JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores: America's Leading Destination for Fabric and Fiber Arts

JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores is America's leading specialty retailer for fabric, sewing supplies, yarn, and craft materials, operating over 800 locations across the United States. Founded in 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio, JOANN has spent over eight decades building its position as the primary destination for sewers, quilters, knitters, crocheters, and crafters of all kinds. While general craft retailers like Michaels and Hobby Lobby carry some fabric and yarn, JOANN's identity is built around textile arts and fiber crafts as its core competency—a focus that gives it unmatched depth in these categories.

For the millions of Americans who sew, quilt, knit, crochet, or work with textiles, JOANN is not just a convenient option—it is often the only brick-and-mortar retailer within reasonable distance that carries the breadth and depth of fabric, notions, patterns, and fiber arts supplies that serious practitioners require.

The Fabric Department: JOANN's Core Strength

JOANN's fabric department is the foundation of its business and the primary reason most customers visit the store. The fabric selection at a typical JOANN location is extensive, covering apparel fabrics (cotton, linen, silk, polyester, knits, and specialty fabrics), home decor fabrics (upholstery, drapery, and decorative textiles), quilting fabrics (an enormous range of quilting cottons in prints, solids, and batiks from major quilting fabric manufacturers), and specialty fabrics for costumes, crafts, and specific projects.

The fabric department includes a professional cutting counter where staff cut fabric to customers' specifications—a service that is essential for sewers and quilters who need precise yardages for their projects. The cutting staff can also provide basic guidance on fabric selection and yardage calculations, helping less experienced customers make informed purchasing decisions.

For quilters specifically, JOANN's quilting fabric selection is a major draw. The stores carry quilting cottons from manufacturers like Riley Blake, Robert Kaufman, Timeless Treasures, and others, along with quilting tools, batting, thread, and patterns. Many quilters rely on JOANN as their primary source for the fabrics that form the foundation of their projects.

Sewing Supplies and Equipment

JOANN serves the sewing community comprehensively. Beyond fabric, the stores carry a full range of sewing notions—thread from major brands like Gutermann and Coats & Clark, needles, pins, zippers, buttons, elastic, interfacing, trims, and the countless small supplies that sewers need for their projects. The stores also carry sewing patterns from major pattern companies including Simplicity, McCall's, Butterick, and Vogue, covering garments, home decor, costumes, and accessories.

Sewing machines from brands like Singer, Brother, and Janome are available at most locations, along with machine accessories, presser feet, and replacement parts. For sewers who are purchasing their first machine or upgrading to a more capable model, JOANN provides a convenient place to compare options and make an informed purchase.

Yarn and Needle Arts

JOANN's yarn department serves knitters, crocheters, and other fiber artists with a broad selection of yarns in various weights, fibers, and price points. The selection includes acrylic yarns for everyday projects, wool and wool-blend yarns for garments and accessories, cotton yarns for warm-weather projects, and specialty yarns for specific applications. Brands like Lion Brand, Red Heart, Bernat, and Caron are well-represented.

The needle arts section also includes knitting needles, crochet hooks, embroidery supplies, cross-stitch materials, and needlepoint supplies. For fiber artists who work across multiple needle arts disciplines, JOANN provides a convenient single-source for supplies.

Educational Programs and Community

JOANN invests significantly in educational programming, offering classes and workshops in sewing, quilting, knitting, crochet, and various crafts at many locations. These classes are taught by experienced instructors and cover skill levels from absolute beginner to advanced, providing structured learning opportunities for people who want to develop new creative skills or improve existing ones.

The classes serve an important community-building function. For many JOANN customers, the store's classes and events provide opportunities to connect with other people who share their creative interests—forming friendships, sharing techniques, and building the kind of creative community that enriches both individual practice and the broader craft culture. In an era when many traditional community gathering spaces have disappeared, JOANN's role as a meeting place for crafters and fiber artists is genuinely valuable.

Pricing and Promotions

JOANN's pricing strategy emphasizes accessibility and value. The stores run frequent promotions, including percentage-off coupons, weekly sale events, and the JOANN Rewards program that provides members with exclusive discounts, early access to sales, and points-based rewards. For budget-conscious crafters who shop strategically around promotions, JOANN's effective prices are highly competitive.

The company's mobile app integrates coupons, rewards, project inspiration, and shopping lists, making it easy for customers to plan purchases and take advantage of current promotions. The combination of regular promotional pricing and the rewards program makes JOANN one of the most affordable options for fabric and craft supplies.

Convenience and Accessibility

With over 800 locations and extended operating hours at most stores, JOANN provides convenient access for crafters throughout the United States. The stores are well-organized with clear department signage, making it straightforward to find specific products even in an unfamiliar location. The online store at JOANN.com extends the company's reach with options for home delivery, in-store pickup, and same-day delivery in many markets.

The Bottom Line

JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores succeeds by being the definitive destination for fabric, sewing, and fiber arts in America. The company's unmatched fabric selection, comprehensive sewing supplies, solid yarn department, educational programming, convenient locations, and accessible pricing create a resource that serves sewers, quilters, knitters, and crafters with a depth and breadth that no general craft retailer can match. For anyone whose creative practice involves textiles and fiber, JOANN is an essential and often irreplaceable resource.