Walmarts in and around Houston area have discontinued their fabrics -- I'm told the ones in SW Louisiana will be going when the stores do their remodel next spring. We do not have a JoAnns -- only a Hancock which always looks like a disaster zone (and run by a group of women who don't have the slightest idea how to sew or what price anything is), and a Hobby Lobby which recently redid their fabric dept which is only a fraction of what it was. I hate buying online, I want to feel the fabric and see what the colors really are.

I use to be a vender at one of the smaller hometown Wal-Mart, they still have a fabric department, which is good because that's the only store in town to buy fabric. There are lots of older women who quilt and it's hard for some of them to drive long distances to buy their fabric. I also have a super store about 20 miles from me, I buy some supplies there. But I've been told that their fabric isn't the best quality for quilting? But that I'm not sure?
Donna

My little local WalMart, "Neighborhood" walmart does not have a fabric store but a huge showing of machines for sale !! MIssed out on the disney machine from last Christmas. even side winders.. surprised me.. right across from the crickets for scrap booking !! weird !

Ellen

The Wal-Mart where I live has a tiny fabric/craft department, which is sad because it was pretty big until they made the switch to a "Super" center.

The best fabric/craft department I have ever seen in a Walmart (super or regular) is in Whitewater, WI. Now I may be a bit biased because I used to work there, but it is the truth. The department manager is sooo nice, she's very smart about everything in that section. She will go out of her way to special order fabric for anyone. I have seen her on the phone for hours with vendors trying to get certain fabrics. Everyone that works in that section is very knowledgeable too. It is always really clean, organized, and well stocked! This fabric/craft department has a large variety of EVERYTHING! $1.00 and $2.00 tables, regular priced fabrics, holiday prints, fleece, upholstery, sheer, nettings. It's really wonderful.

I would definitely recommend this fabric/craft department to anyone coming through south eastern Wisconsin.

Not to get off topic, but I see that Target now sells sewing machines. Maybe they will pick up where Walmart is falling behind.

[quote=Melissa]The Wal-Mart where I live has a tiny fabric/craft department, which is sad because it was pretty big until they made the switch to a "Super" center.

The best fabric/craft department I have ever seen in a Walmart (super or regular) is in Whitewater, WI. Now I may be a bit biased because I used to work there, but it is the truth. The department manager is sooo nice, she's very smart about everything in that section. She will go out of her way to special order fabric for anyone. I have seen her on the phone for hours with vendors trying to get certain fabrics. Everyone that works in that section is very knowledgeable too. It is always really clean, organized, and well stocked! This fabric/craft department has a large variety of EVERYTHING! $1.00 and $2.00 tables, regular priced fabrics, holiday prints, fleece, upholstery, sheer, nettings. It's really wonderful.

You may be right on target. There are four Walmarts that I can drive to (and I live where who would think that, we only have one big mall) two Walmarts that have a lot of faric and everything. The women that work these depts. have a lot of knowledge and are always odering and the same as you said. The other two stores that have fabric but not a lot the people that work there don't even know the difference between cotton and poly. Maybe Walmart is going by stores that have a reputition of not being able to increase sales due to poor fabric management. For there to be four stores with in driveing distance of me and they ALL have fabric with two of them growing in the fabric department must say something! Whatever though, makes me happy :D :D :D :D

I can't wait to get back to Hawaii. There are 4, yes, 4 Walmarts all within a 10-15 mile range of each other and 2 of them are only about 2 miles away from each other. I'm going to bring an empty suitcase for all my fabric shopping. Plus, I can go to my favorite shop...Kaimuki Dry Goods. I LOVE THAT PLACE!! I walk in there and my eyes start doing circles and the light starts to go dim and my body goes all tingly. lol