EVERETT — Cash-conscious consumers are flocking to local crafts stores for the holidays in an effort to cut costs and put a personal touch on gifts.
“I think people are buying fewer gifts and they are making gifts that have more meaning,” said Chuck Rutherford, manager of the Pacific Fabric &Crafts in Everett.
Several Snohomish County crafts stores report increased traffic and sales in their stores over the past few months while major retailers such as Target and Macy’s have seen declines. Through the holidays, many crafts shops will offer classes to teach customers to make holiday gifts.
At Pacific Fabrics store, Pat Baron teaches a class where participants can learn to make holiday gifts in under 30 minutes.
“My classes are geared toward people who don’t know how to sew or are beginning sewers,” Baron said.
For people relatively new to sewing and crafts, Baron offers a few do-it-yourself gift ideas, most requiring only the ability to sew a straight seam: napkins, pillow cases and wool scarves. Wool scarves can be made by cutting a long piece of wool and seaming it.
“You can give a wool scarf that would cost $20 in the store for $5.50 in materials,” Rutherford said.
At Ben Franklin in Monroe, owner Adrian Taylor said he has devised projects that encourage interaction — something he sees sorely missing in this age of technology. And Taylor has seen many customers return to sewing or to crafts in an effort to connect with friends and family. One popular class at Ben Franklin shows how to personalize the star on a Christmas tree with photos.
“It’s a quick project but people love it,” Taylor said.
The Michael’s store in Everett has been offering holiday workshops on Saturdays since November, featuring classes on making Christmas cards, gift baskets and ornaments.
“There’s a lot of interest in the workshops,” said store manager Steve Winkle.
And even if they don’t participate in the workshops, customers are looking for ways to create their own gifts. Popular “do-it-yourself” gifts include floral arrangements, decorated ornaments and children’s crafts, Winkle said.
Although sales were down nationally for Michael’s in the third quarter, the crafts retailer’s Everett location has done well in recent weeks.
“We’re above our forecast for this quarter,” Winkle said.
Parents not only are bringing in their children to learn how to make gifts for the holidays but also are buying supplies as gifts this year.
“A lot of people are looking at educational activities this year,” Winkle said.
Children’s crafts seem to be popular across the county. Ben Franklin’s Taylor thinks that “kids have always liked crafts” but their parents are getting interested again as well.
At Pacific Fabrics, Baron and Rutherford have seen children take to one craft in particular.
“Kids are all about beading,” Baron said.
But children and adults alike also recently have shown interest in making bags — from small felted purses to large laptop carriers.
In difficult economic times, Baron has seen customers trend back to repairing their clothing and linens and refurbishing secondhand items. Rather than throwing away pants because the zipper broke, people are figuring out how to put in a new zipper, she said. Young sewers especially are finding ways to dress up an old pair of jeans or a secondhand jacket.
“People are really wanting to get back to the home crafts,” Baron said.
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