Visiting 10 Local Craft Stores in 1 Month
Over the last month, I finally did something I’ve been wanting to do since JoAnn went out of business. I put together a Google Maps list of local craft stores and started visiting and documenting my little adventures. That simple decision taught me more about the crafting community in 5 weeks than my last 5+ years online.
Why?
Let’s tackle the first natural question. There is no world in which I needed to go to this many stores in such a short period of time. There is also no world in which I could’ve met and shared experiences with so many people if I hadn’t. That’s the why.
I constantly hear talk about people feeling disconnected, craving community, and seeking third spaces. No matter how many hours I spend watching reels or TikToks, it’s not a replacement for real human connection. I was determined to prove that you can find community in craft with just the slightest effort.
Living in Southern California, we are extremely lucky to have an abundance of local fabric, yarn, trim, bead, stationery, etc stores. My Google list quickly surpassed 60 stores throughout Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego counties. Most of these stores are concentrated in downtown Los Angeles and northern Orange County, likely due to the once-booming (and still existing) garment manufacturing industry in LA.
I have always known that my time living here will be limited, and the end of my time here is drawing nearer. I would deeply regret not taking full advantage of having them nearby.
The Stores
It’s time for the fun part! The stores I’ve visited :)
When it comes to choosing stores, craft type is completely irrelevant to me. I’m a lover of ALL types of crafts, and what better way to learn about a new craft than to spend time in a store dedicated to it! Heads up that all the underlined stores are hyperlinks to Google Maps <3
I’ve also put together a list on Google Maps of all the stores I want to visit that I’ll link here. This list includes stores across Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernardino counties.
1. M&L Fabrics - Anaheim, CA
3430 W Ball Rd, Anaheim, CA 92804
This store first popped on my radar after going to a quilter’s estate sale. Just about every quilter in OC passed through this estate sale, and naturally, I had to pick their brains! I asked multiple people where they buy their quilt batting now that JoAnn was gone, and multiple responded that they’ve always gone to M&L. This store is huge and can feel completely overwhelming on your first visit. Take your time to walk through and explore the aisles to familiarise yourself. The staff is always slammed with organising the store and cutting fabric, so this isn’t the place if you’re looking for more 1:1 customer service or need extra help with your project. It is the perfect shop for someone a bit more experienced who’s looking for specific fabrics or trims at a good price. This is my go-to shop for quilting cottons.
2. Strands Knitting Studio - San Clemente, CA
111 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672
Strands was the first LYS I found after moving to OC, and it’s still one of my favorite places over the last 5 years. I always look forward to spending time with Christine, the owner, and I usually find myself sitting at her table, chatting for hours. There’s also a wonderful teacher at the shop who does everything from group classes, private lessons and even children’s lessons! I always tell Christine about my latest projects/ideas, and I love hearing her opinion on yarn and pattern recs. No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at Strands. It became a ritual of mine to go down to her shop, squish all the beautiful new yarn she has, chat the afternoon away, and then go down to T-Street beach to find dolphins swimming in the sunset.
3. Bead Station (CLOSED) - Laguna Niguel, CA
PERMANENTLY CLOSED
When I first started my list of craft stores, I was so excited to see a spot so close to me! By the time I made my way over, I found a store closing sign in the window, just a week from my first visit. This was a stark reminder of how important it is to go out of your way to find these stores and support them.
4. Remainders - Pasadena, CA
787 E Washington Blvd suite 101, Pasadena, CA 91104
Remainders is the first creative reuse store we’ve visited in this series! For the uninitiated, creative reuse stores are crafting thrift stores. They rely on donated materials from the community to divert thousands of pounds of craft materials from landfills and back to crafters. Not to mention, the prices are unbeatable. Unlike traditional thrift stores, they are free from insane price markups, and typically price FAR below retail. I found some beautiful trims and fabrics that I can’t wait to use!
5. Beads Beads - Orange, CA
949 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92867
An absolute hidden gem, Beads Beads has been around for decades. Yes, they have every bead you can think of. Wendy, the owner, is a delight to chat with, and if you’re extra lucky, you’ll meet Blue, the shop dog! Her prices are more than reasonable, the selection is mind-blowing, she has everything you need for any project you can think of. This place is only open on weekends (Fri-Sun) so be sure to check the hours before you drop by; it’s well worth planning a visit!
6. Orange County Creative Reuse - Santa Ana, CA
1601 S Grand Ave D, Santa Ana, CA 92705
One of OC’s newest craft stores! This store is tiny but mighty! I love how they price their yarn by the pound instead of individually. I got incredibly lucky and found my favorite discontinued yarn and couldn’t be more excited! The most standout thing to me in this store is the dedicated space for people to come in and work on their projects. That’s right, a free space where you can come and craft alongside other people. If I lived any closer, I would be at that table every week!
7. Nacho Ann’s Fabrics - Riverside, CA
3760 12th St, Riverside, CA 92501
This one is for my Inland girlies, y’all have a creative reuse store too! Nacho Ann’s is a community-first space that prioritizes creating a safe space for all marginalized people. They have all the typical crafts you would find in a CR store, with the added bonus of local artist features, a workshop space, and a super cute curated clothing selection. Located in downtown Riverside, you can easily make a day out of shopping and checking out the other cute local businesses.
8. De Gala Fashion - Santa Ana, CA
1514 S Flower St, Santa Ana, CA 92707
Another Google Maps find, this store is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month (June 2026)! Once you step inside, it’s easy to see why this store has stayed in business. They have a fantastic trim selection and a gorgeous colorful selection of yarn (primarily cotton, nylon, and acrylic). The owner is so kind, taking the time to ask me about my projects and preferences to make the best recommendation. It felt like a true 1:1 personal shopping experience! We chatted away in Spanish (I love any chance I get to practice!), and when another customer came in he perfectly balanced his attention between the two of us. I can’t recommend this place enough <3
9. Pen Pals Stationery - Fountain Valley, CA
11069 Warner Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
The first stationery store on our little series! One thing you may not know about me is that I am a total sticker head. When I made my first set of scrapbooks last year, I quickly became obsessed with all things stickers, and if you are too, this place is our gold mine. They really do have a sticker for just about everything, and it took everything in me to wait for my next scrapbook project before stocking up again. But, if stickers aren’t so much your thing, there’s still plenty for you here! Stamps, washi tape, speciality pens, anything you could need to make any paper crafts. They also have cute little “of the moment” gifts and trinkets!
10. La Amiga Fabrics/Telas - Santa Ana, CA
1605 W 1st St Ste C, Santa Ana, CA 92703
I couldn’t believe I’d spent 5 years living in this area without knowing about this store. This family-run business started by selling remnants at local swap meets, eventually growing into their current space. They stock just about any apparel and home fabric that you can think of, including deadstock from large design companies. You could easily spend hours browsing the aisles, but if you’re looking for something specific, the owners are quick to find and give recommendations. I picked up a gorgeous polka-dot georgette fabric that I can’t wait to put to good use!
The best part of all these store tours I’ve completed is realizing how easy it is to find community with just a small effort. I can’t encourage you enough to go out and visit these stores or to seek out the ones in your own area!
