ceannastahr

I don't know what I'm going to do with all these shops closing. The closest quilt shop to me is quite a disance and quite expensive. Cant't afford the gas or the price on my small fixed income. Barley holding on now

Sewbug

The local Hancock's here closed down. I'll miss that store more so for the great quilting book selection they had. The closest quilt shop is about an hour away, which isn't too bad when I need material for a new quilt but bad when I only need a spool of thread. The WalMart here will keep the sewing dept for three more years. I buy Warm and Natural batting there and maybe a few basic notions but that's about all for quilting. I've found that online shops have sales on quality items that beats WalMart or JoAnn's regular prices. I love buying fat quarter packs. And I do order a lot from fabrics.

With Hancock's closing in most small towns, I think it makes an opportunity for a fabric shop to be opened in it's place, catering to fabric buyers and not all the home dec or craft stuff.

Moonpi

Ours here in central Florida is staying open, but stores on both coasts are closing. Seems like every time I enter that store, I spend more than I budget for. They do seem to have a higher quality fabric than our local WMs.

They also have started a discount card program, so I signed up for that.

3incollege

We have a lot of quilters in western Pa. and that didn't stop our Walmart from closing the fabric section, and Hancocks never exsisted here.
We have 15 quilt shops in pittsburgh area and new ones opening.
This weekend is the shop hop and with gas prices they thought it would be a flop. However they sold over 600 passes(they cost $6). Personally I will not be doing the shop hop this year. it is just to costly to go to all the shops. Donna

cdub

There's always mail order? I got some nice, affordable fabric on sale at http://www.christaquilts.com/, and she offered a new customer discount, then sent another discount coupon with the order. Really nice lady.

Also, maybe eBay's worth trying? I find some good deals there. You don't have to auction if you don't want to. Lots of listings have "Buy it Now", which is as easy as buying from a regular store since there's no bidding.
Fabric at eBay

Hope this helps a bit,
Crystal

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mimisharon

I was in our Hancock store Saturday and asked my friends there about the closings, I got the same story.......the ones that are closing have closed and the ones that are in the bankruptcy restructure are in better shape and there's little to no chance of the rest of them closing.

I talked with the assistant manager there, she and I have worked together before, at school. So I trust her word. I would have to travel at least 45 minutes to an hour to be able to buy affordable fabric if they closed. I am much relieved!

Quilt shops buy the same fabrics that many of the major outlets buy, but because they have to buy in smaller amounts I guess it costs them more so their prices are so high that us poor people just can't afford to buy from them. But it would be wonderful to have a quilting coop or something where it was no long distance travel or waiting days for shipments.......SLAP! Ok, I'm awake, I'm awake the dream is gone. Back to work. :shock:

vicki reno

Well, I was relieved just to know that WM here will keep the fabric dept at least for now. The super WalMart hasn't officially closed theirs, but are just not reordering fabric. Not enough to say grace over! If they go, I'll have to dig into my stash :cry: We can't have that :!: Thats what I take out of th closet and pet and put back in the closet--can't bear to cut it :!:

isnthatodd

I love hearing that other people treat their fabric as a cherished toy to be lovingly played with and then put up. I even have duplicates of some pieces and can't even think about cutting one of them. I keep promishing myself I will not buy any more until I use some of what I have, but then I never seem to have just the right color or print or whatever, so have to go see what I can find! :lol:

vicki reno

I too am glad that someone besides me does that :-)

Lawtongirl

Hi there,
Our large Hancocks store, Lawton, OK, closed June 17, 2007. I sure will miss it, they had everything a seamstress or quilter could want. I got in on lots of their markdowns, and bought trim at 75 to 80% off. The last day or two they sold fabric at $1.00 a yard, and people were buying it by the bolt. I was out of town then.
The store at Wichita Falls, TX is much smaller but is still open. We have two super Wal Mart stores and they are still stocking fabric.
There are not many quilting shops available, with the higher quality and very beautiful fabrics. But those specialty shops are usually very expensive.
That's my 2 cents, guess we shall see what happens next.
Blessings and happy quilting
Louise