Stitch 'n Dish

Category: Yarn

  • 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.

  • Education, training, or just another money grab?

    Education, training, or just another money grab?

    I have been digging into the back story on a popular fiber arts product that went VIRAL after being on Shark Tank. I have been exploring this recent phenomenon and started with their origin story. According to available public information, the founders left high-profile jobs (one at Google UX and the other at Deutsche Bank/Wall…

  • 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!

  • 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…

  • Fiber “spice”

    Fiber “spice”

    Today I am taking on the issue of the (sadly, not rare) ANGRY and nasty commenters on social media platforms, specific to fiber arts sites. Part of my shock when I encounter this is likely due to the warm connection I have to crocheting and knitting because my grandmother was the one who got me…

  • 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…