topic Re: Hancock Fabric Closing in Home

Hancock Fabric Closing

Kachina624 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 22:57:12 GMT

This is hard to believe but I just read Hancock Fabrics has declared bankruptcy and is closing all its stores. This place is a mainstay to sewers. It's going to really limit the availability of fabrics and supplies in many areas. Now we'll only have Joann which I never liked because their stores are too cluttered and junky. It's going to be hard to be a seamstress.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

151949 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 23:02:24 GMT

This is very depressing news as I am not a fan of Joanns fabrics. We do have a nice sewing dapartment in the Walmart in my town but they don't carry many fabrics. I hate to buy fabric online as I want to touch it and see it in person, feel how heavy or thin it is etc. In the meanwhile this may be a good time to get to Hancocks to get some good deals.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 23:07:43 GMT

The store near me closed a few weeks ago. I used to make all of my own clothes when I worked. Then when I quit to have my girls I made some of their clothes.

I haven't sewn much in years. The material got to be so expensive it was stupid! It got to the point where you could buy your clothes cheaper than you could make them.

I felt the reason to make an outfit would only be to have something different you couldn't buy because it's cheaper to buy an outfit.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

gardenman — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 23:09:26 GMT

They remodeled our Walmart about ten years ago and took out all of the fabrics. They're remodeling it again now and putting them back in. They don't have a huge selection, but for me that's better. Too many options drive me a bit crazy.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

GSPgirl — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 23:15:24 GMT

Too bad because that means all we have is Joanne's and they are rude at every store I go to.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

Kachina624 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 23:18:27 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
They remodeled our Walmart about ten years ago and took out all of the fabrics. They're remodeling it again now and putting them back in. They don't have a huge selection, but for me that's better. Too many options drive me a bit crazy.

@gardenman That's what they did at the local Walmart except they didn't remodel, they just rearranged. The fabric department is poor; the thread rack is usually almost empty and the just have cotton quilting and seasonal fabrics.

I have a huge stash of fabric from yesteryear that I'll probably never use.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

butterfly123 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 23:31:44 GMT

Lots of customers when we were there 2 weeks ago. Must purchase a minimum of 2 yards of each fabric you choose and up to 7O% off most fabrics. Fantastic prices!

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

DiAnne — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 23:41:21 GMT

I used to sew a lot. When all the independent stores starting closing and it was hard to find really nice fabrics (ie linen, silk, wool, etc) I just stopped making my clothes. I was in the Hancock Fabrics near my house a couple of months ago looking for replacement buttons for a jacket of mine. There was very little choice and I don't even know of another fabric store. I did notice a going out of business banner last time I passed it.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

NAES1 — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 00:41:04 GMT

I love this unique fabric store~

When I was 9 years old, my beloved 'daddy' bought me my first sewing machine.

He asked me if I was serious about making my own clothing, then - yes, I was a very responsible young lady.

I studied patterns, and asked for little help. Eventually, I found a teacher who was a professional. She was very tough, not having anything I made to be mediocre.

By the time I was 15, I made ninety percent of everything I wore.

Hancock fabric store ...always helped me...with everything from the lengths- to fabrics and bobbins, chalk.

I dearly was DEPENDENT on that chain of stores wherever I was throughout my teens to years of my many years of marriage.

If not for Hancock's, I would possibly fizzled out, losing my creative nature.

What a sad day, today, on Father's Day to hear this news.

I had no idea.

It was just a few weeks ago that I was there, again ( with respected service) finding several sewing items needed to complete a project.

I know very little of this Joanne's.

Hancock's fabric is right around the proverbial corner from me.

*I still have the sewing machine that DAD bought me. Old, yes, but I will never surrender 'it' while I am still breathing.

Just a llittle piece of my history, remembering back...that's all.

NAES

I hope everyone had a great memory for their Father's Day~

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

scotnovel — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 01:22:34 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
This is hard to believe but I just read Hancock Fabrics has declared bankruptcy and is closing all its stores. This place is a mainstay to sewers. It's going to really limit the availability of fabrics and supplies in many areas. Now we'll only have Joann which I never liked because their stores are too cluttered and junky. It's going to be hard to be a seamstress.

That is funny because where I live it is the exact opposite. Every Hancocks that I've been in was old, shoddy looking, dirty, and cluttered. The JoAnns are bright and clean. I like the fabric selection (and coupon sales) at a local Hobby Lobby. They have a lot of variety of fabrics and you can use the 40% off coupon that they have to cover the entire cost of one fabric item (not jsut one yard for example). I have even used it on a full bolt of fabric. There is also a wholesale fabric place near me. Although most of their fabric is upholstry type fabrics they have some beautiful lace and other fabrics too.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

Desertdi — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 01:24:49 GMT

My first husband insisted I make all my clothes because "I knew how"..........yeah sure........he was well off and in one of those money-hungry professions. Got rid of him.....AND the sewing machine.................. (Yeah, I have a new machine.....but it is reserved for shortening pants.)

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

Mominohio — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 03:01:40 GMT

Never hear of the store.

But mending a seam or sewing on a button are the extent of my sewing skills!

I am sorry that one more choice is gone, though. I hate that so many things are either cheapened to the point we don't want them, or are gone all together.

Competition makes for better quality, prices and service.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

gardenman — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:36:11 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@gardenman wrote:
They remodeled our Walmart about ten years ago and took out all of the fabrics. They're remodeling it again now and putting them back in. They don't have a huge selection, but for me that's better. Too many options drive me a bit crazy.
@gardenman That's what they did at the local Walmart except they didn't remodel, they just rearranged. The fabric department is poor; the thread rack is usually almost empty and the just have cotton quilting and seasonal fabrics.

I have a huge stash of fabric from yesteryear that I'll probably never use.

There used to be a row of shelves dividing the front and back of our local store and they''ve removed those shelves and are replacing all of the flooring with new floor tiles. They've updated the electronics section and added a fabric section. A lot of stuff is being shuffled to new locations. They're making some pretty big changes locally. The fabric selection isn't huge, but it's better than none. I mostly shop for upholstery fabric and they've got a decent selection of that.

I've got an antique rocker that needs to be recovered. My grandfather had it done professionally and for some reason the pro used wood shavings/sawdust to stuff the seat of the chair back when he did it. It's not an ideal way to upholster a chair. Every time you move the chair a pile of wood shavings/sawdust pours out. I'm looking to update it to springs and foam instead of sawdust/wood shavings. Some antique chairs were originally stuffed with sawdust, and maybe the original reupholsterer just kept what was there, but I'm tired of dealing with it. It's not very comfy, it's messy as heck, and I can do better.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

Nataliesgramma — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:38:58 GMT

@scotnovel wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
This is hard to believe but I just read Hancock Fabrics has declared bankruptcy and is closing all its stores. This place is a mainstay to sewers. It's going to really limit the availability of fabrics and supplies in many areas. Now we'll only have Joann which I never liked because their stores are too cluttered and junky. It's going to be hard to be a seamstress.
That is funny because where I live it is the exact opposite. Every Hancocks that I've been in was old, shoddy looking, dirty, and cluttered. The JoAnns are bright and clean. I like the fabric selection (and coupon sales) at a local Hobby Lobby. They have a lot of variety of fabrics and you can use the 40% off coupon that they have to cover the entire cost of one fabric item (not jsut one yard for example). I have even used it on a full bolt of fabric. There is also a wholesale fabric place near me. Although most of their fabric is upholstry type fabrics they have some beautiful lace and other fabrics too.

Our Hancock Fabrics closed about 5 yrs ago and I wasn't surprised. I could find some unique fabric there, but the store wasn't clean or organized. We only have JoAnn's and it seems more geared to crafts than sewing....

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

SilleeMee — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 11:53:18 GMT

I was a professional seamstress from long ago and I used to shop a Hancock. They were good way back then. I'm not surprized they are closing. In today's world it costs more to sew a garment than it is to simply buy one and get it altered. Whenever I bought clothes I used to always say: "You can't even buy fabric and make it for that price". It's still sad though to hear of another store chain closing.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

151949 — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 12:09:15 GMT

The Joanns fabrics near my home seems to be much more geared to crafts. There is not a large variety of fabrics - actually mostly cotton quilting fabric.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

novamc1 — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:22:12 GMT

Found this story from a Texas newspaper, dated 5 days ago, on the internet:

<<Great American Group bought Hancock Fabrics in April. Horvath said an exact date for the closings is not known, but the middle of July is the target for shutting down the about 125 remaining stores.>>

As far as I know, our nearest Hancock store closed several years ago. I did business there once. Around here, Calico Corners is the go-to place for fabrics, reupholstery services, drapes, custom bedding and furniture that will be covered with their fabric. Have done LOTS of business with CC, as I'm a serial reupholstery customer for certain furniture pieces that I especially value.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

Kachina624 — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 22:54:48 GMT

@gardenman About a year ago I bought new dining room chairs that came with boring, generic upholstery. As is usual when I get something new for the house, I immediately set about "personalizing" it. I found several yards of the perfect fabric from two vendors on eBay and am re-covering the seats with a sort of Southwest fabric in the perfect colors.

Didn't they used to stuff upholstered furniture with horse hair?

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

gardenman — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 23:31:28 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@gardenman About a year ago I bought new dining room chairs that came with boring, generic upholstery. As is usual when I get something new for the house, I immediately set about "personalizing" it. I found several yards of the perfect fabric from two vendors on eBay and am re-covering the seats with a sort of Southwest fabric in the perfect colors.

Didn't they used to stuff upholstered furniture with horse hair?

Yeah, they used horse hair, wood shavings, sawdust, and whatever else they had lying around. The guy who did this chair used sawdust and wood shavings. It's been a pain to deal with. Every time you move the chair there's a fresh pile of sawdust and shavings to clean up. I'm hoping to redo it before Christmas.

Re: Hancock Fabric Closing

flickerbulb — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 01:01:44 GMT

I am getting ready to recover my loveseat and a couple other pieces.

I found a local upholsterer who recommended a place called warehousefabricsinc.

Ordered several samples on Friday and received them in the mail today!

Really impressed with the speed and the prices!

The fabric is really nice and I am going to select some to get my work done.

If you need fabric, check it out. I went to Calico Corners and was very disappointed in the selection and the prices.