I’m a Crafter. Here’s Why JOANN Fabrics' Closing Is Such a Big Deal.
It’s a sad day for crafters, quilters and makers of all kinds. JOANN Fabrics, the staple fabric store for many creatives, recently announced that all 800 of their stores will close this year. I’ve been a JOANN devotee for over a decade, essentially since I learned how to sew. I’m not just sad, I’m also not sure what the future holds for my hobbies — or for beginner crafters.
I love to make things. I cycle through creative hobbies as they catch my interest — you name it, I’ve probably tried it! I’ve personally used JOANN supplies to quilt, sew, make Halloween costumes, cross-stitch, knit, crochet, embroider and more. I love being able to keep my hands busy and end up with something unique that nobody else has.
Watching Abbot Elementary while cross-stitching? Don’t threaten me with a good time! I’ve been slowly filling my house with my own art, from pillows and plushies to coasters and wall hangings. And I have a reputation for being a DIY queen at Halloween that I’m determined to uphold. But with JOANN closing, I worry about how to keep sewing and how to encourage others to learn.
JOANN isn’t the only craft shop I frequent, but it is easily the best for buying fabric. The reason it’s such a big deal that it’s closing is because other stores don’t have the same range and quality of fabrics — or the same sales.
Local fabric stores are commonly quilt shops, which carry mostly higher end (read: expensive!) cottons. If you want felt, fleece, fur, flannel, minky, apparel fabrics, cosplay fabrics or anything else, JOANN was the best place to find it. Now, I’m not sure where to look. A lot of what let me try new projects is that I could start them inexpensively by waiting for a 50% off coupon at JOANN. Especially for people new to sewing, your first few projects will look a little wonky. Squiggly seams, uneven corners, that’s just part of the learning process!
Having access to cheap fabric to learn on makes a world of difference in how fun and affordable sewing can be. My absolute favorite moment at JOANN is when holiday fabric goes on sale for 70% off. Their Halloween fabric sale is what got me into quilting. It only cost me a few dollars to teach myself something new, and I found a new passion in the process! Having less access to inexpensive but quality supplies means less creativity, which is a loss for everyone.
It’s easy enough to get basic craft supplies online. A quick hop on Amazon will let you grab basics like crochet hooks, knitting needles, buttons, zippers, et cetera. But fabric shopping really needs to be done in person, where you can feel the fiber content and weight of a fabric, match the colors with different patterns and find coordinating thread. Color matching like that online is next to impossible, as is determining the quality of a fabric just from a picture. If you buy fabric that is too low quality, it will unravel while you sew it or after only a short amount of use, wasting your hard work and contributing to the amount of fabric waste in landfills.
I've spent a lot of happy hours in the aisles of JOANN. Like most crafters, I have a sizable fabric stash of projects I haven’t started yet. But when those run out or I want to encourage a friend to start sewing, I don’t know where to tell them to go. So thank you JOANN for all the memories — I know I’ll be there stocking up at the closing sales.
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