Joann's Is Closing

March 28, 2025

For many of us, Joann's is the only place to go to browse fabric and purchase something we might like to have.  Lately, in my city, there are a lot of fabric, quilt, and fashion fabric stores closing.  One of my favorite things to do is to visit a quilt fabric shop and select about three or four different fabrics, all within the same theme, and create a Thomas Pink-type shirt.

Thomas Pink is the name of the shirt company in London that does these gorgeous shirts, that have decorative contrast in the inside collar band, under collar, inside sleeves and inside the sleeve plackets, but I like to do the whole placket out of the contrast fabric.  The idea is that a gentleman would go to work with a tie and jacket, and it would look like a normal striped or solid shirt.  At the end of the day the jacket and tie came off, the sleeves were rolled up and it was fun time with some funky fun fabric showing.  

My shirts were always a little more outlandish, but I loved this idea.  That quilt fabric store closed, and finding fabric harder and harder, even at a decent quilt shop.  This shop also carried Laurel Birch, a fabulous designer, but that is gone too! 

So what's a sewist to do.  I'm lucky enough to have the Bernina shop that has some really neat (and very well-made) Robert Kaufman fabric, but not the whole collection, because she doesn't have room for it.  But she does what she can with the space she has there.  There's another shop in town, but it is clearly about price points.  And if he can't meet certain price points, he doesn't have it.  He does have a printer but the man-made fibers are really the only ones that print well on that machine.  

If I want something really nice or just something that will last longer than next week after I put all my effort into it, then online is the only place left.  Even Dallas doesn't have anything, except Richard Brooks which has fabrics starting at $500/yd and going up!

So I've been going online, and here's a list of my most favorite places and where I can get those one-of-a-kind, really smart-looking fabrics.  

Fabric Store List: (not in any particular order, just as I remember them)

• Gorgeous Fabrics.  You can't beat Ann's fabrics if you like to support a one-owner business; this is my favorite one to help.  I have NEVER gotten anything that I didn't love.  They are sometimes a little different from what I thought, but they are all wonderful fabrics (even the simple, everyday types), and I don't feel awkward about asking her questions or getting suggestions.
• Marcy Tilton.  Her things are more artistic and have a one-of-a-kind look.  They are also beautifully well-made and have a lot of stability, even the draping stretch mesh.  Her prices are a little high, and I never fail to drop by the site to see what's on sale.  You can also subscribe to her newsletter, but be warned that she sends them out four or five times a week. However, you do get a first look at the sale items this way. 
• Vogue Fabric Store.  They have an excellent swatch catalog that comes out six times a year, and I have ordered from that catalog simply because I can see the color and weight right up front and know it will work. I also keep these for 2 years so that I can peruse through them looking for something specific. I've specifically ordered a fabric because I could see the exact color (I've taken swatches and gone through my closet to get the right blend or tone for a garment). 
• Emma One Sock.  This store has recently changed ownership, so the site looks a little different, but the same high-quality, super-creative fabrics remain.  There are a lot of divine knit prints that are truly unique, and you won't see at everyone's online shop on the internet.

There are many other stores out there, and your Instagram feed is one of the most fascinating. I have high-end fabrics on there,  and it's OK to dream and even buy one occasionally, but when I have a set design in my head, these stores satisfy that need.  Here's a list of my favs

• @mendelgoldberfabrics.com - I didn't include this one above only because it's a pricier option, but the fabric is exquisite.  This is the place I like to take my students in NYC because you will see such beauty in fabric, that you didn't think could possible exist.  After you peruse through the site, don't miss the "End Cuts" section where she has the end of the piece on sale.  Her sales are just as beautiful as the pieces are.  
• @primefabricsnyc - really spectacular fabrics
• @fabricsandfabrics - very dressy, but still fun to know about
• @nydesignerfabric - also excellent fabrics
• @classicmodernfabrics - not much on fabrics but the buttons are wow!

• @SeattleFabrics - if you are into any kind of active, hiking, outdoor wear, this is the site for you with the most awesome notions to go along with this type of clothing.
• @Fashion_Fabrics_Club - I'm not much on memberships where you have to pay an annual fee to purchase (This is why I'm not crazy about Sawyer Brooks Fabrics), but this site doesn't charge you a fee, and supposedly you win points by purchasing fabric, when you want and what you want.  That's okay with me cause I have to give my email anyway if I buy something.  

But what about the notions - particularly those that show buttons, zippers, interfacing, and all that stuff?  Where do I get that stuff?

Etsy is full of unique and fun ideas and notions.  But warning,  going on Etsy to find buttons is like Pinterest - it's a deep big black hole that will suck you in, and you have to be very disciplined about what you're looking for, or before you know it, you're looking at dog cartoons to put on your car bumper or something completely different!  However, I love the things I've purchased there, and they've worked magic. I'm very particular about buttons.  

Etsy is also excellent for my silk organza, woven fusible, and horse-hair canvas interfacings.  However, you pay for what you get on the horse-hair canvas, so the discount canvas is just OK, while the more expensive canvas is too-die-for wonderful.  

Finally, I use three sources for the zippers: The Buckle Guy,  The Zipper Lady, and Pacific Trimming, all on Etsy. 

*(NOTE: My writing program on Awebber says these links are broken, but they work in my test email. Go figure.  If you hover over the link, it will give you the URL. Follow that, or go to Etsy and search for these shops.)  

*Another note:  I use the Zipper Lady for my bridal zippers, so that's probably not the best place to find a zipper unless you're looking for something in a translucent, white, ivory, or bridal color zipper.  Pacific Trimming is my favorite and most expensive.  They have every zipper and will make them for you.  They have different sizes and colors, including brass, antique brass, silver, puter, plastic, and any other sort of zipper fixture.  I'm working on getting a tape color chart, and when I do, I'll put it up here.  No more having weird zippers in your zipper drawer.  Tell Pacific Trimming what you want, and it appears at your door.  They are a little more pricey, but they are so worth it.  As far as a run-of-the-mill YKK zipper, you can search Etsy for one and get a very reasonably priced zipper.  

Thread is easy - Wawak.com and they have a thread chart for Guttermann. And there are lots of stores that use Guttermann thread for color matches, so if you have the color chart at home, you can ask for this or that number of red, blue, green or any color at all.  That's really helpful.  

Another note to help you navigate these new waters of purchasing fabrics.  I'm very particular and careful to buy only fabrics in my color zone.  I'm a red-head with a fair complexion, so I live in greens, yellows, beiges, ivories, browns, tans, naturals, reds, rusts, and the warm side of the color wheel.  No blues, whites (ok, the occasional white shirt), for me.  Even though I may get a piece of fabric that wasn't exactly what I was looking for, because it's in my family of colors, I can keep it, pick it up, and use it for a completely different project.  I wouldn't even consider buying purple, blues, or crimsons because they don't go with anything in my closet or my stash. 

This is going to be a big change for many, but we still have resources, and some of them will be better than what Joann's could ever offer.  Another thing I really like to do is subscribe to fabric stores' newsletter.  They are often the place where you can get heads up on a sale or even a limited fabric before the rest of the public knows.  It can get a little spammy, but even considering that, it's worth it because I see so many things that I either would have missed entirely or something on sale that I've been watching for a while.  

I cannot emphasize enough how much I love the Vogue Fabric Shop catalogue.  I look forward to it, and can't wait to see what all is in it.  They do an excellent job of including a wide range of colors for all sorts of different skin palettes, which I really appreciate.  And keeping past issues can sometimes be helpful in that you may not have wanted that oxblood red ponte a couple of months ago, but now you've got something that would go with it, and you have the sample from a couple of issues ago, and can thoroughly check it out.

I haven't received any payola or gratuities or anything from any of these places.  These are the ones I use and I'm very pleased with them.  Basically not too much for me is going to change.  All of these companies above will be more than happy to help you pick out something that will work for you.  PM on Instagram, or send them an email or call them on the phone.  Both Ann @ Gorgeous Fabrics and the Barn at Marcy Tilton are so happy to help you with just about anything. 

The cost may be slightly higher, but one thing I've noticed in buying online.  The quality is far superior.  That's one of the reasons I switched to buying online rather than running out to the local big box store.  Besides, I like supporting stores that offer quality products.  This latest jacket I have just made, will last me for a minimum 10 years, and at my age, probably for the rest of my life.

Also follow these people and others on Instagram, and you will begin to see a lot of really fun neat stuff on your feed as you like more fabric posts.  You'll also be introduced to a lot of interesting stuff that you never thought you would be interested in.  

And that's my job - introducing you to a world outside your regular path!

The SewingArtistry Resource Library is designed to contain information to not only make your sewing better, but to aid in you fitting and flattering your shape, size and style.  Check it out. 

Look for future classes coming in 2024
The Core Pattern Shirt, (one of my favorites for woven core pattern that you can make into a myriad of different garments), 
Basic Knit Top (core pattern class for knit basic tops, shells, tees, dresses, and tunics)
 

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