List of Craft Stores

[ellieinwonderland]

So Im young and just getting in the crafty mood. Well I have been for a while but now Im going out and looking for different fabrics and such. So I thought we might list all the different stores in Alaska that sell whatever we may need for our different crafting choices.

Heres what I know of:
Joann Fabrics- Wasilla and 2 in Anchorage
Black Elk Leather -Anchorage




ps. Anyone know where I might buy some solid brown fleece? I know its the wrong time of year and joanns has none but I need some and dont really want to buy online.(if I'd even be able to find any)
oo hey maybe we can link up some online stores or places online you guys buy from. feel free to list that too.

[amybarnett]

These are the stores in Anchorage that I frequent:

The Bead Shack
The Quilt Tree/Yarn Branch
The Knitting Grounds
Seams Like Home
Joanns
Michaels

[Listessa]

Fairbanks doesn't have too much that I have found...

*Michaels
*JoAnns
*A small bead store downtown that does have some awesome seed beads and other things.  It's in that little mall thing right downtown and I can't remember the name.
*Material Girls - A store on College Rd. that specializes in quilting.  Tons of fabric, Bernina machines, and patterns.  They also seem to be expanding into felting. 
*Northern Threads - on University Ave they have a lot of fabric, offer a bunch of classes on different sewing projects, have some yarn, and carry Pfaff machines.

If you want to drive a little bit, there is a Ben Franklin in North Pole too.  They have floss for $.29 as compared to $.37 or $.39 or something at Michaels and JoAnns.  Also, they carry a bunch of different stuff like quilt patterns, scrapbooking, cooking, kids craftie stuff, and stamps.  They DO have sales tax there, but it's more economical on an every day basis for floss than in Fairbanks, and if you're all ready in the area... why not? 

I'd just about die for a specialty yarn or embroidery shop here.  The internet just doesn't cut it. 

Any of you Anchorage area folks mind adding a little mini description next to the stores you list?  I don't get down there very often, and it would be cool to see a mini run down of the sort of things some of the places have so I know what to really try and visit when I have time off and stuff.  (Ie does Seams Like Home have more than just material?  Do they specialize in a particular sewing machine brand, or have a lot of special threads?)

[amybarnett]

The Bead Shack: Absolutely EVERYthing you would need for any bead project. Tons of unique exotic beads. (If you get a chance to go here be sure to check out Dos Manos next door. Awesome)

The Quilt Tree/Yarn Branch: Tons of fabric (Amy Butler!), they do all sorts of classes (for a fee), specialty yarns-this is my favorite place to go to drool at yarn, patterns, books, etc. If you can only visit one yarn/fabric store in anchorage then go to the quilt tree!! Very helpful and friendly.

The Knitting Grounds: small, cute little shop, specialty yarns, roving, and a great display of finished knit and felted projects.

Seams Like Home: specializes in bernina, good selection of buttons, edgings, threads and sewing supplies, great selection on wedding dress type fabrics, really cool displays with antique furniture, LOTS of quilt type fabric

Joanns: Big box craft/fabric store. They have 2 locations (one of which, Northway mall, is much bigger. I go here when I need help with my viking machine)

Michaels: Big box craft and framing store. I usually go to any of the other stores I listed first. Michaels is good for fake flowers (if you like em) and scrapbooking.

Some other ones I forgot to list earlier were:
Blaines: All sorts of professional and amateur art supplies
More than a Memory: Scrapbooking supplies and classes

[Listessa]

Thank you amybarnett!  I'll have to make a point of hitting Quilt Tree next time I'm down there. 

[Listessa]

If you're down in Seward, I have a couple of recommendations:

A Flyin' Skein http://www.aflyinskein.com/
A Flyin' Skein must be made of awesome.  Cindy, the owner, is a lot of fun to chat with.  She carries a nice variety of different yarn from all over including some made/dyed in AK goodies.  Cindy will gladly wind loose skeins into an easy to travel with ball for you on her winder (which men are entirely fascinated to watch).  You can also find some Alaska cross stitch designs, along with all the DMC floss you will need to create them.   I LOVED visiting, and hope to get down there to check it out again.

Sew'n Bee Cozy http://www.sewnbeecozy.com/
Sew'n Bee Cozy is a lovely quilt shop.  There are so many different bolts of available in that store, I really don't know how they fit them all inside!  You can also find tons of Alaska featured patterns or kits and a fantastic selection of Alaska patterned fabric.  If you go during 2010, they are one of the shops participating in the stitch around the state quilt pattern. 

(Can you all tell I went on a road trip over the long weekend?)

[SKerri13]

Anchorage area:
Black Elk has leather, beads, some fur, supplies, crystals, rocks and incense to name a few things. It's huge and I could spend my entire PFD there easily.

Alaska Bead Company on Lake Otis and Tudor has great beads and they are always helpful. New beads come out on Sundays, and they also host trunk shows and have lots of guest teachers. In the same mall complex is a Tandy Leather and a rock shop.

Beads are my passion, so those are the places they know me by name.

My daughter is fond of Value Village because they have big bags of fabric scraps for 5.00 a bag and yarn for the same. She makes dolls and gets very interesting fabrics that way.

[Listessa]

Another amazing one in Anchorage:
The Quilted Raven! 
It's located at 415 G street (right downtown). 

They are excellent.  Not only do they have some super gorgeous quilting patterns, but they also have Alaska themed cross stitch patterns.    It's so hard to find any of those around here.  The pricing is decent, about par with any other specialty spot up here.  I highly recommend giving them a visit. 

[Listessa]

Wow.  I missed bead and cool stuff stores in my prior post.  Duh...
More Fairbanks:

Alaska Raw Fur:  Obviously tons of gorgeous fur, the Great Wall of Seed Beads (and some others), leather working, awesome fabric, especially Alaska themes, felts, and quivit yarn.

Pristine's:  Ultimate Bead Shop in Fairbanks.  Every color of Delica (15s too!), as well as full range of Miuki seed beads.  Plenty of findings, gem beads, other random beads too.  They also keep a full variety of awesome books and different threads on hand.  Great Alaska themed patterns created by the store are also offered.

Inua Wool:  Yarngasm in a store.  So many different fancy yarns...  Plus books of all varieties!

A Weaver's Yarn:  I just heard about this one from a girl at work.  They have spinning supplies, weaving things, as well as plenty of yarn.  It sounds amazing.  I need to check it out soon.  

Craft Market:  Downtown, sort of a crazy place chuckabluck full of a little bit of everything.  They do sell antler buttons and beads as well as beads and buttons made of fossil ivory.  They have a large supply of kind of random beads, inventory is a little wacky and looks more like a flea market than a bead store- but it is cool to browse. 
They also offer knickknacks as well as native crafts and the usual gift shop souvenir type things.

Recently the Fairbanks Walmart started carrying cross stitch supplies (DMC for cheaper than JoAnns and Michaels) and basically expanded their cool craft section again.  I really hate shopping at Walmart, but it's nice to know it is there if necessary.