Where to Find Your Yarn with the Closing of Joann Fabrics

If you are a US based knitter there is a good chance you are familiar with the large craft store chain, Joann Fabrics (They’re in 49 states). Known for their coupons, and creative materials, Joanns was a staple for many, including me. Having declared bankruptcy the chain has announced that they are closing all of their stores. Has this news left you wondering where to find your yarn with the closing of Joann Fabrics?

Personally, I’ve not been a fan of the selection at Michaels and I’ve never really shopped at Hobby Lobby that much. So this news was pretty big. However, there are a few upsides and we’ll get into them in just a moment.

Where the Closing of Joann Fabrics Hurts the Most

Yes there’s always a bit of an upside when a large store with a huge inventory closes. There is always the chance for close out sales and big savings. And saving money on the supplies that we love is exciting. However, that excitement shouldn’t overgrow our awareness for the overall situation.

The biggest upset for me personally, isn’t that the stores are closing. And that’s been big news. It has been the treatment of the employees as Joanns, with shoppers bugging them about the schedule of sales and discounts while they are facing impending unemployment. This is more than just a convenient shopping place closing for them. It’s their livelihood.

Then there are those that taught classes at the stores. While they aren’t getting rich, these classes have helped both the instructors connect and build a local community while sharing their passions. For the attendees, it’s helped them make friends, build new skillsets, and start new lifelong passions. I bought my first sewing machine at Joanns and then came back as an adult for another. Sewing snobs, like the man who fixed my last machine, might rail on the quality of the machines offered at the stores but entrants into new hobbies aren’t always able to shell out loads of money on high end tools and machines. So these stores became the cradle of inspiration and creativity for so many.

Where to Shop With the Closing of Joann Fabrics:

Shop Big Brands, Directly

Skip the shop. Order directly from the comfort of your own home and buy directly online from almost all of the brands that Joann’s has previously sold. This is great if you are familiar with the brand and have knit with their yarn before. For example, I love Caron Simply Soft and Lion Brand Yarns for hats. Recently I’ve been using Paintbox Yarns for blankets and chunky sweaters.

Larger online retailers like KnitPicks and Darn Good Yarn are also great options. I love both of these and have purchased a lot of yarn from both. KnitPicks offers a selection of tools and notions on top of their yarns. I’m currently working a lot with their fingering weight tweed. Darn Good Yarn offers a sustainable selection of yarns, gifts, and also offers subscription boxes! I’ve designed patterns for them and love working with their yarns.

Shop Small and Local

This is a great opportunity to visit or revisit your local yarn store(s). These stores, while often being more expensive than a large retailer like Joann Fabrics, Yarnspirations, or Lion Brand Yarn, have a wide selection of yarns you might have never experienced. They can help you find the perfect match for that project you’ve been wanting to try, or match the yarn you love to an exciting new project.

Small businesses now more than ever, need our dollars. This includes not just the local yarn store, but the yarns that they carry. Right now I’m making an effort to knit through my stash and this includes higher end yarns that I purchased on our honey moon. I’ve been “saving” these for special projects, but why? They’re just sitting there, languishing in a drawer. I should be working with them and loving them. It’s been an issue I’ve had for years with craft supplies. I’m afraid of “wasting” them. But it’s all in the way you view the experience of creation.

Turn to Social Media

There is a whole world of indie dyers, yarn spinners, and online stores that are waiting to become your next favorite. Social media platforms can be a black whole that sucks up a ton of our time without giving us anything meaningful…unless you spend that time scrolling through beautiful fiber art. Open up Instagram and search for a few new yarn hashtags and fill up that #FYP with colorful yarn. Or try our favorite for pattern sharing, Pinterest!