#joann fabrics and crafts

[andsewingishalfthebattle]

Source

If you haven't already heard the sad news, ALL JoAnn stores are closing (it was previously reported that only some stores would be closed).

Important: JOANN GIFT CARDS WILL ONLY BE HONORED THROUGH FEBRUARY 28. If you don't have time to get to the store, use them on the website.

[bomberqueen17]

How To Shop For Fabric Online

RIP Joann's. Now many places in the US no longer have a local fabric store, such as it even was toward the end.

There are some good posts going around about where to shop for fabric and craft supplies online, like this one for example. But if you're a beginner-to-intermediate sewist, and the way you've always shopped for fabric is by going to the store and touching it, it can be a hard, even cruel adjustment to suddenly be looking at a photo online and trying to piece together from the inconsistent descriptions what you're actually looking at.

So I'm going to just try to bang together a little primer on What Things Are Called, and how to educate yourself, so that you don't have to do what I did and just buy a ton of inappropriate stuff you wound up not being able to use for what you'd thought. And I will link to some resources that will help with this. This will be garment-sewing-centric but will, I think, be fairly broadly applicable.

The first thing is to look carefully at your desired project. If it is a commercial pattern, it will usually tell you what kind of fabric you need, but it will describe it in not the same words it's often sold under. If it is NOT a commercial pattern and you're kind of winging it, it's even harder. So here is how to start figuring out what you need.

Number one: Knit or Woven?

Quilting fabric is woven. If you are making a quilt, you want a woven. Most craft projects are made with woven fabric-- tote bags, upholstery, you name it.

Many garments are knits. T-shirts, yoga pants, cardigans. It is easy to know, because knits stretch. They can either stretch both ways (along the length and along the width) or just one way (usually along the width); this is confusingly either called 2-way stretch or 4-way stretch. Yes, stores are inconsistent. Look carefully at the description, and they will usually specify-- "along the grain" or "in all directions". Some garments require stretch only around the body-- maxi skirts, knit dresses etc-- while some absolutely need stretch both ways, like bathing suits.

No, you absolutely cannot clone your favorite knit t-shirt in quilting cotton. It will not fit. Most knit garments have "negative ease", meaning they are smaller than your body and stretch to fit. All woven garments have "positive ease", meaning they are larger than your body, unless very firm shaping undergarments are used.

SMALL EXCEPTION: There exist "stretch wovens", which are woven fabrics made with elastic fibers. These will be labeled as such. They are actually harder to sew with than regular wovens because they almost never have their stretch percentage labeled; they are NOT suitable for knit patterns. Avoid them, until you are more advanced and know how to accomodate them, is my advice!

Number two: WEIGHT.

How heavy is the fabric? How thick? How thin? This is measured in two main ways-- ounces per yard (denim is often 8oz, 10 oz, 12 oz) or grams per square meter. But many fabric retailers do not tell you a weight, they use words like "bottomweight" or "dress-weight", and you have to learn to figure out what they mean by that.

My lifehack for learning these has been go to go to ready-to-wear clothing retailers and see if they give the weights of the fabric their garments are made from. (Yes, I learned how to shop for clothes online instead of in-store years ago, because I am fat; some of us have had to do this a long time.)

If you are making a pair of trousers, you need heavier fabric than if you are making a blouse. Do not buy a floaty translucent chiffon to make your work trousers, it will not work no matter how cute the color is. Learn how the different weights of fabric are described, and you will improve your odds of finding what you need.

Number three: DRAPE.

Is it stiff? Is it fluid? Is it soft? is it firm? There are a lot of very artsy words used for this, and you may find yourself puzzling over things with a fluid hand, or a dry, crisp hand, or "a lot of drape", or maybe the listing doesn't describe it at all. This segues neatly into another technical thing, which is the WEAVE of the fabric. There is a dizzying array of words that tell you what kind of fabric it is-- twill, tabby, challis, chiffon, crepe, organza, georgette. And these will give you insight into the drape, and thus into the texture/usability of this fabric, and how suitable it may or may not be for your project.

I know it's a lot to think about but I am now going to give you resources for where to see all this stuff.

Number one is Mood Fabrics, which I can't believe hasn't been in any of the posts I've seen so far. They are a huge store in NYC's Fashion District and yes you can go there, but when I went there it overwhelmed me so much I left empty-handed. But what they have is AN INCREDIBLE WEBSITE. They have everything on there, and what's most important for you, their listings are INCREDIBLY consistent. They have VIDEOS of many of the fabrics, where a sales associate will hold it, wave it, stretch it, and tell you verbally what it is and what it's for, in about thirty seconds. HUNDREDS of these videos.

Whether you want to buy from them or not, go to Mood Fabrics, click around, find their listings, and read them. They will tell you fabric content, weight (usually gsm), often weave, they have little graphics that show you if it's for pants, dresses, shirts. And they have those videos. Look at the listings, watch the videos, and you will leave knowing a lot more about how to look at an online listing of fabric and know what you're getting.

Another really excellent website for this is Stonemountain & Daughter. I've actually not bought anything from them yet (they came highly recommended, but they're not cheap), but their online listings are, again, very thorough and very detailed. They always have a picture of the fabric with a fold in it held in place by a pin, which does more to help you understand the weight and drape of a fabric than any other static image ever could-- that visual, combined with how informative the listings are, has helped me learn to estimate fabric weights on other sites very effectively.

And here is a page that's ostensibly about how to wash silk, but I found it so useful because it gives such a clear image of what each weave/type of silk fabric looks and drapes like. I've never bought anything from these guys either, but this is a good resource.

Learn a little bit about fabric so you know what you're looking for, and you can begin to replace some of that "i just have to go and feel it in person" problem. There will still be trial and error, but you'll have a better starting place at least.

[batwynn]

Just a heads up, something really messed up is going on with Joann (fabric/craft store) and I highly recommend you don’t order online from them. Multiple people, including myself, have placed orders, had the entire thing or most of the order canceled by the store the same day while claiming the items aren’t in stock. However, they will hold the amount of your order for a month, in PayPal’s case, and not actually cancel it. I have called, emailed, and texted all of their customer service lines and only got one text in response that was just… a lie?

Obviously, they should not be allowing people to order stuff that supposedly isn’t in stock to begin with, but they should also actually cancel the order and not let a chunk of your money sit in limbo or never refund it.

Additionally, the twenty something items I ordered (to make a gift for a friend and for some Patreon stuff) were all very different things and there’s no reasonable way every single item was out of stock. And then they lied and said it was a payment issue:

When I spoke to both my bank and PayPal they said everything is up to date and perfectly functioning.

I honestly can’t tell you what, exactly is going on. But something is. And it’s bs. And I would highly recommend you find another source for crafting supplies if you can.

[dnp-pet-rectangle]

with the knowledge of the green dye bonanza phil went on, i think we have to acknowledge the Truth:

phil told himself "don't cry, craft"

[nautilimps]

Joann Fabric Stores will be closing all US locations. In so many towns and smaller cities, this is the only affordable shop or only shop period offering art and crafting supplies. It serves as a place of community and education, as well as access to higher quality sewing machines for many people.

We can hope the loss of Joann will bolster the local fabric, yarn, framing, art, and craft supply shops. I really do hope people will look to their libraries and local arts & crafts groups for advice, socialization, and tool access. My local library system offers a tool library and a repair shop program that welcomes textile projects.

If you know of such programs and shops in your area, make sure to spread the word. Don't let your friends and neighbors immediately fill that hole with e-commerce. Especially as AI is polluting more sewing, arts, and craft spaces online. And if you don't know what's available in your town, ask around. Check in with the library. If they don't have a program running, make the suggestion and volunteer if you can.

[soft--dogs]

finally trying to work on one of my long-time dreams of learning how to sew plushies n dolls n stuff... i've messed around before with making a few things but i really want to learn for real! and it's probably good to just know basic sewing techniques in my adult life lol anyway i just ordered some minky and fur and eyes and noses :3c excited for it to get here and start messing around making lil guys ^w^ i also bought a few patterns to start learning simple techniques and the basics and whatnot. one day i want to make plushies of ppl's sonas and characters! but for now, i still need the materials. and i don't actually know how to do anything yet xD

[prettiestpear]

[sophswampreads]

thank you joanns for upgrading my book journal/ journaling game. you will be missed

[ashohlow]

my first pair of knit socks !! i'm so happy with how they turned out and i'm glad i wasn't too intimidated :)

[aleck-le-mec]

Ik exactly why Joanna’s fabrics is going out of business, it’s because every middle aged lady who works there is antiestablishment. I’ve never witnessed someone pay full price at a Joann’s because the cashier always has some discount code.

[sophered]

junk journaling on a saturday

rip joanns

[bomberqueen17]

Shopping For Fabric Online

I wrote my own post on this bit ago but a pattern company I follow posted a link to this guide they wrote about how to shop for fabric online. It has some different suggestions than what I wrote, so I thought I'd repost it here: The Sew Liberated Guide To Buying Fabric Online

This one focuses more on specifics, but has links to some good resources at the end too.

And, in the Instagram post where they linked to the guide, they also added the advice to buy muslin for practice sewing, and that reminded me, I forgot to say that in my guide!

Look for cotton muslin, which is available in a number of widths and usually in either bleached or unbleached finishes, and buy whatever is cheapest. If you are making a woven garment, it is great practice to test-run the pattern and dial in the perfect fit by making a practice version in this inexpensive fabric.

I tend to make wearable muslins and if I get them right enough, I will finish them nicely and tie-dye them afterward! But if I don't, then it doesn't sting so much as having made The Dream Garment In The Dream Fabric and having it not fit.

Some people get thrift store bedsheets to use for muslins but I find myself being too precious with those. Muslin is more consistent.

(I also look for cheap knit fabric on sale to make muslins of knit garments now and then, but it's less important because knits aren't so picky about the fitting!)

[insanelyadd]

I went to joann fabrics today to get some stuff to make quilts for my nieces and nephew, and was really excited to see the Halloween stuff out already. Until I got closer and noticed they used an ai generated image instead of real art for one of the pieces.

I am going to bully (send an email expressing my disappointment and threaten not to go there anymore) this company before they get the "bright" idea to let ai hallucinate patterns for their fabrics. Join me.

customer.service@joann.com

[lavenderbunn]

As a sewist Joann closing all their stores seriously sucks. It’s like watching your hobbies die in real time. Sewing used to be taught in schools. But that’s also going away.

Learning crafts like sewing , knitting , crochet etc etc is so fucking important , quilts where used in the Underground Railroad, knitting was used by Belgian resistance in World War Two. Handcrafts are an art and it’s horrid watching the means of getting into them slowly go away.

Forever ago I attended a 2 week course at Penland an art school in the blue ridge parkway. I was taking a class for metal smithing. The opening ceremony was them talking about penland a temple of the handicraft/the hand That learning to work with your hands was this almost sacred thing. And as woooo as it sounds I agree. Learning to make things , anything is so deeply human . It connects us to the past and the future.

What I’m trying to say after too much wine. Is learn the craft. Don’t let capitalism steal this from you. Learning to sew was the single most powerful thing I learned in regards to body image . Knitting taught me more mindfulness than any meditation. Do the things that cross cultural divides like cooking , needle arts , jewelry work. Because when you learn and appreciate those things it bridges so many cultures

I won’t even go into the whole why ate handicrafts considered feminine pursuits vs fine art misogyny bullshit

[mountainbirb]

In WHAT world is UP TO 40% off a liquidation sale??? It should be MINIMUM 40% off??? What the hell Joann’s???

[spamatron3000]

Y'all, I have never felt more cheated in my life (obvious exaggeration, but let me whine)

My local JoAnn store is closing and is selling off everything at supposedly huge discounts. I've been popping in every week to try to get a sewing machine because I've wanted one for ages, but they've been hard stuck at like 15% off and I wanted a better deal than that.

I go in today, and finally there's a decent one at a substantial discount. It's still a bit more than I wanted to spend, but I figured it's nearly 50% off, so I'm definitely getting a decent deal on a good machine, right?

Well fuck me, because the original price on that tag was a fuckin' lie! 15% off, which was what I was holding out to avoid.

And I know what you're thinking, cause I thought the same thing. "What if that's just a further discount on an already discounted price?"

Nope! Cause here's the same machine straight from the manufacturer's website! Almost same damn price I paid!

Now, should I have done a quick google before trusting the label? Yeah, I should have, and that's on me. Should I have to play nanny for a national chain store and research every price before every purchase? No, I don't think I should.

Anyway, if you hear the siren's call of discounted craft supplies, don't be like me. Just google that shit real quick. Gosh, one wonder's why JoAnn's is going out of business...