When Joann Fabrics announced its bankruptcy and liquidation of stores across the nation, Minnesota’s local fabric shops stepped up to fill the gap. However, no one is celebrating this development.
According to Lynn Barbeau, a long-time seamstress, losing her favorite store was devastating. Despite not being skilled in sewing herself, she found a new happy place at Knit & Bolt in northeast Minneapolis, where beginners gathered for a skirt-making class. The owner of the shop, Megan Boesen, believes that this shift will help local fabric shops but acknowledges the challenges they face.
“We’re only so big, we can only carry so much,” Boesen said. “We don’t have buttons or zippers like Joann’s had.”
As customers start shopping closer to home, it would be beneficial for both the business and those who haven’t yet encountered Minnesota’s crafting community. A unique opportunity arises with the upcoming Minnesota Yarn Shop Hop, where a dozen yarn shops are banding together to encourage customers to visit and try out new projects.
For local fabric shop owners like Boesen, seeing customers bring back finished products is the best reward. However, getting started on a project can be intimidating for beginners, especially those who lack experience with sewing or knitting.
The key takeaway from this situation is that, despite the challenges, local fabric shops are embracing change and welcoming new faces into their community. As Barbeau joked, “If I can learn to do this at my age, anybody can.”
Source: https://www.startribune.com/brooks-sew-long-joann-fabric/601236053