Cross Stitch, the lost art?

[StarrTiger]

I went to a Micheal's, two Joann Fabric's stores and Wal mart, and barely found any stitching accessories. All of them had tons of needles, plastic bobbins and rings. None had q-snaps, none had a pencil to mark grid lines, none had storage totes (other than for the bobbins). I couldn't find a laying tool (been taping a paper clip to my thumb lol) or a binder to put my little floss baggies into (I know I saw one in the past). It seems cross stitching is becoming a lost art, as far as physical stores carrying stuff. Has anyone else had a hard time finding accessories for stitching?

[karen4bells]

Sadly it's harder and harder to go into a physical store and buy cross stitch supplies. I am fortunate that my local JoAnn's actually carries a fair amount of the basics, several shades of aida and some very basic evenweave fabric. I did try to find a laying tool there a few months back but they didn't have that at all, not even in the quilting section. Most of my supplies I end up buying online

[Mystonique]

I'm told my our local stores Hobby Sew, Spotlight and Lincraft that it's because people can get it cheaper on line and at craft shows.

I guess to some extent that may be true however I would buy more from these stores if they actually stocked things worth buying - even if it did cost a little more. Problem is they are too busy stocking party supplies and homewares and other non craft, non sewing related items.

[rcperryls]

I have found that if I look in other sections at Michaels and WalMart I can find some things. A gridding pen (not pencil) at WalMart is in the sewing area (not much stuff there either, but I think that's where it is). Other than DMC floss, satin floss and DMC perles they have very little. Hoops, needles and a few other things. I have a LNS I just found so I'm lucky there, but 123Stitch has been my main supplier for several years.
If you have an AC Moore they have more than Michaels or WalMart.

Carole

[MaggieM1750]

Starr.. meet me at Relax and Stitch some day. Its just in Osseo.. easy off 169.

JoAnns should have had Stitchbows and Floss Away bags- I've seen them at Coon Rapids. Although I think that store is in the middle of a renovation. Last time I was there, some supplies were in the middle of the store, some were in the back corner by knitting stuff. It was sort of a mish-mash of supplies during the re-organization. I'm not sure if the stitch aisles were moving permanently- or if they were just there temporarily (I hope its a permanent move to the middle of the store- I won't need to run from one corner to the other comparing quilting and stitching tools.. quilting tools are usually cheaper) Fabric markers and pencils- if not in the stitch aisles, I look in the quilting tools.

Michaels is rubbish- took most of stitch stuff out and moved in felting tools and kits. I've given up looking for anything there.

Neither stores stock Q Snaps. For those you need to get at a proper stitch shop or online. And neither will have a laying tool or trolley needle. My hardanger instructor said she just uses a big needle- like a sz 22.

[StarrTiger]

Yeah I got some stitchbows, both Micheal's and Joann's had them, but that's about it. Joann's had 2 or 3 packs of baggies, and tons of stuff had clearance tags on. I hated the Isles in Joann's, they are so insanely small I was getting claustrophobic. Both places had huge empty sections by their stitching stuff. But I did like that they had a lot of kits, our local Joann's didn't have any kits or just charts. Our wal mart doesn't have much cause they just got cross stitching stuff in like a week ago, but they have some kits that are really cute. My business is partnered with Joann's so I can get stuff online from them and get paid for it so I may have to start doing that. Not as much fun and I can't make a field trip of it, but that seems to be what it's coming to. Thanks for the replies, I'm glad I am not alone.

[tiffstitch]

AC Moore stocks Qsnaps, but they've recently been getting rid of all their cross stitch kits. So far just the kits, not fabric or thread or supplies.

[LastingAllure]

I went to Micheals the other day and had to buy a bunch of DMC...A lot of the more popular colors were gone and it seemed like they were doing an awful job of restocking all of the other colors which seems to be the thing everytime I go in. There is hardly any fabric to pick from and they have wooden hoops that I try not to use. They don't even carry the basic Mill Hills or Krieniks anymore! I did however manage to score a 20% off my entire purchase so instead of 49 cents per skein I only had to pay 39 cents! Which saved me a lot since I had to buy 150 threads.

However I found that the local quilt shop actually carries DMC and Q Snaps so I bought the missing colors for 89 cents (boo...but I am supporting the shop to stay so I didn't mind too much) and bought an 11x11 Q Snap for my HAED. I find a lot of quilt shops actually carry DMC and most do carry Q Snaps since you can use them both for quilting as well as cross stitch....

[MinnieMouse]

Sad but true. i live in Montreal and know of only one brick and mortar store (La Cigale Brodeuse, if anyone is in my area!). Aside from that, I have to look online...

[backafteradozenyrs]

The one specialty shop in my area was a big let-down. The didn't carry any bobbins, floss bags or organizer bins/boxs. (I guess they'd rather have the floor space for everything else?) The one corner they had for "basics" (needles & such) was crammed & seemed disorganized. I wanted to buy a needle case, they only had 2 to choose from & 1 of the styles wouldn't open...at all, NONE of the 5 or 6 the clerk tried.

It's an hour and a half drive there, so I won't be going unless I'm in the neighborhood, which might be once every 2 yrs or so?

I really LOVE the online stores (1-2-3 Stitch, Nordic Needle etc) & hope they stay around for a long while! Every order I've made on-line has taken less than 2 weeks & the s/h costs sure beat the cost of gas.