Episode 45: What Joann's Closing Really Did to the Quilting World (One Year Later)

It's been just over a year since Joann's closed — and I'm finally saying the thing out loud.  This one's a palate cleanser. No journaling prompts, no deep dives. Just two quilters in a hotel lobby at 11pm. 🧵✨ It's been just over a year since Joann's announced it was all closing — and I've had some  THOUGHTS sitting in the back of my mind ever since. So today? Pure palate cleanser. We're  just talking like two quilters at a retreat, staying up way too late because the conversation  is too good to stop. In this episode I'm sharing: → What Joann's actually WAS to so many of us (hint: it was more than a store) → The grief that came with the closing — and why it was totally valid → What the quilting community did next (and how it kind of blew my mind) → Where quilters are finding fabric now, including resources that actually help → The one thing that still hasn't been replaced — and why it matters for beginners → My honest question for YOU: where did you land after all of this? This is a real conversation. Not the polished version. I want to hear your story in the comments. 🗺️ Resources mentioned: - needletravel.com — searchable map of quilt shops by state/city - Michaels — now carrying more fabric including some Kona cotton online & in stores ⭐ Join the Stitch Sister Inner Circle — our cozy membership community for quilters who  want connection, encouragement, and a creative home base:  👉 www.stitchsisterinnercircle.com 📌 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Loose Threads & Stitches! Every week we talk quilting, creativity, and all the real life stuff that goes with it. 🎙️ Find the podcast on Spotify + Apple Podcasts — search "Loose Threads and Stitches" 🌐 Visit me at www.ISeeStarsQuilting.com #quilting #quiltingpodcast #joannsclosing #quilters #loosethreadsandstitches 0:00 - The palate cleanser we all needed 1:40 - What Joann's really was to us 3:05 - It was a "third place" (and we didn't realize it) 5:45 - The closing era: chaos, clearance sales, and grief 8:00 - What happened NEXT (the good part) 10:30 - Where quilters are shopping now 12:10 - Resources: needletravel.com + Michaels update 14:00 - What we still haven't gotten back 16:30 - The beginner access problem (this matters long-term) 18:10 - My honest question for you 20:55 - Wrap up + how to find the show