Wal-Mart Fabric

Before they downsized the fabric and other items I would go in to browse fabric and end up buying other things. Now I no longer do that so in the long run Wal-Mart has lost business. Also their so called craft dept. is much to be desired.

I also do the same as Lynn. I would in for the fabrics and craft item and end up buying other things. Now I rarely go to Wal Mart.

the material and craft items that walmart sold I spent alot of money on because of their reasonable prices for myself and grand daughter. It’s a shame they are doing away with it the other stores prices are set way to high for me to afford to buy.

i hardley buy fabric anymore the big retail fabric stores are too expensive

I would like to say that Wal-Mart has undermined all the fabric stores in surrounding areas and closed them, and now they have closed the fabric departments in their own stores. I think that Wal-mart is a non-caring organization overall and needs to pay more attention to the needs of the people.

My local Wal-Mart still carries fabric. So, in order to encourage the high-mucky-mucks to keep the status quo, I try to buy a yard or two every other week or so.

My Wal-Mart still has a fabric and nice craft dept. and while my hubby buys automotive supplies in the next dept. I have plenty of time to find some nice fabrics for my stash. Everytime I go in I’m hoping it doesn’t look like the “end” The girls there suggest going to Wal-Mart website and telling them how we feel. I’ve done that more than once; can’t hurt.

Walmart closed the fab dept here a couple of years ago and Hancocks had closed just prior to that. I haven’t been back to Walmart at all.Then we were just stuck with JoAnns for like two years. There is a new store Hobby Lobby that I hear has fabric now, thank goodness. Hope to get in there soon.I am sure we sewers are not a dying breed and like variety like everyone else. However, I am becoming more of a restructurer/recycler for clothing and accessories since fabs have got so high.

I live in Lawrenceville,NJ and shop at the Nassau park Blvd Walmart in Princeton.They still have fabric and stuff there, but I like the Joanns fabric store at Mercer Mall which is a stone throw away.They have a much better selection any way.

I drive past my local WalMart and shop at the one in the next town where they still have fabric.
I love your down-to-earth sewing articles, thanks.

I only go in Walmart to pick up my prescriptions. They still have fabric at my local one but the notions dept is worthless and the fabric is getting chintzier and chintzier. I buy all my fabric now online or mail order for notions.

I live in Norhern NJ and we only have one Walmart still offering fabric. I have noticed they doubled the price of the quilt fabric. I belong to ASG (American Sewing Guild) and we are starting a letter writing campaign. Hopefully others will do the same.

I don’t patronize walmart. Their in-humane treatment and unethical business practices don’t warrant my business.

High quality fabric, notions and supplies are available on-line.

There is still one Walmart in the area that still carries fabric, patterns and notions. But, I very seldom go there because it is not convenient. But in the last 3 years two of my closest fabric stores have closed. It’s a big problem.

My nearest Walmart is so far away that going there requires more time than I’m willing to devote to shopping. So I rarely bought fabric there in the first place. I can rarely afford JoAnns so I’ve been relying on stash fabric and garage sale fabric for a couple of years now. I guess this means I will not be shopping at Walmart as often as I used to, which wasn’t much in the first place.

Our Walmart has groceries, but I always checked the fabric department too. I use Discover Card and it only gives 1/4 % at Walmart. So now I am shopping for groceries and specials at other stores and getting the 1%.

I purposely stopped shopping at Wal-Mart a few years ago. There is a local woman who has a wonderful fabric store that I shop with, and have found a nice Jo-Ann’s that I like to go to as well. At both shops I will purchase from the clearance racks, and have accumulated a nice stash of fabric for less than $2 a yard.

Two weeks ago, June09, my Port Orange Wal-Mart closed the fabric department. I checked last week and there is still another Wal-Mart, in New Smyrna Beach, about 10 miles south, that is still carrying fabrics and related items. I didn’t check the one in Daytona Beach, but I believe they also closed that department. So, with the exception of going to New Smyrna store on “very rare” occasions just for the fabric, I am definitively moving my shopping for my Super Target in Port Orange.

I have a Walmart store within 5 minutes of my home. It stopped selling fabric within the last year, and, since then, I rarely go there. I used to go in regularly to browse the sewing department, and would end up also buying things from other departments.

I used to do a lot of shopping in Walmart when it had fabric. In fact that was the first place I headed. I got really good deals there.Now I say I have cut down going to WalMart by at least more than 50%. As far asI am concern… A WalMart without fabric is just another Target. Maybe we should write to Target and ask them to start selling FABRIC.

My visits to WalMart and the money I spend have decreased because of the closing of their fabric departments. Fortunately, I am in an area with a good supply of quilting or upholstery stores. However, these stores lack a good variety of fabric for clothing purposes. I am upset because Walmart fabric departments were part of the reason independently owned fabric stores closed. Now with Walmart phasing out fabric sections many customers drive miles for their supplies. The new craft sections leave a lot to be desired. What is the purpose of selling sewing machines when fabric is not readily available?

Hi Debbie: I agree with you about WalMart keeping their fabric departments going. In my area, there are four WalMarts. Two have fabric and two don’t. I skip the no fabric stores. The only other place for fabric is Joann’s, and if she doesn’t have what I want, then there’s no place else to go, except online. But then I won’t be able to feel and evaluate the fabric, which to me as a home sewer is part of the pleasure of the craft.
I have been sewing since I was twelve years old, and at that time, in the 1960’s, my area had fabric stores and mill outlets galore to browse through and pick from. What fun my Mother, sister, and I had picking out material. Not any more!

I have no choice but to shop Walmart. Our other stores have been put out of business in our area. As for fabric, I either pay very high prices at the “Other” store or travel 40ish miles.

I, like many have been enjoying WalMart’s $1.00 a yd. fabric for a long time. We are lucky to still have fabric but it is now higher priced and not as good of quality. I also do a lot of crafts and their selection is getting poorer and poorer all the time. We have several little fabric stores, but then you look here and there and somewhere else and have spent quit a bit of time and gas and maybe still don’t find what you were looking for.

I only shop at the Wal-Mart stores that have
fabric and crafts.

I usually buy groceries at Walmart, but may stop most of that because of some of the Walmart news I’ve heard on TV. Our fabric and crafts leave a lot to be desired. But I figure if fabric shops started opening up in these small towns then Walmart would rush to put theirs back in. That’s sad.

For the 4 Walmarts within a 15-20 minute drive none of them have had fabric in their stores. They have small craft items and for the most part I just run there if I need something after hours. I usually go to JoAnn’s and get their great deals, and soon here my Grandmother and I are going to make a trip to a fabric barn about 1 hour away from here for the deals. However if there was fabric in Walmarts here I probably would browse & spend more.

To my knowledge we only have one WalMart with Fabric left in my area, and it is quite a drive. I only go to that Walmart for fabric, and other than that, do not shop Walmart AT ALL anymore. I refuse to give them my hard earned money since they started closing out fabric dept. If they won’t support us that sew, then I will not support them. I will pay more and buy less to support the independents.

I hardly shop at Wal Mart anymore since they have removed their fabric departments, very disappointed that they think they have to do away with the fabric departments, alot of my friends feel the same way, they are losing alot our business.

Our WalMart still has a fabric department so far.

I quit buying fabric at Walmart because the quality has gone down so much it’s crap. I do buy notions if I happen to be in the store, but I have several quilt fabric shops available to me.

I live in a small town one hours drive from fabric stores. Since Walmart eliminated their fabric department I can either drive the distance or do without. I’m a senior citizen and this is a huge inconvience. People retire move from major cities for a quiter atmosphere, so they would have more time for sewing. Now Walmart made their decision!!! I just hope they realize how unhappy they made a lot of people.

There are still 2 Walmarts that sell fabric that I can go to but both are 30 to 40 minute drive. When they close down their fabric departments I don’t know what I will do. I can’t afford Joann Fabrics prices and buying online is more outrageous due to the shipping and handling charges. I guess I will close up the sewing machine.

The Wal-Mart in our area is 45min away. It is the largest store around unless you want to go to Olympia which is 90min away. The fabric in the local store is not of very good quality so I buy most of my quilt fabric on line. The only thing that I buy at wallys is cat food. Not much of anything else. They lost me

Wal-mart moved into our small town (3500 people) about 10 years ago. They drove out all the smaller businesses. Then they cut their fabric department. I used to browse the $1.00 fabric everytime I went to the store and bought a lot of notions etc. Wal mart is now our only major department store within 50 miles. I go in, get what I need and leave. Do you think they realize how much money they have lost by cutting their fabric department?

Some of us still like to sew. And crafts do sometimes need material.
Why is it so hard for them(Walmart) to understand that some still like to sew.
We do quilting for Baby Quilts and our staches are getting small,not everyone likes to do Crafts.
But then , we are an older group and seems we don’t count.

Went to a Wal-Mart in Apex, NC Monday,and to one in Alexandeia, VA today. Plenty of nice fabrics and craft supplies.

I seldom bought from walmart -because they always had such a limited selection and poor quality. We used to have a Hancock which I loved and still have a Jo-ann’s. Many comments are right on avout going for craft items and picking up other things since you are there. i fear we are all going to end up on-line where it can be expensive…..

I just came from my WalMart. They are in the middle of a huge remodel. The fabric has been cut down to one aisle. No choices of course. Also the rest of the store has changed also. Very few ready made clothes, espceially for us larger women. The emphasis seems to be on electronics and grocerys. Not enough checkers and too many grocery shoppers for me! I don’t have much to go for at all now.

I find that I not only spend less time at Walmart, but, that when I shop for other things besides fabric I keep track of the amount that I spend because the prices, in general, are more pricy than other stores in the area, and the quality is much better at other stores. Everything at Walmart, especially the clothing is of cheap quality. Walmart needs more competition. thanks

Where I live there are 4 Walmarts fairly close by. All 4 used to carry fabrics; now, only 2 do. I have purchased just about my entire fabric stash – mostly from the $1.00 rack – and notions from Walmart. I have been told that within the year their fabric section would be gone as well. My only saving grace when those 2 Walmarts discontinue their fabrics is Hancock Fabrics. HF is only 10-15 minutes away from me so it’s not an inconvenience. As for shopping at Walmart after the fabrics are gone – well, I do have a Publix, Bi-Lo, and Food Lion all close by, and even closer than Walmart is. I can shop at any of those 3 for my groceries, so Walmart can and will lose my business, except for the few times for ready-made clothing purchases.

I sent a personal letter to the CEO of Wal-mart. I mailed to his home address in Arkansas. Almost everytime I am in the fabric department, a man comes in for help with glue or fasteners found in the craft department. Walmart does not want to pay employees to measure and cut fabric, but these same employees give helpful information about other departments. It would be fine to stop the cutting service after 9PM, like the deli stops weighing meat and potato salad in the late evening. I don’t need to go to Walmart for hardware or clothing. If the fabric department is removed, I won’t need to make a deliberate attempt not to go to Wal-mart. It will be easy to boycott the store, but it’s sad that I will have to drive ten miles to a Jo-Ann Fabrics. I will probably go to Jo-Ann’s three or four times a year and then avoid making any purchases at Wal-mart. I’m looking for Dollar General to eventually start carrying fabric, since Dollar General is more like the old variety store. Wal-mart can bite the dust as far as I care, since they destroyed the mom and pop stores in my small city of Troy, Ohio.

I refuse to go to Wal-Mart anymore, unless it is the only option. The fabric department was always my first stop, even if I had no plans to buy.

I find myself increasingly unhappy at WalMart. The fabric and craft thing. It seems that they have decided that we all want a Target. I do not. I think Sam Walton is rolling over in his grave at what is happening to the great company he started. It is being ruined!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They are increasingly out of things and our store has taken the benches out. My husband and I both aren’t in real good shape for walking. We loved Walmart because we could rest at different spots in the store. No we don’t go because we get tired. I am looking for a new pharmacy. They are so often out of my medication a common blood pressure pill..It takes over an hour to get one filled if you are lucky. We used to cruse the store during our waits but no benches means we just go home and come back!

our wal mart will fase out the fabric in 2010.all other local’s already fased out. i to have to drive30 minutes just to get to a wal mart..what are we to do?? shipping is sooo expencive and i like to fell of what i am buying.krogers is sounded much better..thanks -keep up the good work..

I live in a very small town Wal Mart is about all there is for shopping. We still have some fabric but its not very nice and its been parred down. I have to drive about 45 miles to get to JoAnns which is always busy with no help. I think its all very sad to see fabric stores closing.

I have never shopped Wal-Mart because it is an amoral corporation that mistreats its workers, runs small, local businesses out, and then often leaves, leaving a town with nothing. I shop JoAnn Fabrics and Hancock Fabrics. So what if they’re a dime more than Wal-Mart!

My Wal-Mart has a fabric department, thank You Lord! They have increased the price of the $1 fabric to $1.50, but I still can’t complain. It is poorly staffed most of the time, but I still can’t complain.

I have 4 wal-marts in a 25 mile radius of were I live. When all 4 were selling fabric I would hit all 4 to shop – always on the look out for different fabrics. In the last 2 years 3 of them have quit selling fabric. The one left in my town that still does has jacked the prices up and the quality has really suffered.

I find now that instead of making that 5 mile trip, I just go to my neighborhood ALBERTSON and do all my grocery shopping and ONLY go to wal-mart now when I absolutely have too (usually to get 3 cents off gas).

My new fabric buddy is – Hancocks! It’s closer and I never have to wonder – is today the day they stop selling fabric?

Wal-mart has only themselves to blame! Since the old man died. They are not the same store!

The ONLY reason I step into a Walmart is to check out the fabric department. Even if I have to pay more for an item, I try to never shop at Walmart but I loved to look at the fabrics. Sometimes I was tempted to buy. no more.

I have stopped shopping at Wal-mart all together. I went there before going any place else because they were the only ones with a sewing area. I can get everything else at other stores, and they are close, friendlier.price is usually about the same maybe even cheaper if you take in the price of gas. With out the sewing area there is nothing to make me want to drive over there.

I rarely go into Walmart since they no longer have fabric at the 2 stores in Frederick, MD. I now spend my hard earned cash at the “Bullseye” store. I don’t have to spend gas to get there (I can walk) and I know that they do give back to the community.

THE WAL-MART STORE WHERE I LIVE STILL CARRIES FABRIC, BUT IT IS ON ITS WAY OUT. SEEMS LIKE THE CEO-TYPES THAT RUN WALLY WORLD DON’T HAVE WIVES THAT SEW! THIS IS A SMALL COMMUNITY-WE DON’T EVEN HAVE ANY TYPE OF CRAFT STORE AND I WILL STOP SHOPPING AT WAL-MART ONCE THEIR SEWING/FABRIC DEPARTMENT IS GONE. I’LL BE GONE TOO!

One Wal-mart in my area closed down completely, a second, closed or “renovations”.
It wa torn down and is being rebuilt as a “super Walmart” Ha!The two thatclosed had a fabric department that was just OK, but nothing too special. A brand new Super Walmart was built a couple of years ago, but did not include a sewing department. I hate Jo-Ann’ Around here (se PA) Jo-ann’s should Home Furnishings, Crafts, and, oh,yes, some fabrics. They are way in the back and don’t ask too many questions, because we don’t know.

To Continue–
We had a nice Hancock, good quality, knowledgeable and friendly help. But, like many good stores, Hancock closed. Now, I would have to get any fabrics on-line. We do have a really neat Fabric Row in Phila, but it would be an all day trip. Fabrics are discounted, which leads one to buy more fabrics. Some near-by stores sell mostly quilting fabrics, but I don’t quilt. So, right now I am going through my stash and UFO’s.
Love this site. Thee is so much info and free patterns, that I usualy save te e-mails for later reading or will print out a special project pattern.

Our Walmart is slowly getting rid of its fabric department….so sad…I rarely go there now ….their loss.
Thanks for the great articles and ideas!!

Our wal-mart has not changed yet. thank god!!!

i don’t buy anything at walmart unless they are the only game in town. i recently went to a motorcycle rally in austin tx and shopped at one. it was right next to my hotel,. and i could walk and not be confused by the different roads,. let alone i could push a cart back to the hotel. otherwise i a have not bouight a damn thing there for several years. no more christmas shopping on black friday. NOTHING!!!!!

I have stopped going to walmart completely…I am proud to say I am 3 years free of them. Fortunately, I live in a city where I have other options readily available. I am truly sorry for those of you who have to live in a community where walmart has chased every other business out of town.

I just returned from the Waterford, CT Super Walmart, where I found that the fabric department has started the clearance sale, prior to closing the dept. The woman who works there looked sad, and I often talk to her, so I tried to offer a kind word about it, and told her I was sorry to see it happen. She proceeded to tell me that it was basically my fault, along with others who haven’t shopped and sewed enough. She also said that Walmart couldn’t withstand the losses in the dept, like bias binding packages being opened, sewing machines vandalized, that sort of thing. I was really embarrassed at how she seemed to be angry and taking it out on me! I have always been nice to her. I guess she is really made at her bosses and those she can’t attack, so I was convenient.

Our Walmart still sells fabric but the quality isn’t all that great. I keep hearing that they are planning to close the fabric department down. They’ve run everybody out of business and now they want to discontinue selling fabric. It’s a shame how this country allows businesses to shut others down.

Our local Walmart closed it’s fabric department, but, due to customer demand, it is now going to bring back the thread and zipper displays. At least that’s what the sales person told me. She repeated, “DUE TO CUSTOMER DEMAND!”, and said, “keep calling and emailing”. Though the local one is only 1 mile from my home, I rarely go there anymore. I now shop at the Walmart that’s 15 miles away, that will have it’s fabric department for 8 more years, also directly due to customer’s calls and emails. Power to the (seamstresses) people!

I very rarely go to Walmart since all the fabrics vanished. Luckily we still have Joanns and Hancocks in Cincinnati. Hobby Lobby has reasonable fabrics, too. If you want one in your area, google Hobby Lobby and contact them on their website. I filled out customer comment cards years ago at both Walmart and Hobby Lobby when we were traveling west of the Mississippi and both chains expanded eastward. They do listen. I read the comments about Walmart’s “cheap” merchandise and remember another seamstress telling me that the top-quality, first-run of the design fabric was sent to the quilt and specialty fabric stores, thus the higher prices. The next quality down in the tier went to the chain stores, i.e. Joanns and Hancocks. The lowest-cost discount stores got the lowest quality cheaply printed fabric. Just take that into consideration if you will be spending a lot of time making the item or want to make an item of heirloom quality and durability.

I shop at the remaining Wal Mart in our area that is still selling fabric. however their selection is beginning to be a little sparse. I remember when they had dollar a yard quilting fabrics the crowd they had in the store made it hard to shop. I look for them to get out of fabric altogether like K Mart did, and you can’t even start a fight in any K Mart anymore thier business has fallen. I am surprised they can stay open. I can’t afford to pay ten to twenty dollars for quilting fabrics just to give away the quilt. What will we do? My hubby says to sell my stash and make a profit. Hah!

I work for Wal-mart and I have been a crafter/sewing. They state that only rural areas will have fabric. This is b.s.; because, they also stated that they were loosing $$. We have five Wal-mart stores just in our city and they all are making $$. They do not think sew is important. They need to rethink this because people are going back to sewing with the economy.

We’ve been told Mr. Sam Walton started the stores to meet needs. I do not believe that shuting down other stores in communities and then taking away the fabrics was what he had in mind. Our new larger Wal Mart has higher prices, no fabric, fewer cashiers and longer lines than the “old” WM store. What a shame! Now they are taking the stores that were left in the old WM shopping center with them. we are left with many empty buildings. The attitude at WM is not a positive one. I could always tell the difference in attitude between WM and K-Mart (which is gone too) workers. The “air” in K-Mart was more positive and the workers seemed to enjoy themselves overall. I don’t buy my groceries there; I do currently get prescriptions there. It is odd, but the things WM is too large to carry–I find at the neighborhood Wal-Green store. Easy in and easy out. Always a cashier available.

I am very frustrated with WM in general. The old store was better! Of course I am biased, I hate seeing empty buildings.

I meant to add that now it is 50 – 60 miles ONE WAY TO fabric shop.

Have stopped at Walmart twice now, waited over 30 minutes to get some fabric cut, and no one has bothered. It’s a catch 22 — if I don’t use their fabric department, they’ll shut it down; if I use their fabric department, I support their poor customer service. We don’t have a local Joann or Hancock — if anyone knows of good quality on line fabric/notions, please let me know. Thanks!!

I live in Monroe Twp, NJ. Our Wal-mart is getting ready to get remodeled.The company has did away with the fabric department! Now we have no fabric stores in a 10-15 mile radius. I will not be visiting Wal-mart, because they took out the fabric department. I loved the fabric department that they had. The employees were very helpful and courteous! Wal-mart just lost a loyal customer!

I try to stay away from Wal Mart because of what they are doing to other businesses, especially in small towns. I am fortunate enough to have several other places to shop very near to my house so I make sure I frequent them instead. I really do feel sorry for those that have no choice but to shop at a store that cares for nothing else but being cheap just because that store drove away all other shops that were there before!

The alternative fabric stores in my area are overpriced, imo. The fabric dept they had at my local store was usually pretty busy – makes me wonder if the sales were actually that low or if they wanted to cut back on manpower….Regardless, they’ve lost a lot of my business. I still wonder what the founder would think of the changes that have been made to what was once a decent store.