6 Twin Cities Stores to Meet Your Fabric Needs

For decades, Joann Fabric and Craft Store was a reliable resource for crafters of all sorts. Ask any sewist, knitter, scrapbooker, or artist, and it’s assured that they can relate any number of fond memories about finding supplies there for this project or that. Since the announcement that Joann was going out of business, those crafters have been having conversations about where they will find the tools and materials they’ll need to continue their creative endeavors.

While there are many online options, I personally struggle with buying supplies, particularly fabric, without being able to actually see and touch it, and I know I’m not the only one. I need to be able to feel the texture, test the drape, and check the colors. So where will I, and folks like me, be able to shop in person for fabric in the future? Well, here are six options in the Twin Cities.

Chiara Guercio via Unsplash

1. SR Harris

There are two SR Harris locations, one in Brooklyn Park and one in Burnsville; the former is the larger of the two. The pros are that there is a massive selection and the prices are discounted. The cons are that it can be difficult to find precisely what you want and the stock is not consistent, so you need to be sure you get enough for your project in one go. That being said, it’s a really great option, and the Brooklyn Park location in particular has a huge variety, so you can probably find something to fit your needs.

2. Treadle Yard Goods

Located in St. Paul, Treadle Yard Goods has a good selection of fabrics but specializes in apparel fabrics. The store also has notions, patterns, and EverSewn sewing machines. There is also an online shop where you can order from them from the comfort of your home, a nice option since the Grand Avenue brick-and-mortar location only has street parking, which can be a pain in the winter. The store also offers classes, and staff are pretty helpful with any questions a newbie sewist can have!

3. Knit & Bolt

This store in Northeast Minneapolis has a nice selection of primarily quilting cotton but also carries Essex Yarn Dyed, an even-weave cotton/linen-blend that is highly recommended for embroidery. Knit & Bolt sells notions and patterns, offers classes, and dedicates a portion of the store to yarn, another crafting item that I need to see and touch before I buy.

4. Sewing Lounge

Up in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul, Sewing Lounge offers a selection of natural-fiber fabrics for apparel sewing along with many of the patterns and notions you’d need to finish a garment. It also offers classes and the unique service of PDF pattern printing on a large-format printer. Additionally, the store occasionally has vintage sewing machines for sale.

5. Lakes Makerie

This little store and maker space near Lake Nokomis carries apparel fabrics curated to be natural and sustainable options for sewists; it also has notions, tools, and classes. Lakes Makerie sells patterns from small indie designers and offers PDF pattern printing. Visit the website to shop online as well.

6. Twin Cities Quilting

As one might guess from the name, this store is focused on quilting, with a large variety of printed cottons/linens and gorgeous batiks, notions and thread, and exclusive quilt patterns. Twin Cities Quilting also offers classes and has a long-arm quilting service for finishing your projects. In other words, pretty much anything you could need to make a quilt that can become a family heirloom.

Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr

Hopefully this list will be helpful for everyone who will be missing Joann’s—and I’m sure that there are other small, local fabric stores in the Twin Cities to discover! Have one to share? Put it in the comments below to help grow resources for fellow crafters!