Snohomish County retailers offer craft lessons for DIY gifts

EVERETT — With just 41 days left until Christmas, the time to make handmade gifts is rapidly running out.

But retailers that sell fabrics and craft-making items are reaching out to customers, offering workshops, not to mention sales. Evening classes on ornament-making, Saturday workshops about creating holiday cards — craft stores have been in full holiday mode for months.

Customers who like to knit scarves, sew quilts or create their own Christmas wreaths tend to start shopping early. Retailers begin courting consumers not on Black Friday but midyear, hosting “Christmas in July” sales.

On Monday, Pacific Fabrics and Crafts is taking a unique step to help customers at the holidays. Beginning at 1 p.m., customers pay a $10 fee to get into the store's holiday open house. In exchange, they'll sit in on craft demonstrations and pick up tips and ideas. They'll also receive a coupon book and 20 percent off discount good that day.

“This is the first time we've tried this,” said Chuck Rutherford, manager of Pacific Fabrics in Everett.

This is the fourth out of Pacific Fabric's six stores in the region to host an open house. The events so far have been extremely popular, Rutherford said.

Rutherford is encouraging customers to register for one of three scheduled demonstrations at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. However, the 2 p.m. demonstration already has 50 participants signed up, he said.

The store will have two areas where customers can learn to make a craft that they can take home when they leave. Pacific Fabrics will also have various crafts on display.

The open house's focus is “primarily based on making things for the house for the holidays,” Rutherford said.

Pacific Fabrics isn't the only store in the county offering classes and workshops focused on things to make for the holidays. Ben Franklin Crafts in Monroe is hosting make-your-own Christmas ornament workshops from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Don't have time to make your own gifts?

Today, you can buy one-of-a-kind creations from others at a craft bazaar at Ben Franklin's. The bazaar runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And, of course, handcrafted gifts abound online at etsy.com.



Local retailers offering holiday craft workshops

Pacific Fabrics & Crafts: pacificfabrics.com

Ben Franklin: www.bfranklincrafts.com

JoANN Fabric and Crafts: www.joann.com/joann

Michaels: www.michaels.com