Update on the Potential Fate of the Big 4 Sewing Pattern Brands
Design Group Americas (DGA), parent company of the Big 4 sewing pattern brands, announced on Friday that it has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
How to Host a Crafting at the Movies Event at Your Local Theater
Brick-and-mortar shop owners are arranging a new sort of social craft night for their customers: crafting at the movies. Watching a film with the lights turned up is a fun way to craft and build community.
How to Host a Crafting at the Movies Event at Your Local Theater
Brick-and-mortar shop owners are arranging a new sort of social craft night for their customers: crafting at the movies. Watching a film with the lights turned up is a fun way to craft and build community.
What’s New in Craft: Basket Weaving
Discover the growing trend of basket weaving with inspiring makers, must-read books, classes, and kits to spark your creativity.
What’s New in Craft: Basket Weaving
Discover the growing trend of basket weaving with inspiring makers, must-read books, classes, and kits to spark your creativity.
The 2025 Craft Industry Alliance Scholarship Program: Applications Now Open
The Craft Industry Alliance 2025 Scholarship program is now open for applications. Craft business owners are encouraged to apply.
The 2025 Craft Industry Alliance Scholarship Program: Applications Now Open
The Craft Industry Alliance 2025 Scholarship program is now open for applications. Craft business owners are encouraged to apply.
The Latest
ByHand Consulting: Growing Global Artisan Brands
ByHand Consulting supports artisan entrepreneurs around the globe by offering coaching, marketing strategies, and sourcing programs to help them enter and thrive in the U.S. wholesale handmade market.
Golden Peak Media Acquires Creativebug
Golden Peak Media, a media and education company serving craft enthusiasts, has acquired Creativebug, a platform previously owned by Joann.
Craft Stores Are Diversifying Product Assortment to Stay Competitive
Independent craft stores are exploring diversification—adding new products and services—to stay competitive and meet evolving customer interests in a changing market.
Parent Company of the Big 4 Sewing Pattern Brands Sold to a Liquidator
The legacy sewing pattern brands Simplicity, Butterick, McCalls, and Vogue, commonly referred to as the Big 4, have been sold to a liquidator.
Michaels Has Acquired Joann’s Intellectual Property and Private Label Brands
Irving, Texas-based craft store chain, Michaels, has acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of Joann, which filed for bankruptcy in January of this year.
Ace Camps Travel: The Intersection of Travel, Culture, and Hands-on Experience
Ace Camps Travel offers small, curated trips blending handcrafts, culinary arts, and cultural immersion across the globe. Founded in 2009, the company continues to inspire creativity and connection under new ownership.
Happy Accidents: When a Product Unexpectedly Becomes a Favorite Among Crafters
Some of the most beloved craft tools weren’t designed for crafters at all. Discover how companies like Valari, Thread Cutterz, and OttLite found unexpected success by listening to makers and embracing happy accidents that reshaped their businesses.
The Size of the Yarn Market: Yarn Consumer Survey Results 2025
We give you the yarn market data that was presented by Jan Hurwitz, General Manager of Berroco, at h+h americas 2025.
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More recent articles
The Size of the Quilting Market: Quilting Trends Survey Results 2025
The 2025 Quilters Survey is a large scale consumer research study about the size of the quilting market and consumer behavior.
Winners of the 2025 Golden Scissors Awards
We are so pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Golden Scissors Awards recognizing excellence in the crafts industry.
Schacht Spindle Acquired by Louët B.V.
Barry Schacht and Jane Patrick, owners and founders of Schacht Spindle Company, announced, they’ve sold the business to Louët B.V., a Dutch company that also makes spinning wheels and looms.
Jimmy Beans Wool Acquired by Local Crafts Group
Jimmy Beans Wool, the Reno, Nevada-based yarn shop founded in 2002 by Laura Zander, has been acquired by Local Crafts Group.
Hartford Artisans Weaving Center: Where Community and Textiles Come Together
Discover Hartford Artisans Weaving Center, where older adults and the visually impaired weave community, purpose, and beautiful textiles in a vibrant, inclusive studio.
Check Out the Main Stage and Keynotes at h+h americas 2025
Check out the all-star lineup of Main Stage and keynote speakers at h+h americas 2025, the craft industry trade show.
Tariff Changes Cause Confusion for Small Businesses
If there’s one common theme about tariffs right now it’s confusion. We look at the impact of tariffs between Canada and US.
Design Theft Kills More Than Sales; It Steals Your Creative Joy
Design theft is a common – and demoralizing – problem for creators. And sadly, the larger your audience, the more vulnerable you are.
The Fall of Joann Stores: A Catalyst for Crafting’s Revival
The closure of Joann is the end of an era according to Tiffany Windsor, the daughter of the founder of Aleene’s Tacky Glue.
Needlepoint’s New Wave
Needlepoint is experiencing a lasting resurgence, fueled by social media and a new generation of stitchers. Once a pandemic hobby, it has evolved into a thriving community with stitch clubs, retreats, and fresh, modern designs. Shop owners report increased demand, especially among younger crafters, as needlepoint moves beyond traditional patterns to embrace contemporary aesthetics.
Crafting a Safety Net: Disaster Preparations for Studios and Small Businesses
For crafters and artists with their own studio spaces or small businesses, dealing with a natural disaster can be especially challenging.
As Joann Shutters, Independent Shops Get Ready for New Customers
The closure of all Joann stores marks a huge shift for the American craft community, leaving many without a go-to fabric and craft supply store. While this change is challenging, it also presents opportunities for local craft shops and creative reuse stores to welcome new customers. From independent fabric stores to secondhand craft supply options, there are still plenty of ways for crafters to find materials, support small businesses, and stay connected with their creative communities.