An obituary for JoAnn’s
- lydiaballart
- Feb 22
- 2 min read
I pass the abandoned JoAnn’s near my apartment every time I get on the freeway, and every time I feel a twinge of sadness.
Growing up with family from Appalachia, sewing was a cornerstone of my home education. I was surrounded by quilting, knitting, sewing, weaving, embroidery. Textile crafts defined the way I interacted with clothing.
Learning to sew taught me the importance of taking care of my things. It gave me a feeling of self-sufficiency, to be able to repair or alter my own clothing. Being 8 years old and wrangling a sewing machine at full speed made me feel powerful. As a history geek, I loved to embroider, copying samplers I saw in museums.
JoAnne’s was at the center of all that. I remember going with my Grandmother after school, carefully comparing thread and fabric.
For those wondering why I don’t just switch to Hobby Lobby or Michaels, those are primarily craft stores. They prioritize materials for things like painting, drawing, framing, etc. JoAnn’s was the only one that was a sewing store. And the people who worked there, largely little old ladies, were often skilled seamstresses themselves, and could offer valuable input on a project.
It makes me sad that sewing is becoming a lost skill. Over 92 million tons of textile waste are produced each year, and an increasingly large percentage of that waste is made up of “fast fashion”; clothing made quickly, cheaply, and with low quality. Knowing how to sew and repair your clothing is not just a useful skill, but it’s a skill that helps save the environment!
Anyways, all this to say: I miss JoAnne’s. Sewing is a valuable life skill. Save the environment!
I also miss JoAnn's. I also grew up sewing. I liked being able to browse through fabrics in person and touch and feel them. I've had to move to shopping for fabric online which is stressful because it's hard to tell the quality or feel of a fabric from just a picture. It is a sad loss.
This was really nostalgic in a good way. I like how you connected sewing to self-sufficiency instead of just calling it a hobby. There’s something powerful about knowing how to make or repair your own things, especially in a world where everything feels disposable.
Do you think skills like sewing are fading because of convenience culture, or do you think there’s a chance they make a comeback as sustainability becomes more important?
Aww, what a beautiful tribute to a very special place. Thank you for sharing with us! I have never been to JoAnn's but I recall seeing commercials for it over the years. I know it meant a lot to many people! Do you ever wonder, who was JoAnn?
I was honestly so heartbroken when JoAnn’s went out of business. As a "crafty" person, my hands are always busy with something—whether it’s knitting, embroidery, sewing, wirework, decorative painting, or even cake decorating.
There was something so therapeutic about walking through JoAnn’s and just browsing through the endless threads, the beautiful fabrics, and the unique selection of beads. To be honest, going to Michaels or Hobby Lobby just isn't the same. Those stores feel a bit more commercial and mass-produced, whereas JoAnn’s always had that warm, "homey" feeling that made me feel right at home. I truly miss it!