Michaels’ new “Knit & Sew Shop” sounds like it should be a win for sewists, but after I went to see it in person (at two different stores here in Houston), I left more frustrated than excited. The West Lane store—supposedly the top-selling store in the city—was the biggest disappointment: basically licensed character cottons and a little cheap Halloween costuming fabric, and that was it. The Westheimer & Hillcroft store looked more organized and gave me a tiny bit of optimism, but even there it was still way more knit than sew, with a lot of empty space where notions “might” go. In this livestream I break down what I think is the real problem: Michaels is trying to capitalize on Joann’s collapse without actually understanding what garment sewers need. I talk about the lack of true apparel fabric, the limited notions (including no YKK zippers), and how the online fabric listings are missing basic details like fabric weight and good photos of drape. My takeaway is simple: this rollout feels like the same hubris that helped sink other big-box fabric options—lots of marketing, not enough substance—so I’d rather plan ahead and order from places that actually know fabric (and yes, I’m still dreaming of a Mood in Houston).