I agree, Pam, my local Walmart has a totally worthless cross-stitch section way back in one corner of the store. It's not even a full aisle. They don't have a good selection of floss colors, nor do they have anything but 14ct white Aida. No patterns, no hoops, no scissors, no Q-Snaps, they do have needles, no charms, no nothing! There are no local cross-stitch stores around here, so if I can't find what I need at JoAnn Fabrics or Michaels, I have to order online. I'm willing to pay the shipping just to get what I want.

I think in Wal-Mart's attempt to have a little of everything, all they have accomplished is a whole lot of nothing! I'm really disappointed that they are converting more of their clothing to "house" brands. I at least had confidence in Lee, Rider, Hanes, etc.😕

I don’t even bother going to Walmart for the exact reasons you and Pamelastine said. I’m lucky to have an A.C. Moore and Michael’s not too far from home. For a real, honest-to-goodness, brick-and-mortar store specializing in just Counted cross stitching I would have to drive 11/2 hours to get there. Not worth the time, the gas money, etc. I just purchase what I need and Really want on-line....that could be why Walmart is not offering much in cross stitch supplies anymore; a lot of cross stitchers probably purchase their patterns, floss, needles, and fabrics on line.

I did not know that they were going to "house" brands. They may see less of me than they do now. Sometimes I can go to Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Braum's (for groceries) and avoid them altogether. The only reason that I went today was for a prescription. Pam

In fact, I purchase ALL (100%) of my Counted cross stitch fabrics on-line...probably 98% of my charts come from on-line purchasing and 90% for needles and framing equipment.

I’ll take a wild guess that those clothing ‘house brands” are from foreign manufacturers...in fact I’m surprised to see Sears stores still open....and J.C. Penney (I read somewhere) is having financial difficulties...

Not place to go here , either! Neither is Jo-Ann's Fabrics, either. Nor are lots of other brick and mortar stores. Now, I use the internet, here at ECS, only one small order (okay, it was one skein of floss so large, I told them to take their time because I am a cross stitch maniac. It was here in two days!!!

Pam, I have a Michael's, Joann's and Hobby Lobby 10 minutes from my house. I would be glad to go shopping for you and send you what you need. Sue

Thanks, Sue. Don't be surprised if I take you up on it. I have to drive a 70 mile round trip to get to a Hobby Lobby to purchase anything cross stitch. They don't even have any type of fabric store. We were lucky that they put that store over in Paris, TX. Otherwise it was a 5 hour round trip to another town in Texas. No brick and mortar stores around either. Sigh. Pam

My local Walmart has decreased not only the cross stitch section to minimalist (like described by others above) but many other departments storewide. Finding what you want at most local stores has become a chore. They all push ordering from them online, but this includes ever increasing shipping costs that we have to pay, having to wait on the mail, puts their brick and mortar stores out of business and their local employees out of work. Doesn't make much sense if you ask me. Then they wonder why their brick and mortar stores are failing with so little inventory in the store to supply what people need when they run out locally to go and pick up an item. It's very frustrating to run out, drive 15 minutes or more to their stores, and not be able to find what you are looking to purchase anymore because inventory is being decreased so significantly. There are some things I don't want to have to wait numerous days to receive and like to see the quality of what I'm buying. This includes cross stitch fabric. The colors on the monitor are so extremely far off from what you receive and most sellers don't list the comparative DMC floss color to the fabric, so basically you're guessing. I have bought expensive fabric for certain projects and had to order again, or settle for a less than appealing alternative.