2025 has been an interesting year for makers. Whether you crochet, knit, or sew the landscape for craft supplies have changed drastically this year. If you are looking locally for craft supplies like yarn and fabric, you may have noticed the availability has gone from okay to barely there over the past few months. Joann’s closed. You would think that with the last major craft store to focus on yarn and fabric closing that other stores would EXPAND their inventory. Instead when you walk down the aisles of these big box stores, there is so much less then even before. I don’t think the marketing teams understand the impact if they increased these items to be readily available. What are are the options? Online stores like Hershners, Mary Maxim, Premier Yarns, and Yarnspirations. The biggest hang up with online shopping is not knowing what you are getting before you purchase. Most crafters, including myself, want to see the colors, feel the textures and make sure the quality of the product is what we are looking for. Let’s face it, we have all at some point bought something online and were disappointed when we got it because it didn’t look like it did on a screen. Don’t get me wrong I love the feeling when you get those packages delivered to you. It’s like Christmas. However I think in our day in age, where technology is taking over, we lose a lot of inspiration by not having the ability to go and walk around in a store to chose our supplies like we once did. It is my hope that we never trade creativity for convenience. Dont’t worry, be crafty! ~ Jama