Oh no! Your Local Jo-Ann’s has Closed! Now what?

If you're anything like me, Jo-Ann’s has been a place of joy and creativity for you and yours for decades.  My first job was at a Jo-Ann’s in high-school (and I worked at one again for the summer in college!) and many a new crafting interest was born in the wonder-filled aisles of that most exciting store.  But, alas, the time has come for us to bid farewell to our old friend and to stock up on as much of the necessities for our various crafts as possible before the store winks out of existence forever.  

As we pile shopping carts with skeins of yarn and bolts of fabric and desperately hoard thread like manic squirrels, one thought seems to be popping into the heads of everyone I meet: What now?  Our furtively gathered stocks of notions and textiles are sure to dwindle as the future stretches out before us without the sanctuary of our beloved craft haven.  Where do we go when we need a last minute package of twill tape or discover we are three buttons short? 

I have been puzzling this out myself and, as I begin what is to be a monthly craft blog, I have decided to tackle the supply aspect of the equation first.  After all, it won’t do any good to post tutorials on how to finish the hem of a linen garment if the linen and the thread are nowhere to be found.  So here for you all are my top five suggestions for what to do now.  A note that this post is not sponsored by any of the listed stores, this is simply my personal opinion. And please feel free to pop further suggestions in the comments! 

Other craft stores

This might seem obvious to those of us who cross-stitch, knit, or bead, but other craft stores (like Micheals) carry craft supplies too!  If you need an emergency bundle of DMC thread or to replace a broken beading needle, these stores can be a life saver.  I know many people for whom crafting always seems to come down to a last minute dash to the store for something they need right now, and this accessibility has been one of the pivotal draws of Jo-Anns.  

But did you know that Micheals also carries fabric?  Not much mind you, the options are limited and the fabric comes pre-cut, but if you're someone who tends to decide to sew a new dress the week before a wedding, this could be for you.  There is the added bonus of being able to note the texture and weight of a fabric before purchase and the comfort of knowing if you run out you can hurry back and buy another few yards that are sure to match without the worry of shipping delays. 

Pros:  

You can get it today!

Browsing for inspiration is encouraged

They can always order something or check another store for you if it's not in stock

Matching dye-lots and color families is incredibly simple!

Cons:

Not much in the way of fabric

You're probably going to leave with six projects you never went in to find (though wasn’t that always part of the Jo-Anns experience?)

Quilting and Knitting Shops

A quick internet search of your local community might show you something surprising.  There are still small, niche craft stores out there! They might not be as locally accessible as the Jo-Ann’s once was, but they still provide access to yarn, fabric, thread, and notions specific to your craft. 

The other bonus here is that they are almost all run by people who are passionate about the particular craft they sell and many offer classes and meetups as well.  I can’t tell you how many times I asked a sales associate at Jo-Ann’s for advice on needle size or the effectiveness of snaps vs. hooks. After all, we grow best as crafters in a community. Having someone who can direct you to the exact crochet hook for that gauge of yarn best suited for that particular project is indispensable, and who knows! You might make lifelong friends in the process! 

Pros:

Knowledgeable professionals!

Matching threads when you can see them in real life is way easier

A built in community 

Cons:

Somewhat limited in offerings

You can usually only find one craft type per store

Often less accessible for those reliant on public transit 

Online shops

For those less spur of the moment, many online retailers sell fabric by the yard.  I had already been hunting sites like Etsy for niche fabrics for years before loosing my access to Jo-Ann’s hallowed aisles, so this one might be a bit of an easier transition for me and for those of you who are already taking advantage of sellers offering a wider range of colors and patterns then a brick and mortar store can hope to contain.  

There is also the ability to purchase needles, thread, buttons, and patterns here (indeed, some pattern companies run their own websites where paper patterns can be purchased directly, and more than a few online shops have downloadable patterns that you can print from a home computer).  These things won’t be available immediately (except of course the aforementioned downloadable patterns), but for those who like to buy everything you are going to need all at once these places are a great resource. 

Pros:

You can pretty much find anything

Smaller sellers are often open to requests for specific dye-lots and cut lengths 

Some patterns are immediately downloadable

Cons:

Shipping times and struggles

It is impossible to match your thread to your fabric.  Computer screens are NOT that accurate

Bigger sellers cannot guarantee dye-lot matches or edit cut lengths

Thrift Shops

Now this one might not be as much for the embroiderers and knitters of the world, but thrift shops are a great place to find interesting and unique fabrics.  Gently used clothes can be taken apart, old bedsheets and curtains can be cut down, and pieces can be altered to suit your needs in fun and environmentally savvy ways.  The thrill of creativity combined with the knowledge that you are preventing waste from ending up in a landfill can be incredibly rewarding!

And it is rare, but occasionally you find bundles of craft supplies and half used bolts of fabric nestled on a shelf in the back somewhere.  If you are someone who likes to wander aimlessly through the store till inspiration strikes, the hidden gems second-hand stores can offer are a great alternative to the aisles of your dearly departed Jo-Ann’s.

Pros:

Environmentally friendly!

Unique and interesting finds

You never know what can and will inspire you!

Cons:

You get what you get

Very unlikely to find any notions

Your Own Stash

Seriously.  I have never met a seamstress or knitter or jewelry maker who did not have bins and bins of rainy day project material hidden away. We seem to somehow collect excess no matter how much we stitch and a recent dig through my own collection revealed large pieces of fabric that I didn’t even remember buying.  I was very impressed with past me’s eye and while they may not have become the…er…whatever I was thinking of when I bought them, they are certainly destined for something fun now.  

And you’re not limited to your own stash!  Why not join your friends for a night of fun, ruffling through each other's yarn bins and trading supplies?  You might just find that the thing you needed to finish that project was the thing your friend can’t fathom a use for!  Aren't crafting communities grand!

On a side note here, I worked in a Museum once where the owners of the historic house had been avid crafters.  I cannot express to you the extreme feeling of being called out by the half inch long remnants of fabrics stored in temperature controlled boxes down in the collection archives.  Sure, from a historical perspective it was amazing to see that skirt we have in the collection, worn and faded, reflected in the still crisply flattened bits left from its creation, but I can tell you it really made me think about the need to save a two inch wide square of cotton “in case I need it later”!

Pros:

You already have it. Money, trip, and availability solved!

If you don’t have it, you might be able to trade!

You loved it once, you will probably love it again

Get back your storage space!

Cons:

You are limited to what you have already purchased and will most likely not be able to match it

Notions, threads, and sanity are still limited to what you already had on hand 

Thank you Jo-Ann’s for the creativity, the community, and the memories. We will always be grateful.