Get Some Virtual Learning in with Melissa & Friends

Melissa Leapman is a well-known knitting and crochet designer and all around good human, and when the mess with Stitches went down, causing a lot of fibers arts teachers and vendors to lose money for event registration, travel and sales, she wanted to do something to help.

Melissa & Friends is a four day, virtual knitting event that includes a Friday evening welcome party and cookalong; a la carte classes in reading your knitting, adjusting patterns to your gauge, advanced beginner double knitting, shawl knitting, sock knitting, fixing mistakes and more; and a vendor’s marketplace in which select vendors will offer presentations about their products (often including a coupon code for an event-only discount).

I love this idea so much and there are a lot of great class options that I would say mostly trend toward intermediate knitters, but there’s something for everyone. The event is in Eastern time, but if you register for a class you’ll have access to the video for two weeks, so you can participate from anywhere in the world.

And since Melissa has been so great to organize this event, let’s show her some love by buying some of her patterns at her website or on Ravelry. She also has a bunch of books (her most recent is Insta-Knits) if you’re into that.

And if you missed the whole Stitches story, read about how parent company XRX announced the company would be closing down and ceasing events the day after one of their events finished, an update on people getting chargebacks and some ways to help teachers and vendors, and instructions from their attorney on filing claims. I just checked and the company did file its annual report with the state of South Dakota in July, which doesn’t sound like something a company declaring bankruptcy would do, but we’ll keep an eye on it and report any further developments.

In the meantime, if you’re a teacher or vendor who was affected by the Stitches shutdown, I’d love to help promote your work. Just click on Suggest a DIY at the top of the page and send me a note!

[Photo via Melissa Leapman]

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Craft retailer Michaels has acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of now-defunct retailer Joann, according to a media release, and the Joann website now forwards to Michaels.

The releases states that Michaels will be developing the “beloved Big Twist® brands as part of the Michaels portfolio.” It also notes plans to expand its offerings in the fabric, sewing and yarn categories, with more than 600 new products being added.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to welcome JOANN customers into our creative community and are committed to delivering the selection, value, and inspiration they are looking for at Michaels,” David Boone, CEO of Michaels, said in the release.

Specific to yarn, the company notes it has plans to expand its yarn selection by 25 percent this year, including releasing more than 60 new private-label Loops & Threads products beginning this month, expanding offerings of Lion Brand and the Yarnspirations family of brands, and welcoming Big Twist yarns.

The release specifically mentions Big Twist Value Plus, Big Twist Twinkle, Big Twist Posh and Big Twist Baby Bear, and notes that the offerings are “now being developed as part of Michaels portfolio of brands and will be available in-stores and online later this year.”

No word on what this means for Herrschners, which previously announced it would carry Big Twist. Its page announcing the news still says “at this time we are not able to release details on specific Big Twist varieties or colors, or the exact date the yarn will be available to order” and encourages signing up for email updates.

This news comes just days after the final closing of the last Joann locations and the appearance of a message on their website talking about “stitching up something new.” The Joann website now forwards to a landing page for craft retailer Michaels.

“Welcome Joann customers,” it says at the top. “We’ve got your go-to essentials and so much more.” The page also notes “everyone is welcome at our craft table” and says the website is a source for “fabrics, yarn, notions & more.”

Further down the page it says “With JOANN stores closing, Michaels is excited to welcome new makers, crafters, and sewing enthusiasts into our community” and has a string of links to product categories these shoppers might be looking for. It says Michaels carries “many of the favorites that Joann customers love” including patterned fabric, yarn, ribbons and notions.

The release calls this a “dedicated landing page” with a “curated assortment of products” they think are relevant to the Joann shopper.

If you go directly to Micheaels.com, you see their regular website but there is a link at the top of the page for Joann customers that leads to the same page linked above.

The release doesn’t mention opening any new stores in towns left without a craft store thanks to the Joann closure. It does note they have 1,300 stores in 49 states and in Canada, and they have both US and Canada-facing websites.

What do you think of this news? It’s not the exciting future I’d hoped for with Joanns cryptic announcement, but I know legions of knitters and crocheters will be happy to know Big Twist will live on, and other crafters will probably be happy about expanded selection at Michaels.

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