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From: DorothyL
Date: 06-12-2004, 08:11 AM (1 of 19)
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I just read in the paper tha a Hancock Fabric store is opening near here. Should I be excited? The Joanne's in that town carries almost no fabric and is out of my way. The only Hancock's I've seen was near Chicago and had a huge selection of fabric compared to most Joanne's. So should I expect lots of high quality yardage and good prices or should I just keep on saving until I make it to the New York City garment district a couple times a year and rely on mail order in between? Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: malibucat
Date: 06-12-2004, 12:09 PM (2 of 19)
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So far as I understand it, Hancock's is comparable to Joann's. I'd be excited...though I like my Joann's stores, they are the only fabric game in town. A little healthy competition might be of benefit!
=^..^= Kim
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User: malibucat
Member since: 10-12-2000 Total posts: 908 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 06-12-2004, 03:06 PM (3 of 19)
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Dorothy, we do not have a Joannes, so I can only tell you about Hancocks from experience.. They have a wide variety of fabrics , notions, and home decor items (this is fairly new to them). Their prices are about the same as the competition.. Their employees are quite knowledgeable in general.. They seem to have an extensive line of quilting fabrics.. I am more into garments and crafts, myself.. I buy a lot of flannels, novelty prints for kids and adults, and fleece. They almost always have a special item on sale and the proceeds go to St Judes in Memphis.. A couple of years ago I was able to purchase the red riding hood (reversible) doll for GD's Christmas and felt like I was helping a sick child at the same time that way..I have never gotten a bad piece of fabric there.. (flaws, damage , etc..) Every holiday weekend they have a huge sale, and all notions are 50 % off on the Monday holiday..I try to get all my expensive items then.. Cutting items , quilters rulers and items like that.. My store has a franchise dept. that sells sewing machines and sergers.. They usually send out flyers for their sales .(if you register for the mailing list) The bonus here is usually in the late fall, you get a flyer that has numerous instructions for gifts and decorations for Christmas and Hanukuk (sp). I have found great items for gifts and bazaar items in this booklet, as well as new techniques that speed my gift making .. As you can see, I like Hancocks..Give them a visit, your time won't be wasted.. Then go to the garment district when you get the chance.. Wish I had that opportunity just once.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: stitchmd
Date: 06-12-2004, 04:56 PM (4 of 19)
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My impression is that they vary less than Joann's, which seems to run the gamut from wonderful to awful. I happen to live near an especially awful Joann's so Hancock's is better. The employees at the Hancock's near me are only fair in their knowledge and often don't even know what things they carry. You just have to hunt it down yourself. In the last few years they've switched from garment and home dec fabrics to more emphasis on quilting and assorted crafts and a lot of mediocre quality home dec items like furniture and lamps. |
User: stitchmd
Member since: 02-25-2003 Total posts: 226 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 06-12-2004, 05:29 PM (5 of 19)
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I've also noticed a great deal of difference from one store to another with Joanne's, although, overall, they are never my favorite place to shop for fabric. Notions and sewing room supplies are a different matter. I'm sure they will see a lot of me at the new Hancocks. I really am excited about another fabric store in the area. Thanks for the input. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Shellymoon
Date: 06-13-2004, 04:50 PM (6 of 19)
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I shop at both Hancocks and JoAnns. The main difference I've seen is that Hancocks is for people who are serious about sewing--whether it be garment, home dec or quilting. JoAnns, at least here in the Dallas area, is for all crafters. Hancocks has fewer sales and a greater selection of (in my opinion) higher quality fabric than Joanns Hancocks also has almost any notions you can imagine. Some Hancocks carry machines, but it's strictly serve yourself. (Our new expanded JoAnns have a separate sewing machine department with staff devoted just to that). I agree with what the others say about Hancocks staff. We joke that they can be cranky because they're often older women--as in retired and gray haired with bad knees--but boy they know about sewing. So, give Hancocks a chance. You're bound to find something you can't live without!
Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 06-14-2004, 02:22 PM (7 of 19)
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I don't live very far from the headquarters of Joanne's and I'm still not impressed with the stores!!!!! I will drive over an hour to go to Hancock at the Ohio/PA state line. Or wait until Weds-Sat to go to the local Salvage Fabric Store!!! There are times that I can get very nice quality fabrics at the local salvage fabric store for very low $$$$. Joanne's has been nothing but a big disappointment. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: malibucat
Date: 06-16-2004, 09:10 AM (8 of 19)
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I am making my daughter's graduation dress from fabric I bought at Joann's...I'm so sorry you are disappointed. I am incredibly sick of the flaming! Yes they do sell some fabric that is not up to par, but it is your responsibility as the purchaser to recognize quality when you see/feel it. In the end, if you bought it you have no one to blame but yourself. The graduation dress is turning out beautifully! =^..^= Kim
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User: malibucat
Member since: 10-12-2000 Total posts: 908
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From: MaryW
Date: 06-16-2004, 09:21 AM (9 of 19)
Hey, I have a bad knee, sometimes cranky and a little gray hair! Everyone has their gripes about different stores. I went into one Hancocks last winter on our trip. It was in Florida. Very little in the way of serious garment fabrics but a nice store. Joann's are always popular and they do fill a purpose. To each his own, we all have our opinions. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: malibucat
Date: 06-16-2004, 10:56 AM (10 of 19)
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Most of my fabric comes from Joann's and I can't remember the last bad piece I bought there. I may be cranky, but apparently I'm pretty lucky too. At least complain about something that matters...the fact that the craft junk takes up more than half of the store or that the employees have no clue which end of the sewing machine gets threaded. I'm glad I'm self sufficient...their lack of knowledge means nothing to me. I'd love it if Hancock's opened shop here...nothing like a little healthy competition! Other than that, only Walmart, Rag Shop and one lone quilt shop and that's it. I shop at all but the quilt shop...why pay more for the same quality? =^..^= Kim
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User: malibucat
Member since: 10-12-2000 Total posts: 908
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From: plrlegal
Date: 06-16-2004, 03:46 PM (11 of 19)
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I agree with Kim. It's up to the buyer to beware!!! If you are a serious sewists, then it is up to you to know the difference between quality and cheap, sleazy fabric wherever you shop for fabric. I've gotten some bad quilting fabric at premium prices at quilt shops. For instance, last June I took part in a fabric store shop hop and purchased kit(s) for quilt blocks at each store (each store had the patterns and kits or just the pattern for one or two of the blocks consisting of the fabric and the pattern for that particular block or blocks) for the quilt being offered during the hop. However, when I got home and examined each kit that I had purchased, I was disappointed to realize that some of the stores had used some really cheap fabrics to in their kit or kits). I shop at Joann's and Hancock's and they both carry good quality, medium and poor quality fabrics for garment sewing, quilting and home dec. When I go to Joann's I find what I want, purchase it and leave and I don't let the junk bother me. For a long time, my local Hancock's had so much junk (furniture and home dec) that you could hardly get in the door and it really started hurting their business and people started lodging their complaints about it. The manager has now gotten rid of a lot of that stuff and made more room and done a better job of organizing the quiliting, garment and home dec fabrics. If you ever shop at Walgreen's, they also have a lot of junk that doesn't pertain to or belong in a drug store. They've become a grocery store, retail store and pharmacy these days but hey! I go to purchase what I want or need and try not to let the other things get under my skin. I'm like Mary, I'm old, gray haired and cranky but try not to complain about things that don't mean a whole lot in the scheme of things. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: stitchmd
Date: 06-16-2004, 04:03 PM (12 of 19)
| Malibucat, why not cross the river into Philly and go shopping on South 4th St. |
User: stitchmd
Member since: 02-25-2003 Total posts: 226 |
From: Mother in Law
Date: 06-16-2004, 04:08 PM (13 of 19)
| We have no Joanne's or Hancocks close to me. I have to travel 30 miles to get to the first one. There are 2 across Lake Pontchatrain which is 30 miles from here and they are across the street from one another and also a Hobby Lobby which sells craft things and fabric there. Then if I go the other 30 miles in the other direction and I have 2 Joannes about 5 mile apart and 1 Hancocks, and a Fabrix's which sells mostly fabic or home dec and things like that. Needless to say I stay in my truck hopping from place to place looking for what I need and want. From what people are telling me in the business here, WalMart has knocked a lot of shops out of business with it's cheap prices but the quality is not there. Our WalMart is getting ready to move into a Super Center and they have very little to pick and choose. |
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: malibucat
Date: 06-16-2004, 07:39 PM (14 of 19)
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There are a couple of reasons why I haven't bothered with 4th Street... First, garment fabrics are taxed in Philly, right? But not in Jersey... Secondly, I save a $3.00 bridge toll and gas money too. Plus no worrying about parking. Third, from what I hear, it would be a wasted trip for me anyway...I don't normally bother with dressy fabrics. I'm a card carrying member of the Sportswear-Or-Bust club! There used to be a dandy little shop on Passyunk Avenue years ago...I still have a couple pieces of berber fleece I got for a song. Susie, it's the same story at Walmart...yes, there is some junk, but guess what? I've gotten some great stuff for $1 or $2 per yard! Again, you have to know your stuff...I never go into Walmart without checking the craft/fabric department...EVER! They've got a big clearance going on in my store. =^..^= Kim
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User: malibucat
Member since: 10-12-2000 Total posts: 908
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From: Mother in Law
Date: 06-16-2004, 11:11 PM (15 of 19)
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Kim, Yes I have found some good deals at WalMart also especially cordiroy. Most of the fabric on the 1 and 2 dollar tables here is really thin or has some sort of marks on them when you unroll the bolt. Every now and then I can find the table full of good fabric and it doesn't last long, so I have to really get in there when they first put it out or else I lose out. Our Walmart is over due to be upgraded. The store is stocked with all the things except food that the super stores have with a very little store room. Things are stacked in the isles, and boxes are stacked on top of boxes where you can hardly pass down the isles. Then the management is terrible. This Friday night around 7:30PM the store was full of people trying to shop that just got paid, and there was only 1 cash register open to take regular orders and two to take 10 items or less. The lines were all the way back to the center isle. Makes you want to not even go there. I've made friends with all the ladies who work in the fabric department I really need to give them my phone # and tell them when the tables are full call me!!!!!!! Or would that be insider trading???? ROFLMAO
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User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: malibucat
Date: 06-17-2004, 08:45 AM (16 of 19)
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Susie, I'm lucky that a new Walmart opened up about 7 miles or so from me...LOL...in New Jersey terms, that might as well be a daytrip! Anyway, others were all quite a hike in both traffic and distance. I've gotten some beautiful fabric there, and you are right...you have to grab it when you see it or it's just too late! I've got an abstract print in jewel tones for tab top drapes for my daughter's bedroom. Yet another project lined up...after the grad dress...and the drapes for downstairs...and the quilt...
=^..^= Kim
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User: malibucat
Member since: 10-12-2000 Total posts: 908
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From: Mother in Law
Date: 06-17-2004, 09:53 AM (17 of 19)
| Sounds like you made out like a bandit. LOL I got some beautiful fabric for a blouse for me, oriental looking fabric on those dollar tables, unfortunately I only got what I needed and when I cut the darn thing out I discovered it had a small tear in the fabric and when I went back for more they didn't have any. I was very upset. I went to several more WalMarts that week to see if they might have some and to no avail. I was very upset. So now when I see fabric I simply love and have to have I buy more yardage then I need. |
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: stitchmd
Date: 06-17-2004, 03:44 PM (18 of 19)
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Unless it's changed since I lived in PA garment fabrics aren't taxed. Neither is anything that will be part of the garment like a zipper, buttons or thread. The pattern is taxed. I am strictly wash and wear too, and there is a variety of fabric stores on 4th. I do understand about the tolls and parking. But do keep it in mind if you ever want some city adventure and variety. |
User: stitchmd
Member since: 02-25-2003 Total posts: 226 |
From: malibucat
Date: 06-17-2004, 08:07 PM (19 of 19)
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I could have sworn that clothing was taxed in Philly, which would mean that fabrics are too. If I go about four blocks away, either east or west, I'll get a clear view of Philly skyline...and trust me, I get more than enough city life right where I'm at! Besides, driving over there requires a death wish...I have more than enough trouble tangling with the morons on Route 42 every day! 
=^..^= Kim
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User: malibucat
Member since: 10-12-2000 Total posts: 908
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