What Remains of Joann Fabrics?

I suspect we may know by the end of business today what will happen to the remaining Joann Fabrics stores. If I am understanding posts in the Joanns subreddit correctly, there is an auction scheduled this morning to sell what’s left, but all three registered bidders are liquidation companies. When I stopped in at our store yesterday afternoon—I can’t stay away from that pattern sale—the manager said that what she is being told changes from minute to minute.

What.A.Mess.

My ruler class on Wednesday was a lot of fun. I very rarely teach a class I don’t enjoy. We were using the circle and curve rulers. Here is my friend Jenny using one of the circle rulers to quilt a flower. (Jenny is also on the board of the Homestead Foundation.)

I talked to the class coordinator from the store in Missoula yesterday afternoon. When I finished making that pink Riley Blake quilted jacket—the one that had so many problems—I sent an e-mail to the store owner and suggested we consider a different project. The class coordinator and I talked about it and decided on the Tamarack Jacket from Grainline Studio. We also moved the class to next fall. I’ll make the sample when I get back from Sew Expo.

I’ve had enough extra time this week to eke out two tops. The first is the Burda 6315. (I think I keep saying 9315 and that’s the wrong pattern number.) This is the French terry from KnitFabric.com. I absolutely love it. I wore it to my class on Wednesday.

The second one is Yet Another Toaster Sweater from the third chunk of cable knit that I got from Joann Fabrics last year.

This is such a lovely fabric. It’s a blend with rayon in it and it wears beautifully. The color selection could have been better (could I please have some hot pink or emerald green?), but I’m okay with reds as long as they lean toward the blue end of the spectrum. These Toaster Sweaters are great to throw on with a pair of jeans.

I timed myself while making this Toaster Sweater. It took an hour and a half to make—about 30 minutes to cut it out and an hour to run it up on the serger. Gotta love these instant gratification projects.

Today is my Wool and Wax Tote class.

I am so itching for a road trip. It has been three months since I’ve gone anywhere and that’s a long time for me to be home. The weather, although rainy, should be okay for getting over the passes.