I’m doing just a short post today to bring everyone up-to-date on problems relating to continued disruptions in the supply chain. I’m afraid it is not good news.
Finishing – Finishing lead times are all over the place. Some finishers are not giving holiday deadlines at all. others have given dates ranging from April 15 to September 14 for various Christmas items. Other shops have no deadlines in place yet, or have rolling deadlines. Your best bet is to call your shop for its deadlines.
Canvas – blank 18-mesh mono canvas has been in short supply in the US for over a year. If your local shop is out of blank canvas and you need some for a project, check eBay and Etsy. Both sites often have blank canvas for sale. Other mesh sizes are easier to find.
Hand-painted Canvases – Although many canvases can take six months to appear, this situation is improving. Some designers are letting you know what canvases are in stock on their websites. Others are painting their own canvases instead of using services. If you shop online, many shops will tell you if a canvas is in stock or needs to be ordered. Some shops are requiring non-refundable deposits on ordered canvasses.
Books – paper shortages are delaying some books. For example, Whimsical Stitches, volume 3 was supposed to be out in late January. It is still delayed.
Threads – The thread situation is the longest in some cases. Although some manufacturers are getting caught up, others, especially small hand-dyers, continue to have problems. When shops get thread shipments, they are partial shipments and some threads and colors continue to be in short supply. Delays for getting threads can be 18 months or more.
This is a situation where you have some wiggle room. First, if you know you will need a thread anytime in the next year, order it now. Second, if you can, shop your stash. Finally, be flexible. Be willing to substitute threads for each other. I also look for threads on eBay and Etsy with some success.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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