Well, it finally happened. JOANN Fabric and Craft is going out of business. 😭
It feels weird and dystopian to mourn the loss of a giant corporation, but I would argue that we are living in weird and dystopian times. JOANN Fabric stores have been a beacon of craftiness for people from all walks of life for decades. Besides Michael’s, JOANN was one of the only stores where I could get affordable yarn and crafting notions in my suburban community growing up. And don’t get me started on their amazing fabric selection! JOANN shuttering all of its locations is a huge loss for curious crafters and veteran makers alike. GOODBYE, BIG TWIST YARN (I LOVE Big Twist yarn. So soft, so squish, and an amazingly satisfying color selection. RIP.)
The loss of JOANN has prompted many of us to ask: What now? Where can we get quality yarn and fabric? There’s no other big-box chain that fulfills quite the same consumer need.
Below, I’ve outlined several JOANN alternatives for fabric, yarn, and more. (And before you ask, no, Hobby Lobby is not on that list, fuck that corp.)
Many of these JOANN alternatives are online-only. Which is unfortunate because ordering yarn or fabric online isn’t the same as shopping IRL. There’s no way to see a product’s true color, texture, quality, etc., until you spend your money and it arrives in the mail.
I’ve highlighted some local-to-me (Southern California) brick-and-mortar options at the bottom of this blog post. It’s usually pricier, but try to support your LYS (local yarn store) and small business fabric stores in your area. I know that’s not a feasible option for everyone, but if you can swing it, do it!
Keep reading for my list of JOANN alternatives, starting with online yarn and fabric stores and ending with some Southern California small businesses you can support.
Knit Picks
Knit Picks and its sister site, crochet.com, are two of my favorite online sources for yarn. Knit Picks yarn is consistently high-quality, and they have everything from acrylic to wool. I’ve been purchasing yarn from Knit Picks for almost a decade, and they’ve never disappointed. They also have some cute patterns, crochet and knitting tools, and starter supplies for other fiber crafts like punch needle and weaving.
Knit Picks is a little pricier than JOANN and Michael’s, but overall, I’d say the price point is comparable, especially considering the quality.
(Full disclosure: I’m a Knit Picks affiliate, but that’s not why I’m promoting them in this list. I’ve been a Knit Picks customer for years. I truly like their products, which is why I joined the affiliate program! Anyway, do with that info what you will.)
Herrschners
I know Herrschners as the fine purveyor of those amazing latch hook kits I have become re-obsessed with as an adult. But I didn’t realize that they also sell yarn + so many other crafty things like fiberfill! They carry yarn brands that were also carried by JOANN, such as Lion Brand, Bernat, and Caron. The prices are also extremely reasonable.
Herrschners seems like a safe bet for purchasing yarn, especially if you’re already familiar with the quality of the above-mentioned brands.
(Also, btw, I might need to buy this Bigfoot Latch Hook Kit omg)
DROPS Design
I have yet to try out DROPS Design yarn, but several people on Reddit recommended this online brand. From what I can tell, their yarn seems to be decently priced and of good quality. There are several fiber options and colorways available.
DROPS also has an extensive library of free patterns, which I’m reading mixed things about. Some people on the Reddit-sphere say some of their patterns are inconsistent and/or hard to follow. All in all, DROPS seems like a decent online source for yarn. No brand is perfect, after all, and I didn’t read anything extremely egregious about them.
Swanson’s Fabrics
Okay, now it’s time to dip our toes into the world of fabric. Buying fabric online is never ideal, but there are some amazing indie sellers out there who provide quality fabrics with a DIY mindset. Enter: Swanson’s Fabrics. Located in Massachusetts, this fabric and yarn thrift store curates and resells donated fiber supplies at affordable prices. The owner of Swanson’s Fabrics, Kathryn, is a huge advocate for slow fashion, mending, and using what we have.
Swanson’s Fabrics’ online store is a digital treasure trove of fabric. Every piece of fabric is $6/yard—no matter what. They also offer a huge selection of buttons, zippers, ribbon, and more.
Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics
While doing research, I kept seeing Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics recommended as a top-notch fabric retailer. With a brick-and-mortar in Berkeley, CA, this company is on the higher end in terms of price, but the quality seems to be out of this world. Plus, they have some really, really cute patterns available on their online store, too.
Sewing Parts Online
This online superstore has everything you need for your sewing projects. They have everything from sewing machines to parts (obviously) to fabric. I will say that a quick peruse through their fabric selection left me kind of overwhelmed; many of their fabrics are quite expensive. $20 a yard? Yikes.
Sewing Parts Online seems like a good resource for sewing machine parts, notions, and more practical tools that sewists may need. Their fabric selection might be worth it for some people if it’s in their budget.
The Knitting Tree, LA
The Knitting Tree, LA is one of the most well-known local yarn shops in Los Angeles. They welcomed Threadwinners into their gallery space back in 2017 when Alyssa and I were just starting out, and I have held them dear in my heart ever since. Annette and her staff are amazing at fostering community. They have an online store that offers what I’m assuming is a portion of their in-store stock (the store is pretty big). If you are near Inglewood, be sure to stop by and shop for yarn in person!
LA Finch Fabrics
Okay, LA Finch Fabrics seems like a fantastic resource for fabric! Based in Los Alamitos, this online and in-person shop has a huge supply of deadstock fabric sourced from designers and department store brands. One glance through their online store, and it’s pretty evident that they have some pretty cute fabric options. The prices are higher than JOANN, but not completely insane for what you get.
It looks like the owner of LA Finch Fabrics also runs Sewing Lab Los Alamitos, which is a maker space offering sewing classes, open lab hours, and more. If you’re in the area, you can stop by and shop LA Finch Fabric stock, too.
Lucky DeLuxe Fabrics
Lucky DeLuxe Fabrics is a sewing thrift store in Orange, CA. I had never heard of them until I started researching JOANN alternatives! The shop is run by two women who have decades of experience working in theater costuming. You could say they know a thing or two about fabric.
Lucky DeLuxe Fabric offers in-person and online options that are interesting, eclectic, and reasonably priced. They also offer more than fabric: zippers, circular knitting needles, and even antique lace.
Well, that’s all I have in me at the moment. Hopefully these alternative resources are useful!
Do you have any JOANN alternative recommendations? Let me know, and I can add it to this list!
xoxo liz
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