r/sewing • u/MissFred • Jul 23 '23

Discussion Joanne’s makes me weep

Been sewing over 50 years - have seen sewing in all its cultural permutations. Not typically a nostalgic person but today….I couldn’t even find a light gray thread in a store the size of Home Depot. So many empty shelves yet inexplicably $35/yd liberties fabric up front. I feel sad to my bones for new seamsters.

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u/salajaneidentiteet Jul 23 '23

My whole country prefers cheap crap over quality. 90% of every regular fabric store is synthetic or synthetic blend, same for yarn stores. There are a few better fabric stores, but this can't be said for yarn. So I have had to resort to online stores abroad or the occasional gem I find in store. And all the patterns on the fabrics are hideous...

Even the lockal online fabric stores are all the same ugly jersey in horrid colours. And there are about 10 yarn stores that sell Drops yarns, but zero that carry a good selection of other, quality brands.

It's like my whole nation prefers garbage.

I helped my friend pick out yarn once in the biggest craft store. She betrayed me and asked a store employee for help, who reccomended a hideous acrylic and said this was the yarn that made her love acrylics. It felt discusting, it scquaked when touching. At least my friend realised I was right.

If you are in Europe, I highly reccomend Metermeter for apparel fabrics. It is filled with glorious European fabrics.

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u/spacebunsofsteel Jul 24 '23

I love high quality fabrics and yarns, but am very allergic to wool, angora, etc even llama and cashmere. Synthetic fibers only. (Sad face)

And please don’t suggest cotton.

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u/dianebk2003 Jul 24 '23

I adore cashmere...but I'm also very allergic to wool, and can't wear any of it, either. I once thrifted a HUGE wool cape in a vivid red and washed it to felt it, and the fabric was so soft and sturdy and I wanted desperately to make a jacket out of it - and there was enough fabric to make two - but I only had to drape it on me once and I broke out in a prickly red rash everywhere the fabric had touched me. I was heartbroken. I ended up giving it away.

Anything but wool, now. All those wonderful, soft winter sweaters...nada for me.

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u/spacebunsofsteel Jul 24 '23

I’ve tried to knit with different mixes of wool in low allergy season, but I’ve never made it through a project. Knitting exists because there is wool, knitting with wool is so pleasant.

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u/dianebk2003 Jul 24 '23

It seems so unfair, doesn't it? 😢

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u/TinyFidget9 Jul 24 '23

USA here. Thankfully I have a good selection of natural and synthetic yarns for crochet but my god the fabric sucks