I couldn’t have freelanced without the ready availability of Joann. This is kind of a death rattle for certain kinds of crafts. Most of the independent fabric stores near me either shut down or went specialty, usually quilting. From a costuming perspective, where were you gonna find velvet? - ThreadSky

annabookwriter.bsky.social • 2 days ago

I couldn’t have freelanced without the ready availability of Joann. This is kind of a death rattle for certain kinds of crafts.

Most of the independent fabric stores near me either shut down or went specialty, usually quilting. From a costuming perspective, where were you gonna find velvet?

Comments

penny4athought.bsky.social•1 day ago

Very sad, I shop there but don't have much time for crafting. I'm sad to see them go

sleepycongressman.bsky.social•2 days ago

The A in Jo Ann, stands for ART

the art of sewing
the art of the stitch
the art of stitching
the art of tailoring
the art of making custom made clothes

all made by artesans

All....priceless

princeofsass.bsky.social•2 days ago

My silk Thread comes from North Carolina, some of my silk weaves come from California. Many of friends in CA are on this boycott but I'm hanging onto the vestiges of the Trans Atlantic Couture Trade.

sassycid.bsky.social•1 day ago

I learned to sew as part of a 4-H group and Joann fabrics was the place to go. In a small rural town, it was almost the only place with fabric and notions. I still enjoy wandering the fabric aisles touching the fabrics, doing a wrinkle scrunch test, checking sheerness. Such a major loss.

robinburks.bsky.social•2 days ago

Our Joann Fabrics closed a while back and buying supplies online isn't always the best solution, but it's all so many of us have now.

steviesaurus21.bsky.social•2 days ago

I'm really not a fan of shopping for fabrics online either!

mjfgates.bsky.social•2 days ago

*reading this in the Joann's parking lot, as two of the young'uns search the rubble for cosplay parts*

annabookwriter.bsky.social•2 days ago

Oh man it was so depressing. I went to get some stuff for my sister and it was barren.

jenbeekay.bsky.social•2 days ago

I’ve started shopping at goodwill for clothes to cut apart for the fabric but it’s a total crapshoot.

stayingbusy2024.bsky.social•1 day ago

That’s what I’ve done too. I rarely sew anymore but realizing that cut up old garments are far less money than new fabric (especially for quilting)

annabookwriter.bsky.social•2 days ago

I despise fabric buying online. The color trueness and inability to gauge texture is a problem. Yeah, I do it (where else are you gonna find blue brocade with a month turnaround?), but it’s far from optimal. In fact, it feels like a crapshoot.

annabookwriter.bsky.social•2 days ago

Even just “oh shit, my seam ripper broke and I have a show tomorrow night” type stuff becomes much harder without Joann.

Yeah, there’s Michael’s, buuut they’re owned by Bain Capital. You know, Mitt Romney Bain Capital.

annabookwriter.bsky.social•2 days ago

Also, we don’t talk enough about the fact that Joann has long been supportive of LGBTQ+ people and readily threw in with nerds who cosplay. It was a good business decision, but it also was a goodwill gesture. My worbla dealer is bemused whenever I show up still.

annabookwriter.bsky.social•2 days ago

I have seen some people like “RIP corpo fucks”, and like, I get it, but this is a blow to individual craftspeople who relied on the affordability and ready availability of this chain.

I’m bummed. End of an era for me personally.

princeofsass.bsky.social•2 days ago

This is when we double down on whats left! Silk Baron and YLI Threads are my some of my favourite to buy from.

theguy9900.bsky.social•2 days ago

I can read the context clues, but I have not heard of this! My daughter and I love Joann. Is the entire chain shuttering?

annabookwriter.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yep. Bought by a liquidator, dead by May.

theguy9900.bsky.social•2 days ago

Ugh, just googled. This is so sad.

foxrook.bsky.social•2 days ago

This is really sad because my Michaels does not carry fabric anymore neither does Walmart who has seemed to get rid of 99.9% of their crafting. My town's single Joann's closing means no fabric store at all.

I'm so sad now.

plaidflannel.bsky.social•2 days ago

Private equity ruins the party again 😞

grtseeker.bsky.social•1 day ago

As a crafter this is how I felt when Rag Shops went out of business. I can absolutely understand how you’re feeling now. Hopefully, another store will emerge that will help fill the need. In the NY tri state area it w force more ppl into the garment district while they’re trying to stop congestion.

tanyaduncan.bsky.social•2 days ago

My choices are now Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Walmart. 🤢

annabookwriter.bsky.social•2 days ago

Welp Bain Capital is somehow the least evil, off we go

stardustrohrig.com•2 days ago

Ah thank you I was was wondering if there was an issue with Michael's as I was reading through other comments about Joann - that's the store I've ended up in in the past since it's the next closest one. Will have to investigate if I'm going to keep up with embroidery (took a class and interested).

kingdomfantasy6.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yeeeaaaah...I just shared on a thread a couple online stores I discovered when looking for sources for 100% cotton for clothing, but like.

There's just something so much more FUN about going to an in person store for supplies.

mallory-gallery.bsky.social•2 days ago

Not a perfect solution, but there are secondhand options out there!

https://www.sewingthroughfog.com/thriftyourfabric

thesagebard.bsky.social•2 days ago

When I was doing sewing work waiting for my disability approval Joann’s was literally a life saver.

rainsong.cloud•2 days ago

Ran into thus even just making Halloween costumes for my kids. It should not be that hard to find stretch harlequin check fabric at HALLOWEEN

(It was so hard and I ended up spending much more than planned)

whereisyvette.bsky.social•2 days ago

And this is how I officially learned they’re all closing. RIP 😢

bowlerhatscience.org•2 days ago

this is how I felt when Radio Shack crashed and burned

lizbergstrom.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yeah, I don't usually feel loyalty to chains either, but I grew up learning to sew and wearing awesome costumes my mom sewed using fabric and ribbons from Joann's. There was one 10 minutes from where I grew up and I went there so often that the fabric/crafts smell is a strong childhood memory!

scottklair.bsky.social•1 day ago

set a trap for steve harvey.

karenmandhera.bsky.social•2 days ago

There are quality vendors through Etsy, also consider online ordering from NY Fashion District, such as Mood or others such as Metro Textiles, Zarin Fabrics, and P&S Fabrics, each offering unique selections.

madeamistaklyn.bsky.social•2 days ago

Im really gonna miss just wandering the store. I found it so soothing, all that lovely fabric and such right in my reach. I felt so spoiled.

niais.bsky.social•2 days ago

It is such a huge loss. Also, we're losing Indies too. Fabrics especially are a great example of things that suck to buy online. They get expensive fast! Joann + coupons - it really lowered the bar when you wanted to experiment. You can *try stuff* when you aren't blowing the bank to get ONE yard.

annabookwriter.bsky.social•2 days ago

I mean, my best friend gave me a literal Pantone color for her wedding and I ordered fabric online to make my dress and it was just a touch off from her other bridesmaid’s dress. Drove me batty.

pdxkat420.bsky.social•1 day ago

Don’t forget to check your thrift stores I find some bolts every once in awhile.

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