Introducing the Joanie Craft Club!

We're launching the Joanie Craft Club - a community-based project we'd love for our UK-based Joanie Gals to get involved with. Read on to learn more and find out how you can request a craft pack!

When developing products, our factories send us samples of fabric, buttons, and trim for us to check and approve to make sure they are of the highest quality and exactly as we want them. After the product has launched, we often no longer need these fabric samples - this means that we're often left with a bundle of novelty buttons and beautiful trims as well as a range of different types of fabrics, many of which feature some of our favourite Joanie prints!

We don’t want these fabric swatches and trims to go to waste, so we’ve put together some Joanie Craft Club packs! Craft Club packs will be free of charge to communities and organisations who can use them to create something magnificent.

Each pack contains larger pieces of fabric, which are great for making bags (or even a top!), as well as smaller pieces which are perfect for collaging or patchwork. You can sew with them on a machine, by hand, or work with staples, glue or tape. You could make a cuddly toy, bunting, a hair scrunchie, a purse… the options are limitless!

At Joanie HQ, our 'rummage boxes' are treasure chests filled with offcuts, test prints, and trims. Prototype samples are often missing a sleeve or a hem, or they've been sliced into during the fitting process, and this means we can no longer sell them or donate them to charity. We decided to find a way of giving these leftovers a new lease of life.
The Joanie Craft Club came about when my little niece and nephew wanted some sewing lessons. In a 'crafternoon' session using our offcuts, they made children's pyjamas and soft toys - all very 'Family Von Trapp,' but they loved making, creating, and learning new skills, just like my mum and grandmother had taught my sister and me when we were their age. Not only that, but it also filled a rainy afternoon (for free!), and it made me think of all the other people out there who might love this too – the people bored in retirement homes or hospitals, those who struggle to pass the time alone, and of the community groups and families who are crying out for supplies.
This is our way of giving a little something back for nothing - something that will brighten someone's day no end. So please, go ahead and nominate the special ones in your lives who would relish the opportunity to create something amazing! We've primped our remnants into fun packs, primed to be posted out for a fun session of crafts – be it cutting and sticking or a full-on sewing bee challenge! We're so looking forward to seeing all the wonderful things that can be made with our leftovers and a little bit of imagination!

Lucy, Joanie Founder

If you know someone who would appreciate a craft pack and use it to create something beautiful, whether that’s a school, retirement community, community group or any other organisation, email [email protected] to nominate them!

We want to create a craft community where people can get creative and share what they make to inspire one another. All we ask in return is that anyone who takes part and receives a pack shares their creations on social media using the hashtag #JoanieCraftClub so we can share what you make with the rest of our Joanie Gals!

Don't use social media? Don't worry! You can also send over any pictures of your creations to [email protected].

To kick off the Joanie Craft Club, we volunteered with two community groups, a primary school craft club and sewing group for Asylum seekers based in Manchester. It was great to see creations come to life first-hand, including a hedgehog, a dress, a heart shaped pillow, and even an outfit for a dog!

We're so excited to see what you make! #JoanieCraftClub

*Joanie Craft Club is available in the UK only.