Looking for fabric since Joann closed? There are options in Clark County

Clark County’s sewing shops are seeing more foot traffic since Joann Fabric and Craft stores shuttered late last month.

The retailer announced in February it was closing all of its 444 stores nationwide, including two in Vancouver. As of this month, Joann is officially gone.

Miki Landis runs a fabric shop in downtown Vancouver that also plays host to a regular quilting group.

“The quilting community is going to be impacted very little,” said Landis, who pointed to four quilting shops in the Vancouver area.

Landis’ Enchanted Rose Emporium at 400 E. Evergreen Blvd., Suite 120, is in the historic Providence Academy near downtown.

There are two quilting shops in Hazel Dell: Quilted Treasures Studio at 6400 N.E. Highway 99, Suite M; and Just for Fun Quilting at 1503 N.E. 78th St., Suite 12. Fiddlesticks Quilt Shop is at 2701 N.E. 114th Ave. in east Vancouver.

“People who are looking for high-quality quilters’ cotton are still going to be shopping primarily at those shops,” Landis said.

But what about those wanting to sew clothes or upholstery or baby things?

“That’s the thing that’s now going to be more difficult to find in the area,” Landis said.

Clark County is home to a large Craft Warehouse at 9307 N.E. Fifth Ave. in Hazel Dell, as well as a Hobby Lobby at Vancouver Mall and Michael’s crafts in east Vancouver. All three carry fabrics.

In fact, Craft Warehouse took steps to increase its sewing inventory as soon as Joann announced its impending closure.

Since the announcement, the Camas-based chain has consistently seen more shoppers coming through its doors, Craft Warehouse co-owner Rob Williams said.

The chain plans to expand its cotton prints by nearly 30 percent in the coming months, as well as adding to its selection of flannels, yarn, batting and other accessories, including needles, thread and bias tape.

The local retailer isn’t alone with its plans.

Craft retail giant Michaels posted on its website earlier this month that it’s added 700 new fabric styles online, along with sewing machines.

Landis said those who relied on Joann for specialty fabrics, such as bridal tulle or stretchy athletic fabric, may need to head south to the Mill End Store at 9701 S.E. McLoughlin Blvd. in Milwaukie, Ore.

Sewers may need to visit the area’s fabric and sewing stores to see what fabrics and sewing notions they have, Landis said.

“Find the things that you might be using on a regular basis and just make a note of who carries that in town now,” Landis said.

Joann used to be ideal for finding those accessories all in one place, she said. “You may end up going to a couple of stores now instead of just one.”

Landis said some will be disappointed that prices for things may not be as cheap at local stores as they were at Joann, which had the advantage of buying in volume.

“It’s not sustainable” for small businesses, she said. “You have to make money as a business.”

Vancouver has a good variety of places to buy sewing essentials, Landis said. She recommends people continue shopping locally to keep that variety in town.

Sewers may also have luck perusing yard sales or thrift stores for fabric or reusing clothing from thrift stores. An old sheet can be transformed into a curtain. Some even make quilts out of old jeans or T-shirts.

“Get creative,” Landis said.

Sarah Wolf: 360-735-4513; sarah.wolf@columbian.com