Stitches Events, the largest fiber arts gatherings in the US, along with XRX publishing have declared bankruptcy leaving hundreds of small fiber arts businesses and instructors affected financially. Some of these businesses are literally out thousands of dollars because of this process. You can read their full press release from their site or you can view it at the bottom of this post where I've copied it in full.
Stitches/XRX is/was based out of Sioux Falls where I live and work from and I personally know staff members. I want to emphasize that even though it does really suck for all the vendors & teachers involved, I'm sure that XRX did everything they could possibly do to avoid this. They're a caring group of fiber folks who have always worked extremely hard to make these events & their publications stand out & strengthen the fiber community at large. This is just a terrible situation for all involved and it's a huge blow to the fiber arts world, in my opinion.
5/18/23 ETA: Some folks in the community have pointed out that Stitches/XRX has never explicitly stated that they filed for bankruptcy (take a second to re-read their press release). As of this writing there is yet to be a bankruptcy filing listed anywhere online for those affected to make a claim and the Stitches/XRX bankruptcy attorney (who they are directing all communications through) has yet to be named. I'll update this post as more information comes forward.
Help For Those Affected
In this post you will find links to some of the businesses and instructors who have been affected by this event so that you can support them. Below you will also find suggestions for both financial and non-financial support methods so that everyone can help the small businesses in some capacity. This list will continue to be updated as I hear from more people.
If you are one of the affected businesses or instructors, please message me or fill in the form linked below with your info and any social media/site links you would like to promote. Also, for the next 2 issues, Knitty Magazine is offering you free advertising. See the details in this post at Knitty.com. Impacted instructors are invited to propose your classes to Lessonface for discounted online teaching opportunities.
If you are a Stitches customer who purchased classes or market tickets that will now never be valid, I am very sorry for your disappointment and frustration. I know it isn't nearly the same as attending a full class or marketplace at the event, but I'd like to gift you with any Yumi Yarns pattern of your choosing from my shop or my Ravelry shop. Just fill in the simple form linked below so that I can send you your gift.
If you are trying to remember who was teaching what class, I've linked a copy of the Stitches Boutique Class Schedule below. It doesn't contain all the classes/teachers, but it's at least a starting point since many of the teachers/classes were repeated from other events. If you happen to have a copy of another Stitches class schedule & would like me to add it, please email me (Shaina@yumiyarns.com).
How Can You Help?
Obviously, if you're financially able, purchasing from these businesses and instructors is the quickest and most straightforward way to support them and help them to recoup their losses. However, if you are not able to make a purchase at this time, here are some free ways to show your support and help their business grow in visibility (and sales):
Follow them on social media.
Like, share, and comment on their social media posts (this will help on every platform).
Talk about them with your friends and at your LYS.
Ask your LYS to reach out to them for possible trunk shows or local events. (Many dyers and bag makers are open to the concept of sending yarn to an LYS for a long-distance trunk show if travel isn't in the cards.)
Host a make-a-long featuring patterns/yarn/etc from the affected Instructors & Businesses. (This can be big or small, you don't need 100+ people joining to make a difference.)
Use your stash and post about it! If you previously purchased items or took classes from some of the affected businesses or instructors share what you bought from them and why. This is essentially leaving them a good review and that is huge to small businesses. (Plus, it's kind of like sending a virtual hug to the person who runs the business. We love hearing from happy customers.)
There are plenty of other ways to show your support as well, please feel free to message me with ideas to add to this list!
Who Has Been Impacted?
Business/Instructor | Website | Social Media |
Cerulean Orchid | ||
Lavender Lune Yarn Co. | ||
Birdie Parker Designs | ||
Kato Yarn Company | ||
2 Guys Yarn Company | | |
Amazing Threads | | |
Cherrywood Fabric, Inc. & Karla Overland | ||
Clover Needlecraft | | |
Daisy Bags | | |
Darn Knit Anyway | | |
Dye Mad Yarns | | |
Fiberlady | | |
Front Range Bags | | |
Gold Tip Needles | | |
Harriet and Alice | | |
Interlacements Yarn | | |
JUL Designs | | |
knitbaahpurl, llc | | |
Knitting Lizard Fibers | ||
Lost City Knits LLC & Denise Bell | ||
Michele A Friedman | ||
Neighborhood Fiber Company | | |
Oink Pigments | | |
Pam Power Knits | | |
Passion Yarns | | |
Plied Yarns | | |
Rae-Bon Sew & Quilt Shop | | |
RMR Yarn co. | | |
Ellen's Wooly Wonders | ||
Shaker Saw Dust Co. | | |
Stitch Stuff Yarn | | |
Stunning String Studio | |
Rowan Tree Travel & Fibercraft | | |
Supernova Dyeworks | | |
The Oregon Wood Worker | | |
The Royal Bee Yarn Company | | |
TheMillerGirls | | |
Threads & Ewe | | |
Why Knot Fibers | | |
Amy Snell | ||
Global Artisans | | |
Lorilee Beltman | ||
Jill Bigelow Suttell | ||
Heavenly Bresser | ||
Beth Brown-Reinsel | ||
Cecelia Campochiaro | ||
Sandra Chandler | ||
Lily Chin | | |
Kristin Drysdale | ||
Deborah Jarchow | ||
Phyllis Bell Miller | | |
Yoriko Oki | ||
Xandy Peters | ||
Catherine Redford | ||
Jennifer Stern | ||
Karen Stevens | ||
Fibernymph Dye Works | ||
Heather Storta | ||
Teton Yarn Company | ||
Seattle Sky Dyeworks | | |
Alexandra The Art of Yarn | ||
Desert Panda Fiber Arts | ||
Dragonfish Handmade Goods | ||
Anzula Luxury Fibers | ||
Mod Yarns |
Front Range Bags | |
(I'm still adding more businesses but wanted to get this batch posted as soon as possible. Bookmark this page & revisit often to keep updated.)
Press Release from Stitches.events
Released 5/15/23
"After 32 years of doing events and 40+ years in business, we find ourselves at the end. We are saddened that what we’ve built can no longer survive in the present economic climate.
As of today, XRX, Inc. no longer exists. We want to thank you for the friendship and support that so many of you have given us. It’s been a wonderful ride. But all good things…
The company is officially in the process of being dissolved. Per our bankruptcy lawyer’s instructions, all our accounts have been closed, and all our future Stitches events and projects have been canceled.
For those to whom we owe money or who have credits with us… you will be contacted in the near future via mail by our lawyer. We will be liquidating all business assets to go into a trust account that will then be used to pay back creditors as is possible. Please don’t contact us directly. Per our lawyer’s advice, all communications will go directly through him.
We’re sorry we couldn’t make it work. Please believe us when we tell you we tried.
We wish you success and happiness in all your future endeavors.
Thank you.
— XRX, Inc. Management"
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