Craft has a deep connection with activism. (See the definition for craftivism.) Crafting can be a deeply personal comfort during stressful times. It can also be a way to express your voice. Even if you aren’t the kind of maker who creates socially conscious work, you can still express your voice another way; with your dollars.

I have compiled a list of places to purchase craft and art supplies that are not Amazon, Target, or Walmart. I still shop at Michaels or some of the aforementioned retailers out of convenience. But I am choosing to spend my dollars elsewhere as much as I can. I don’t agree with the policies of the companies mentioned above. The alternatives that I am featuring here provide a wider variety for those of you who are serious about crafting. Your patronage of these alternative retailers will help these other United States-based businesses (primarily small businesses) thrive.

Sewing

JoAnn has announced that they will be closing some of their stores throughout the country. This is distressing news for hobby sewers and crafters who live in suburban areas. I have spent many hours and dollars in the store through the years. The options were not perfect but it was an opportunity to feel the hand, weight, and drape of fabric before purchasing. Even though I prefer to shop for fabric in person, I am featuring options that are online so that it is accessible to most readers.

Mood Designer Fabrics is a great online option for fabric, trim, and other sorts of notions (aka buttons, thread, snaps, hooks). It is not a cheap option but the fabrics tend to be high quality as they are discarded designer fabrics. You may recognize Mood from Project Runway. There are brick-and-mortar locations in New York City (where Project Runway contestants shop) and Los Angeles. Visiting Mood is overwhelming and inspiring for me. There are wall-to-wall bolts of fabric, along with walls of every trim imaginable. Visit Mood in person if you have the opportunity to do so.

Fashion Fabrics Club is like an old friend to me. I’ve been ordering from this site since my college days. The company offers a huge selection of fabrics for apparel, cosplay, upholstery, and quilting. A little something for everyone. You can even order swatches of your fabric before purchasing yardage.

Spoonflower is an option for unique and custom fabric. Fabrics are designed by independent creators and printed on demand onto a growing array of fabrics and wallpaper. Custom personal projects can also be created using Spoonflower. You can order a pack of swatches before you purchase the fabric. I am a long-time Spoonflower creator who sells on the marketplace.

A Stitch In Dye is an Etsy shop with hand-dyed fabric for quilting and other sewing projects. The shop offers gorgeously dyed linen. In general, Etsy is a great place to purchase fabric and sewing notions. Just use their search function to look for supplies. It will take some dedication to find the good stuff but when you do…zaza zoom! You can find hand-dyed fabrics, upcycled fabrics, and even vintage fabrics.

Sew House Seven is one of many independent sewing pattern companies. I am featuring this company because I have sewed a dress using one of their patterns. They offer an array of sizes including patterns for curvy folks. Their patterns can be purchased pre-printed onto paper or in a digital pdf. I encourage you to seek out other pattern makers on social media and through online searches.

Cheep Trims features lace, ribbon, and other trim for finishing sewing projects.

Needlecraft & Yarn

I’m strictly a needle crafter so my needs focus on embroidery, punch needle, and latch hook projects. I am not yet versed in crochet or knitting. For my needs, I know some formidable places to purchase yarn.

Purl Soho is one place where I emphatically enjoyed shopping when I lived in New York. Unfortunately, the location in New York’s fashionable SoHo has been closed for some time. Fortunately for us, the store survives as an online store. The yarns are high quality and feature beautifully curated colors. The price is worth it. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill skeins. They also offer fabric and sewing notions.

The Yarnery features supplies for knitting and embroidery. The store offers knitting and embroidery patterns. There are also a plethora of books including some popular titles on knitting, embroidery, and mending.

Mini Masterpiece AZ is an Etsy shop that offers punch needle supplies. If you would like to try rug making and tufting, you can find the supplies here. I found this shop when I could not find punch needles in nearby retailers. Smaller businesses often have a better understanding of craft trends before the big retailers figure it out.

DMC is one of the best brands of embroidery floss. This heritage brand is known for its wide assortment of colors, the luster of the thread, and the high-quality twist of its yarns. You can skip the craft store and purchase skeins directly from the brand site.

Felt & Fiber Art

Felted Sky offers wool felt and roving for felting. This Michigan store has an assortment of felting kits for those who love creating fiber projects. I can personally attest to the quality of the wool.

Benzie Design has beautifully curated wool felt, yarn, DMC embroidery floss, and patterns.

Dharma Trading Co. is my go-to shop for surface dyes and blank items for surface design. I’ve been purchasing from this Petaluma, California company for decades. They offer a lovely array of dyeable clothing items, scarves, socks, and yarn. You can also find wax-resist supplies. There are tutorials for dyeing techniques on their site.

Jewelry Making

Local bead stores are the best places to purchase gemstone beads.

Fire Mountain Gems is a bead supplier store that I have patronized for quite some time. You can find a massive selection of beads, gemstones, crystals, wire, chain, and more.

Artbeads also has a wonderful selection of beads, pendants, crystals, wire, and leather cords.

Create Your Bliss is an Etsy shop that offers leather cords, beads, and pendants.

Paper Craft

Papersource is a paper crafting store that I enjoy visiting. The curated aesthetic of this store inspires me. They offer unique papers, pens, and craft kits. If art journaling is your craft then this store is a must. The store is also a great source for gifts such as books and cards.

A papercut that I created in 2018 using my Cricut and cardstock paper.

Cricut is a cutting machine for a variety of materials. This brand is available in many stores but the brand website is also a great source to buy anything Cricut related. In addition to the machines, the site offers branded paper, vinyl, pens, and other items. I am an enthusiastic owner of a Cricut.

Silhouette is another brand of cutting machine. They also offer a stamp maker for crafters who enjoy stamping and printmaking.

Pipsticks is a sticker brand that is a must for any sticker fanatic. The company offers vinyl stickers, planner stickers, fuzzy stickers, and even scratch-and-sniff stickers. The prices and shipping are affordable. They even offer a monthly club if you want to be showered in stickers on the regular.

Fine Art Supplies

Arteza offers branded quality drawing and paint supplies for affordable prices. They have a large selection of branded felt. This Miami, Florida-based brand is steadily growing its branded offering. Make sure to join their email list.

United Art & Education offers a massive selection of supplies for fine arts and crafts. It is a virtual plethora of all things creative. Purchases ship from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Jerry’s Artarama offers traditional fine art supplies, frames, art studio furniture, and projectors. The company is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Utrecht is a Brooklyn, New York-based fine art supplier that has stores throughout the United States.

I purchase linoleum for blockprinting from Artist and Craftsman Supply.

Artist & Craftsman Supply is an employee-owned fine art and craft store. In addition to the online store, there are brick-and-mortar locations throughout the United States. Including a location in Downtown Los Angeles that I visit frequently.

Blick Art Materials is another store that I have frequented through the years. It is also an online store with multiple brick-and-mortar locations throughout the US.

Kids’ Art & Crafts

Upcycled Crayola crayons with other brand crayons.

Ooly offers washable paint sticks, paint, markers, and coloring books. In my house, we are fans of their Chunkies paint sticks.

Crayola is known for its crayons but the popular brand offers all sorts of art supplies. As a parent of a small child, I love their washable crayons and Mess-free markers. The site offers FREE coloring pages for both children and adults.

Craft Kits

Kiwi Co is a Northern California company that offers STEAM-focused craft kits for children and adults alike. Kits can be bought in the company’s store or by subscription. My daughter receives monthly Kiwi Co boxes and we purchase craft kits for gifts.

Craft Contemporary is a Los Angeles museum that highlights craft as high art. The museum’s store offers a lovely selection of crafts and books. A purchase in the store supports this gem of a museum. I encourage you to visit this museum if you are in the Los Angeles area. And yes, I have taught classes at this museum.

I am featuring Craft Contemporary to highlight museum stores as a resource for craft kits. Museum stores are often pricey options but your purchase goes toward supporting the institution. Think outside the art museum for craft kits. Next time you visit a zoo, a science museum, a historical society, an observatory, or a conservatory (I feel like Dr. Seuss) check out the store.

Secondhand Supplies

Make and Mend Secondhand Art and Craft Supplies is a rare online craft supply reuse store. Most reuse stores are strictly brick-and-mortar. I encourage you to look for a creative reuse store in your area. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. This is one of the best ways to find unique crafting materials like vintage magazines, blank CDs, or even discarded doll heads. You never know what could spark your imagination.

We are all price-conscious these days. Value isn’t just about low prices. You can value your craft, the climate, fellow citizens, and your personal beliefs with your craft purchases. My list is just a fraction of what is out there for crafters. I urge you to let your money voice your opinions.

If you would like to share any retailers that you purchase crafts supplies from please drop them in the comments with a link.

30 Craft Retailers That Aren’t Amazon, Target, or Walmart