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The Knitter’s Planner Was Made with Knitters in Mind

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A lot of knitters I know like paper planners, calendars and journals rather than digital. I think that’s because paper products give us another way to be a little crafty (especially if you’re into bullet journaling) and somehow seeing everything on paper in front of you makes you feel more organized.

A paper planner can also make it easier to keep your knitting life organized, especially when you pick one that’s made with a knitter in mind. The Knitter’s Planner is just such a tool.

The Knitter’s Planner was envisioned by Stephanie Palmer, creator of the Quilter’s Planner, and was designed in collaboration with Kara Gott Warner, veteran craft publishing editor, designer and business coach.

“We realized there was nothing out there offering a customized planning system for knitters to organize their daily life and projects in one convenient place,” she said. “The 7” x 9” planner size is so practical, making it a no-brainer to pop it in your knitting bag so it’s always there just when you need it.”

The planner gives plenty of options for customization, including Sunday or Monday week starts, four different layouts for calendar pages, including dotted and graph paper pages for designs or bullet journaling.

It also includes project planning pages, a knitting reference section, places for stash and needle inventory and more.

If you want to check the planner out for yourself, the presale is going on now, which will get you 10 percent off the regular purchase price. There are multiple cover options as well, or you can opt to just get the pages if you have a planner cover you love.

What do you think about this idea? Would you buy a planner made with knitters in mind?

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Michaels Acquires Joann Intellectual Property; Joann Website Now Forwards to Michaels

 

 

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.