I’ve heard the rumors. I know it’s been happening all across the country. But the other day I went to my local Walmart to search for a pattern: and they are GONE! Never again to be found in my Walmart. *sigh* We still have fabric – for now; but I have a feeling that too will be gone soon, as the available fabric stock is dwindling. I’m not a happy camper.
Now I’m not sure where else I can go locally to find fabric and patterns. St Louis has fabric stores, but that’s at least an hour away from me, and with gas prices being what they are – it’s not like I’m going to hop in the car for a ‘short’ jaunt to the St Louis fabric stores.
I know I can order online; and I’ve done that, but sometimes you want to go see things – put your hands on them, for the feel of the fabric – before you actually buy it. So I got out the local phone book and found a couple (as in TWO) stores that stated they carried fabric. These were sewing machine shops and they usually do not have a great fabric selection; but it’s better than nothing – however, many sewing shops don’t carry patterns at all.
I am really not a happy camper. 
Has your local Walmart stopped selling fabric and patterns? I don’t know what Walmart is thinking – but someone needs to remind them that people do still sew, quilt and do crafts! Hundreds of thousands of people!!
Where do you buy your fabric and patterns? Do you have a local fabric shop close to you? Do you order online? Do you take road-trips to find fabric stores, driving an hour (or more), like I may have to?
I’ve heard the rumors, but I don’t want to know this is reality.
I used to buy fabric at JoAnn, but they closed a number of years ago. Guess I’ll have to sew up the fabric I already have before I worry about it much though. 
We still have patterns and fabric at ours but I’ve heard that they are fazing it out.
They have downsized it, it seems.
Blessings
Patty
We have four Walmarts in our city. One never had fabrics or patterns, one has completely phased them out. The third is in the process of closing their fabric department. I don’t know what I will do for fabric once I use up my stash.
Have a Blessed Day
Bonnie
I was told that Sam Walton’s wife loved to sew and had made sure that the stores carried “piece goods”. After her death I guess the cost cutting measures chopped out her wishes…