I have a love/hate relationship with Jo-Ann Fabrics. It’s the only fabric/notions store around; it’s more affordable than my local Mill End Store; it’s easy to get to. It also never seems to have exactly what I’m looking for and the notions are mostly for crafters: cheap, fall apart easily, aren’t made to industrial standards or to withstand heavy usage (don’t even get me started on their selection of snaps, buckles, and sewing machine needles for leathers…inevitably Dritz and inevitably crappy), and, compared to what I could be spending at an online wholesale place (or in NYC on fabric row!!), fairly expensive. I can definitely blow through $40 with almost nothing in my basket. $5.95 for a zipper???? 2″ wide sew-on velcro for $7.99 a yard?? I mean, come on. I understand they are a retail store and need to set the prices as such out here on the West Coast in order to make a profit…but with no alternative supply store here it makes my habits very expensive. It’s also populated with…erm…people who usually have a few decades on me and are thronged around the quilting section. But it’s always there when I really need something – and I can often improvise in their findings/notions section when I can’t find what I want.
My other quibble with them is that the majority of the free project sheets around the store are usually for projects that don’t seem…particularly fashion-forward or youthful. How to make a quilted tea-cozy, for instance. A how-to sheet on attaching 1/2″ red loop fringe to the bottom of your kid’s jeans. I guess they know their current market (which doesn’t seem to be people who are interested in trends or fashion-forward designs).
Hope it’s big enough to red!
Happy DIY’ing!
I'd raid both Olsens's closets and “Carrie Bradshaw”'s 😉
Your comment was super sweet, thank you!!
x
very informative – great post xoxoxox
Hi 🙂
I like the brooch and I also love to DIY (I do it since ever).
Great, great post!
Love
Su
What an awesome find!
I understand your love/hate relationship with JoAnn and usually only go there for sales or lurk in the clearance section, but it is encouraging to see that they have something as cool as the zipper rose.
Since this project doesn't require a working zipper, I am going to raid the pair of pants my son put on the rag pile and give this a try.
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Oh my gosh! I thought I was the only one with the love/hate relationship with Joann's! It takes FOREVER to get fabric cut, then FOREVER to check out! I love the sale coupons and it is just down the street…but it is a chore every time I go in there!
Great post, I am going to try this one!
wouww, it's a good news. I love Joann and their crafts. I should find some joann fabrics coupons now 🙂 thanks