Coming to a major department store near you.

I have had problems in two John Lewis stores with Anchor threads - Kingston and Brent Cross. In Kingston it was implied that Anchor had gone into receivership and the assistant tried to sell me tapestry wool for 50p, saying it was good for darning socks! - not really useful for cross stitch! At Brent Cross I was told that it had been recalled and would be in stock again soon. We have a Hobbycraft near us but it doesn't stock all the colours and I used to make use of visits to my son in Kingston to stock up.

I am a true 'Essex girl' actually born in Romford Hospital to working class parents so I am boasting of no social pretensions. But 'Prosecco and bikini waxes'. How vulgar!

Jaycee I buy the WI wool from Hobbycraft it knits up very evenly. They have some lovely cotton yarns too. I know what you mean though, there are fabulous yarns but where to find them?
I'm going to the Knitting and Stitching exhibition in Harrogate, there'll be hundreds there.

We were very excited about JL opening a store in our town and then they changed their minds. Our local paper reported that they said we were not affluent enough for them or something like that. I do buy from them on line but thinking about it I should spend elsewhere after what happened.
We have a local independent wool shop and an Abakhan that I use.

The haberdashery in John Lewis used to be on the ground floor and take up a large part of it. Now they are a small department stuck out of the way. They have obviously found profits dropping and had to do it but it is a shame. I am not a big fan of Hobbycraft. Although it is massive it tends to sell very cheap wool.

Nelliemoser
Abakhan's flagship store is in Mostyn in Flintshire, where the family started the business as rug weavers many years ago.
They also now have stores in Manchester, Liverpool, Birkenhead, Bolton, Chester, Hanley and Preston.
I often spend a day at the Mostyn store, their restaurant there is pretty good too!

There is a company called Abakhan Fabrics who do massive end end of roll fabric of all sorts, knitting and craft stuff and lot's of good haberdashery stuff. Unfortunately they only operate in the bigger Northwest cities. (around Manchester) where there is is a big Asian population. It is the first place of call and only place nearby worth trying.

I have been all too aware of the decline of the Haberdashery department of our local (extended) JL although still staffed by lovely ladies, but with much less choice in knitting wools, "notions" and dressmaking fabrics.
Luckily a Spanish lady called Ana opened a wonderful Aladdin's cave called The Wool Shop near us with Knit n Natter, Knitting and Language groups, tuition in knitting or crochet, an amazing range of yarns of all hues, including many "exotic" labels I never knew before AND a wonderful range of buttons etc.
Not allowed to do advertising on GN but if you live in any of the MK postcodes and want to PM me I can give you more details.

I have no idea where my nearest JL is !
The nearest big store is 25 miles

That's a relief, that John Lewis are keeping the haberdashery department. One of the real positives about going into JL hab/knitting department, is that the assistants know what they're talking about. So different than going to Hobby Craft for example, where there are so few staff around, none of whom know the first thing about knitting, sewing etc.

I'm impressed Nanaa that you and John are on emailing terms.

I got an email from John Lewis assuring me haberdashery was staying.

If Monica or Boheminan come onto this thread, they will know this place well.

Happily for me , we have a superb haberdashers in a local market town, been there at least 40 years, only takes cash and staff add up what you buy on bits of old card, then ring it up on an old fashioned till.No receipts.

Although give her a couple of years after all the hoo-haa has died down

anno and SueDonim I should have read your posts first

If I go into John Lewis I always go into the Haberdashery.
The only thing I bought last time were a knitting pattern and some unusual buttons - I couldn't find any I liked anywhere else, but they often have a helpful knitting specialist in there too. And it is right near the restaurant anyway, so I go into there afterwards instead of finding somewhere else to eat.

Please don't shut down the Haberdashery!
I don't want Prosecco when I'm going to drive and have never been brave enough to have a bikini wax

Oh dear, did she ever work at M&S?
Lona I think she started her working life in the JL Haberdashery Department, perhaps she had a horrible department head and developed an aversion to haberdashery!

To be honest while it would be a shame to see the department go , I can't say it would be much of a loss. They have pared it down over several years. In our local store you cannot buy just a metre of ribbon but have to buy it on a reel. There are many places that I prefer to buy craft items.

Posts Xed, SueD!

There are no plans to do away with Haberdashery departments in John Lewis stores. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37908223

John Lewis says it's not true that they're planning to close their haberdashery departments. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37908223

I suppose if they were to offer bikini waxing, the prosecco would take the edge off the pain.

What a dreadful idea! JL is one of the few places, in some towns, to get habidashery of any quality.
Our JL has an area wher they sell expensive pens. It seem to take up a fair bit of space and I've never seen anyone buying there. Maybe that could go instead.

Also, a lot of people drive into JL, so encouraging them to drink is not a good idea!

Oh no I always meet my friend in haberdadhery in Cambridge JL!

Oh dear, did she ever work at M&S?

We only have a small John Lewis here, but I know a lot of people who rely on its haberdashery department, including me, for craft, sewing and knitting materials. With the resurgence in interest in knitting and sewing, I can't understand the thinking behind it. Prosecco? No thanks, for the same reasons as NanKate. Bikini waxing!!! .