A JOANN Eulogy – Thanks for the Memories
A JOANN Eulogy
JOANN, formerly JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts, announced that they will close all 800+ stores across the nation, saddening many sewists, quilters and crafters who relied on the chain to support their hobbies and (for some) businesses.
For many, JOANN has provided a place for one-stop shopping even if it was just far enough away from home to make shopping there a full-day event. For me it was where my love of sewing flourished, as there were no independent shops or any online fabric retailers back when I really became interested in sewing. I had no choice but to shop at JOANN, and it was nice to have a place somewhat nearby to pop in and grab a couple of zippers or yards of fabric when my creative juices were flowing.
JOANN BEGINNINGS
I remember when JOANN was in the mall…when going to the mall was the thing to do on the weekends. The JOANN that was in the mall near my house was right next to a Mrs. Fields Cookies stall. How I miss being able to grab a piping hot chocolate chipper and stroll on in to look at fabrics and patterns. (While we’re mourning JOANN, let’s also raise a glass to Mrs. Fields Cookies stalls, shall we?)
My sister and I would sit at the pattern books and sift through the pages like we were at the doctor’s office reading magazines. We’d jot down the numbers and go searching into the file cabinets full of McCall’s, Simplicity and Vogue patterns. We would come away with a simple shorts pattern (me) or an intricate Halloween costume (my sis), of course with expectations that our mother would immediately start making them and hopefully involve us in the process.
My mom had a sewing nook in the basement, next to the washer and dryer and under the small window that we used to look out of during tornado warnings when confined to the basement. On those occasions, my mom would pick up a fabric and sew something, turning the scary moments of rain and wind into something much more glorious – the promise of a project.
After a run to JOANN, we’d dump the fabrics, thread spools and patterns on my mom’s basement chair. Days (sometimes months) later, we’d see the finished project. Slowly we learned about seam allowances, darts, gathers and seam rippers. And then that basement chair belonged to all.
PICKING YOUR PATTERN, FABRICS & NOTIONS
When I turned 16, I was actively pursuing an acting career. The first job I booked (that actually paid something) was an independent educational film. It was called “Picking Your Pattern, Fabric & Notions.” We filmed at a huge JOANN location in southern California. I was the only kid in the crew that knew pattern terminology and how to actually pick a pattern, fabrics and notions. The whole experience felt serendipitous.
I quickly gravitated away from acting and more toward sewing and JOANN became my second home. I loved to sew so much that I had to sell my projects in order to keep making things. So I became a regular JOANN customer, saving all the coupons and calling the employees by name.
Much later in life, I became the Editor-in-Chief of Sew News magazine. I felt so honored to be involved with a publication that was on the newsstand at JOANN. To me, that was a greater achievement than any acting job.
After I started working at Sulky, I felt that same pride when walking down the aisles at JOANN, seeing the mighty decorative thread displays and Sulky stabilizers hanging on the shelves. “That’s Sulky!,” I’d say to my kids. I think they felt pride in that, too. As if somehow they belonged in this place I grew up in, where I felt I belonged so long ago.
WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES
They say when one door closes, another one opens. And I hope that’s true! I hope this “death” of JOANN brings opportunity for folks who want to dive into the sewing and crafting industry and are passionate about bringing us the supplies we need to keep sewing on.
I hope it opens the door to shopping the brands you know and love and trust direct from their websites. Support them, and independent retailers, as they navigate what their businesses look like without this industry giant leading the way. It’s a tough climate for all retailers right now, and they need our support more than ever.
And most importantly, I hope you share your love of sewing, quilting, crafting and creating to all who will listen! These hobbies are things that make a lot of us tick. Working with our hands is what brings us joy, brings us connection, brings us individuality. The more we share the benefits of these hobbies with others, the more they will want to do them, helping the industry stay afloat.
THANK YOU JOANN
I’d like to personally thank JOANN for all those years when I didn’t know where else to go. When I was just starting my journey into the sewing world. When I needed a place to belong. JOANN was a springboard that catapulted me into a much larger scene, and one that I feel very lucky to be part of.
On behalf of Sulky, I also want to thank you. We appreciate your support as always, and even more so now that JOANN has taken its last breath. We are committed to continue bringing you the most high-quality products and best-in-class education to further your hobbies. And we’re here for you, to support your love of all things sewing.
Ellen March
I am the Director of Content for Sulky of America. The former Editor in Chief of Sew News and Creative Machine Embroidery magazines, I hosted Sew it All TV on PBS for nine seasons. I've appeared on It's Sew Easy on PBS, DIY Network's Uncommon Threads, Hallmark's Marie Osmond Show, MacPhee Workshop and more! Come sew with me!
28 Comments
Jennifer J Witt
I certainly will miss my joann fabrics, very sad 😔
Barbara Lussier
I am so sad to see JOANN close. While there are plenty of Web sites selling fabric, I like to feel the fabric before I buy it. There are independent quilt shops locally, but they mainly carry cottons. JOANN provided so many different types of fabric. Now, there will be nowhere to go for that one-stop, ability to feel the fabric.
Gail Hodge
What a lovely tribute to this beloved store. I too learned at an early age to sew. My grandmother taught my sister and I the basics and later in life we taught ourselves. I do not remember however, a fabric store to which we traveled to find precious materials with which to sew. Instead, we turned my mother’s sheets and pillow cases into skirts and shirts. When this was noticed, we were “gently” reprimanded. Our love of sewing will not die with this beloved store, but we are saddened along with you and so many others. I know another door will be found that will open for us all. And may the love of sewing be passed on for many generations to come.
V Ronnie Gagnon
Very well said Ellen Marsh. I grew up on Hancock Fabrics, then fell in love with Joann. We sewists need to feel our fabrics & crafts, lay them side-by-side to match. We can’t do that online. I hope someone else picks up where Joann is leaving off. It is a sad season for us all. Thanks Joann for all the years of creativity, fun, exploration, fulfillment, contentment, love and happiness you gave us. You have no idea how much you will be dearly missed. You’ve been ❤️’d!
Ronnie Gagnon
Cheryl
Loved the tribute to Joann. It is similar to many stories of people I know. I just loved going there for specialty items I needed and the everyday piece of fabric to complete or add to a quilt. Having been a seamstress, drapery maker and upholsterer in my early days, I depended on Joann to assist in those efforts. Now I quilt and do projects that were still supported by trips to Joann. It is loss for so many and it will be difficult to replace in my community.
Juanita Welch
I am devastated at the loss of this wonderful company. I’ve been a loyal customer for many, many years. Here in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Joann’s finally opened the Shawnee store and I was so happy to not have to drive to OKC to shop. Now, at 80, I won’t be going to OKC, I will just have to shop online.
Loopylinda
Thank you for a loving tribute to a store that has been in my life almost the entire time. I started sewing at 8, and Joann’s was always there. I now live in a more remote area, and Joann’s was the consistent feature here. I will sincerely miss both the materials I could buy and the friendly faces who helped us out. I guess I will have to turn to the internet now, which is disappointing. I love the touch of the fabric when I am making a selection. Some things that look wonderful don’t feel nice. Some things that look kind of plain jane are actually fabulous because of their touch. Can’t do that on line!
Joann’s, I will sincerely miss you.
kmblecha
Am very sad about Joannes. When I got the sewing bug I was 16, in Denver Colorado and Clothworld was it!!! years later when we moved to Naples Florida I continue to sew, and lo and behold got a job working nights at Joannes fabric in Naples Florida. I have seen Maes and Clothworld closed their stores and I have missed them too ,as I continue to sew for three children and having a career as a Judicial Interpreter I continue to visit Joannes, taking my children to pick fabrics and patterns there. As the years passed also sewing for grandchildren and having them visit the store to pick supplies for costumes, and crafts. Thanks for all you have been to a lot of us, thanks for all the friends I made along the way while browsing through patterns books and sharing the love of sewing and fabrics.
Judy Fredericks
I am very saddened to hear that Joann has declared bankruptcy. Everything has gone online, to the detriment of local stores. There is a sense that an era has passed and a craft is passing away. How sad.
Becky
I will miss Joann Fabrics so much! Although it was across town I would make my list, take my Sulky embroidery thread chart and head over. Joann’s is the only retailer for Sulky thread in Columbia, SC where I live! I don’t know what I’m going to do! I’m trying to stock up on my regular colors and add a few more! I will really miss their coupons and sale prices for Sulky! It’s the best thread on the market!!!
Sandra S Owens
It is all well and good to order online–BUT– some of us want to FEEL what we buy. We want to feel the texture of the fabric, how the threads feel in our hands and how loose or tight the threads are. We can’t do this online. I was sick when Hancock’s Fabrics closed and now I am even sicker with JoAnn’s closing. I just hope and pray that another company will open a fabric/craft store to support all the customers who sew and do crafts.
Kimberly Dooley
Joann’s has been my go to place for so many years, I loved getting fabric after diligently putting them together. I could spend hours in that store. I’m heart broken that they are closing. Nothing like looking at the fabric and touching it. Goodbye to a longtime friend
Janice Sprague
This is a sad day for sewers and other crafters. Yes, we can order online, but more times then not, it is not exactly what you were looking for. I like to feel the fabrics and see the colors.
Joan Shriver
What a nice thing to do, supporting a competition. Not enough “nice” going around these days!
Lynn Smith
I enjoyed your story, much of it like my Sewing Life. At 76 I don’t do much sewing anymore but my ironing board is still set up in my sewing room where I mend (yes, what a quaint idea) and hem and
do machine embroidery. I feel really sad at losing Joann. Michael’s and Hobby Lobby are nice but they are NO Joann. Huge loss to all of us sewers. Lynn Smith * Houston, Texas
Rebecca Haughn
I too will my Joanns however i have found online the qulted twins. they live in florida and email me regularly. they are the nicest people and they sell all sorts of things in their store. Maybe they will replace joann’s for a time til people can find something a little closer to home. Just a suggestion hope you check them out.
Leslie Lewis
I even go back to So-fro fabric stores and then to JoAnn’s. I too would go there for inspiration and get the creative juices flowing. In my older years, I would go in there and sit at the pattern table and page through the books digesting all the pictures of clothing until it was time to go to an appointment. I will greatly miss JoAnn Fabrics. I feel like I’ve lost a good friend.
Chris M
I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio . When I was in high school I worked in the summer at Cleveland Fabrics , the parent company of JoAnn Fabrics . We go way back .
Maureen Margaret O'Reilly
Well said Ellen. I will miss it immensely. I worked part time for a period of time at Fabric Place and miss the fabrics to touch up close.
Jean Williams
Ellen,, thank you very much for writing such a nice hommage to a company who sustained so many people (esp. pre-internet!) who sought patterns, threads, fabrics and other spots of joy to a sewer. I even worked for JoAnn’s for a while and could easily have been in permanent debtors state from the beauty and textures of the fabrics. I still love the touch and sight of beautiful fabrics! Thank you for speaking for so many of us sewists.
Barbara Dumler
One of my first jobs was working at House of Fabrics which eventually became Jo-Ann’s. See below the change of events.
Fabri-Centers acquired House of Fabrics, which also previously operated as Fabricland, Fabric King, and So-Fro Fabrics, in 1998. In September 1998, the company changed its name to Jo-Ann Stores Inc., and all of its stores were renamed Jo-Ann Fabrics. Darrell Webb became chairman and CEO of Jo-Ann Fabrics in March 2006.
Barbara
One of my first jobs was working at House of Fabrics which eventually became Jo-Ann’s. See below chain. Will miss it.
Fabri-Centers acquired House of Fabrics, which also previously operated as Fabricland, Fabric King, and So-Fro Fabrics, in 1998. In September 1998, the company changed its name to Jo-Ann Stores Inc., and all of its stores were renamed Jo-Ann Fabrics. Darrell Webb became chairman and CEO of Jo-Ann Fabrics in March 2006.
Jean M
Way back in the old days (he, he), I loved going to my local Joann store to look at the pattern books to find my next project. One day they had an old book they were retiring and I asked if I could have it. Brought it home and soon saw my year old son standing by the coffee table turning the pages very carefully. Being a librarian, I was so glad to see how he took so much care when turning pages. No, he did not grow up to be a fashion designer or a sewer….But thanks to Joann, I made many clothes and memories!
Pat D
Also want to mention the array of affordable cotton fabric available for making masks during the Covid years. I, along with many other sewists, made hundreds of pretty and unique masks to pass out to friends and businesses that were trying to stay open.
Alice Finn
So beautifully said, Ellen. I think you captured all of our emotional thoughts & sentiments. Thank you for being our voice while we are still trying to navigate our future creative sewing world. At least my world.
Diana L
Ellen, what beautiful words you have shared with us. There are so many of us that are losing a mainstay and I hope we will find, as you said, other places to support, for some of us, our bread and butter, and for others of us, our hobbies. I have shopped at both Joanne’s and Hancock, and feel the loss of each. I look forward to finding other places to shop for patterns and fabrics, albeit if I have to rely on look only, I hope to find somewhere that the feel will come naturally from the descriptions provided.
Sue
I loved your story. I lived your story but from a different state. My mom taught me to sew in sixth grade. Picking patterns and material was something we did together. I am at a loss right now. Without a physical store to go to, to touch and experience all things in the store I am deeply saddened. I will learn to move on to shopping on line but without the joy of it.
judy wheldon
HI ,
I live in Australia and when on a visit to the US I went to a JOANNE’ shop. Well….. I just fell in love with the afoordable prices, much less than in Australia. The down side was the chain didn’t ship to OZ….. Rats.
I feel very sorry that chain is closing, but maybe something better is waiting in the wings????