines:
The pair you know from their cable television show of the same name, Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting:
Not only are these fabulous sites to get more info on your favourite quilting magazines, you can find free patterns, bios on the quilt artists, and subscription instructions. Enjoy!