Episode 45: What Joann's Closing Really Did to the Quilting World (One Year Later)

It's been just over a year since Joann's closed — and I'm finally saying the thing out loud. 
This one's a palate cleanser. No journaling prompts, no deep dives. Just two quilters in a hotel lobby at 11pm. 🧵✨

It's been just over a year since Joann's announced it was all closing — and I've had some 
THOUGHTS sitting in the back of my mind ever since. So today? Pure palate cleanser. We're 
just talking like two quilters at a retreat, staying up way too late because the conversation 
is too good to stop.

In this episode I'm sharing:
→ What Joann's actually WAS to so many of us (hint: it was more than a store)
→ The grief that came with the closing — and why it was totally valid
→ What the quilting community did next (and how it kind of blew my mind)
→ Where quilters are finding fabric now, including resources that actually help
→ The one thing that still hasn't been replaced — and why it matters for beginners
→ My honest question for YOU: where did you land after all of this?

This is a real conversation. Not the polished version. I want to hear your story in the comments.

🗺️ Resources mentioned:
- needletravel.com — searchable map of quilt shops by state/city
- Michaels — now carrying more fabric including some Kona cotton online & in stores

⭐ Join the Stitch Sister Inner Circle — our cozy membership community for quilters who 
want connection, encouragement, and a creative home base: 
👉 www.stitchsisterinnercircle.com

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#quilting #quiltingpodcast #joannsclosing #quilters #loosethreadsandstitches

0:00 - The palate cleanser we all needed
1:40 - What Joann's really was to us
3:05 - It was a "third place" (and we didn't realize it)
5:45 - The closing era: chaos, clearance sales, and grief
8:00 - What happened NEXT (the good part)
10:30 - Where quilters are shopping now
12:10 - Resources: needletravel.com + Michaels update
14:00 - What we still haven't gotten back
16:30 - The beginner access problem (this matters long-term)
18:10 - My honest question for you
20:55 - Wrap up + how to find the show