This is a MASSIVE category! There are so many different types of crafting one can do, but I think most crafting will be covered in this article. Check out my Part 2 for a deep dive on fabric and yarn/fiber arts stores.
And while Joann’s may be gone, there are still a lot of options for crafting supplies.
Local: DEFINITELY shop local! There are tons of local yarn stores or crafting shops – there’s even one 20 min away from my hometown which has a population of less than 500! If you don’t have one near you though – no worries! Check out the options below.
Direct: If you have a particular crafting brand you like, see if you can buy direct from their website.
Thrifting & Free: TONS of options. There are specific thrift stores for crafting called Creative Reuse Centers, and there is a helpful blog with locations listed across the country here. There is also Make & Mend, an online craft thrift shop with new inventory added on Fridays. Sacramento has a Free Art Supply closet, but you can search to see if there is a similar program locally. Often universities and other organizations have a free art/crafting program. Estate sales are another way to get cheap craft supplies, you can find them at EstateSales.net and EstateSales.org. You can also look at Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing groups (or their app). And finally, there are also FREE stores, where everything is free! There is Enough Stuff in East Peoria, Illinois and the Chattanooga Free Store. If you know of any others, please share in the comments!
Blick Art Materials & Supplies: One of the best known art supplies stores, but they have plenty of crafting supplies as well! They also have helpful explainers and how-tos on their TikTok.
The Details: Family-owned since 1911. Blick has not spent any money on lobbying the last two years and of the $9.8K in 2024 political contributions by employees or management, only $25 went to a Republican. However, they do not have a clear diversity policy listed on their website.
What they have: Almost any type of art supply (painting, canvases, drawing, etc), but also TONS of craft supplies for textile arts (knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, etc), beads and jewelry making, sewing supplies (though their fabric selection is limited), craft machines (like Cricut), all sorts of resin, ceramics, printmaking, they even have candle making supplies!
Where to shop: Online or in-store
Jerry’s Artarama: Art supply store with smaller craft selection than Blick’s but still decent.
The Details: Family-owned and operated since 1968. Jerry’s Artarama does have a profile on OpenSecrets, but it’s from 2009 and while it says they hired a lobbying firm, it also says they spent $0. They do not have a diversity policy listed on their website, which can be common for smaller/mid-size companies.
What they have: Almost any type of art supply (painting, canvases, drawing, etc). For crafting, Jerry’s has ceramic tools and supplies, resin, printmaking, fabric paints and dyes, kids art supplies, and glue guns/other tapes and adhesives.
Where to shop: Online or in-store
Herrschners: Fiber arts and needlework focused company based out of Wisconsin. They have the Big Twist yarn that Joann’s used to sell!
The Details: I will be honest, I’m a bit confused on this one. On their careers page it says that they are family owned and operated, but in the 80’s they were owned by Quaker Oats and then sold to H I Acquisition corp. I’m not sure what their ownership status is today, but it does not seem to be owned by private equity. Herrschners does not have a public diversity policy and does not have a profile on OpenSecrets.
What they have: Beyond the Big Twist brand, they have plenty of other yarns, knit and crochet, needlework, a Halloween crafting shop, and small selection of crafting and hobby items.
Where to shop: Online and one store in Stevens Point, WI.
Factory Direct Craft: I’m being honest, feels like FDC skews a little more towards grandma-style crafting and styles, but there’s plenty of supplies for all sorts of crafters.
The Details: Started by Shari Doggett in 1985 and still run by her and her family today. They do not have a diversity policy but according to LinkedIn, they have between 11-50 employees, so are still fairly small. Factory Direct Craft does not have a profile on OpenSecrets.
What they have: Tons of craft supplies, including the basics, jewelry making, paper mache, wood crafts, doll supplies, floral crafting supplies, miniatures for dollhouses (but are cute and can be used for whatever), and paper crafts. The one area they don’t have a ton of inventory in is sewing supplies/fabric and textile arts.
Where to shop: Online
Creative Supplies Art Dept: Art supply store with decent crafting supplies selection, kids art supplies and fun kits.
The Details: Small-business based out of California. They do not have a profile on OpenSecrets, and while they don’t have a public diversity policy they are still quite small.
What they have: Craft supplies, including basic yarn, collage kits, origami paper, adhesives, stamps, felting kits, block printing and stamping, jewelry making supplies, and all sorts of stuff.
Where to shop: Online and at their store in Idyllwild, CA.
Scrapbook.com: All of the scrapbooking supplies you could ever want!
The Details: Founded in 1999 by Jill Davis, and I believe still owned by her and her family. I can’t find anything suggesting it’s owned by private equity/etc. Scrapbook.com does not have a profile on OpenSecrets or a diversity policy listed on their website. They do have a Creative Kindness effort to create cards for people in need of some uplifting messages, which is nice.
What they have: Mostly scrapbooking materials, and their product offering is extensive. They also have stamping materials, stencils & templates, and storage & organization tools.
Where to shop: Online
Hobbii: Denmark-based but owned by private equity firm Verdane Capital Advisors.
Michael’s: covered here.
Hobby Lobby: covered here.
Check out Part 2 for a deep dive on fabric and yarn stores.
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