AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: Local quilt shops offer solution to Joann fabric stores closing
Elizabeth Gottlieb: For those starting a new sewing project, you are going to have to look harder to find supplies. The fabric outlet Joann is closing all of its stores, including those in Fayetteville, Cortland, Clay and Ithaca. Fashion designer Alexa Papasavas says she’s concerned about getting her supplies online.
Papasavas: A lot of us like to go in person and, like, feel the fabric and, like, take a look at it versus ordering online.
Gottlieb: Small-business quilt shops like Calico Gals are opening their doors to beginners. Calico Gals owner, Janet Lutz, plans on rebranding the store as a sewing center. The goal is to be more clear about what they sell to customers.
Lutz: So in order to reach the person who is not necessarily a quilter, but more a sewist, you may not realize that Calico Gals carries many of the things you use, many of the things you need, including that inspiration.
Gottlieb: Quilters, fashion designers and sewists are coming together to get their projects done. Elizabeth Gottlieb, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – The fabric store Joann is closing all of its stores. Among the stores to close include those in Fayetteville, Cortland, Clay and Ithaca. Those who frequently shopped in the store are turning to alternative methods to get their supplies.
Some are turning to buying thread and fabric online in hopes of finding cheaper options. However, shopping online does not offer the same experience as shopping in person.
“A lot of us like to go in person and like feel the fabric and like take a look at it versus ordering online,” says fashion designer Alexa Papasavas.
Local quilt shops offer a solution for sewists looking to shop in person. While their inventory might be smaller, quilt shops try to focus on community. Calico Gals is a quilt shop in Syracuse with a goal to inspire other crafters.
“We offer a lot of inspiration for people. So they don’t just come in here to buy something because they need it. They come in looking for ideas, and we offer that too,” says Calico Gals owner Janet Lutz.
Calico Gals are rebranding as a sewing center and fabric store to be more welcoming to beginners. Their goal is to be more clear about what they sell to customers.
“So in order to reach the person who is not necessarily a quilter, but more a sewist, you may not realize that Calico Gals carries many of the things you use, many of the things you need, including that inspiration,” says Lutz.
Lutz wants to expand Calico Gals’ inventory to accommodate the closing of all Joann fabric stores.
“Right now we’re talking to our customers and trying to find out what exactly they did buy at Joann,” says Lutz.
Calico Gals recently added beginners classes at their store and hope that more customers will come to their door.