Stitch 'n Dish

Category: Knitting

  • A Joann’s kind of vibe

    A Joann’s kind of vibe

    Michaels, it seems you may be on to something positive here in your yarn and possibly even your fabric sections. Please (please!) don’t let the Private Equity bros that are counting your money screw this up like they did at Joann Fabrics. I’m not sure we can take that kind of heartbreak again.

  • A question of value(s)

    A question of value(s)

    In today’s blog post we explore overpriced designer handbags, the acrylic vs. natural yarn debate, yarn shop snobbery, and the StevenBe controversy.

  • No answers

    No answers

    …if we all do a little, together we can make a difference for the small fiber arts businesses in our areas and beyond.

  • Unique yarn shop names

    Unique yarn shop names

    After paging through a book at a library, while waiting on my grandchildren to meet me for other business, I looked up where to buy Rowan yarns in my area. As I searched the Rowan site for these shops, I realized that some of my fellow fiber artists have a great sense of humor along…

  • How Marketing Shapes What We Buy (and Why It Shouldn’t)

    How Marketing Shapes What We Buy (and Why It Shouldn’t)

    In this blog post, I explore how easily fiber‑arts consumers are nudged into buying tools and materials that don’t necessarily improve our craft. From scarcity language to influencer hype, the marketing around “designer” hooks, needles, and boutique yarns often shapes our spending more than actual performance of the items. This post examines what truly matters…

  • Unintended consequences

    Unintended consequences

    If ALL of us do a little, (supporting our local fabric and yarn shops) is not a hard task. It just takes each of us remembering to think of our local fabric and yarn shops, and give them some of our time, attention and (of course), money!

  • Anti-AI purists

    Anti-AI purists

    I once again stumbled into a hotbed of controversy on a Reddit thread that seems to encourage this kind of thing (r/BitchEatingCrafters). Today’s issue seemed to be the use of AI in crafting and art. While I can relate to the irritation around people trying to sell AI-generated patterns (awful, we can all agree), and…

  • A twist on an old favorite

    A twist on an old favorite

    The great irony I find in all of this is that people often engage in fiber arts for comfort and creative expression. Winding up in a group or space that treats a wonky granny square like a moral failing isn’t what most of those folks were likely seeking.

  • Remembering Joann (and feeling nostalgic)

    Remembering Joann (and feeling nostalgic)

    Last week I found myself wandering aimlessly in a local Michaels store. It is the store in my area that has a pretty decent fabric inventory and sewing support, but I found myself uninspired, unmotivated, and frankly – unhappy. A couple days later I was feeling some sort of “inspiration” (urge?) to craft-shop and thought…

  • A new pause

    A new pause

    I continue to work on managing impulses to shop for entertainment or to alleviate boredom. It’s not easy. I sometimes find myself in a store with an armful of things and then have to stop and ask myself what I’m doing, and why. The good news is that since working on being more intentional, I…