photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Merchandise at Lawrence Craft Company is pictured in February 2023.

A Lawrence business is more than doubling the size of its space after recognizing a surprising trend — cross-stitch has cross-over appeal.

The needle and thread craft of cross stitch — long considered the domain of an older generation — has become quite popular with younger women. Now a Lawrence business is moving from its 23rd Street location to a much bigger space on Sixth Street to take advantage of the demand.

Lawrence Craft Company has reached a deal to move its store from 1502 W. 23rd Street into the vacant building that previously housed Jayhawk Pawn and Jewelry at 1804 W. Sixth St. The space — which is across the street from Dollar General and the Casey’s General store, if you are having a hard time picturing the location — will allow Lawrence Craft Company to double the size of its retail space and nearly triple the size of its classroom space.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The former Jayhawk Pawn & Jewelry building on W. Sixth Street, pictured on Feb. 4, 2026, is set to become the new home for Lawrence Craft Company.

Co-owner Amanda Ballmer said it didn’t take long to decide — with her mother and shop co-owner Cindy Herington — how to use the extra space.

“Cross-stitch is a passion of mine and my mom’s,” Ballmer said.

She said the store is “going full bore” into the world of fiber arts, which means the shop will begin stocking cross-stitch patterns, “fancy threads, hand-dyed cloth and everything needed for cross-stitch.”

Currently, the store doesn’t have a cross-stitch department, but rather has focused on a lot of the paper-based crafts, such as journaling, card making and other similar ventures. The new shop will continue to carry all of those items, and offer all of those classes, while the new space will allow for the expansion into cross-stitch supplies and classes.

But some of you may have a question: Why cross-stitch? If you have forgotten, cross-stitch is that craft that often involves a piece of fabric pulled tight by a wooden hoop, and then intricately decorated with colored thread painstakingly applied by hand and needle. The end result may be a wall hanging, or perhaps, a hand towel that often gets labeled as one to look at but not use. (I know of this firsthand. I — and only I — also know where all of our “missing” towels are residing after perhaps becoming a victim of a lapse in judgment.)

photo by: AdobeStock

Cross-stitch products are pictured.

So, again, why cross-stitch? Because it makes more sense than the world does, currently.

“The world is crazy right now,” Ballmer said. “It is a good way to keep your mind occupied with something positive. Plus, the community is fun. It is a good time to just sit and be.”

The idea of cross-stitch being a social activity is one that Lawrence Craft Company plans to promote. It already has embraced that idea with the craft of journaling. The store regularly hosts journaling classes, which are day-long events where crafters come together to learn new techniques but also to just be around people with a shared interest.

As a result, the store’s journaling classes — like one on “junk journaling,” which involves using items that you otherwise would have to throw away — typically are booked solid about two hours after they become available for registration.

“There is something so great about being around like-minded people,” Ballmer said. “It is fun to craft but really fun to craft with friends.”

The store’s current classroom space has a limit of 18 people. The new store will be able to accommodate up to 40 people for most classes.

Many of those classes indeed will be cross-stitch offerings. Ballmer said the craft started becoming popular with younger women as several young artists started developing trendier patterns for cross-stitch work. Traditionally, a lot of cross-stitch patterns had been what aficionados called samplers, which are works like signs that say “Home Sweet Home” or alphabet wall hangings that once were staples of wedding and baby showers.

Younger designers, though, have introduced bright colors, lifelike scenes and a much broader variety of topics to the craft. Now, Ballmer said, a cross-stitch class easily could be a mix of 20-year-olds and 60-year-olds, which is special in its own way.

“It really bridges a gap,” she said.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Classes on how to construct intricate, handmade Christmas cards are popular at Lawrence Craft Company.

One of the best aspects about the classes — whether it be cross-stitch, journaling, card-making, water marbling or some other craft — is that the end result is often more than just some new creation to hang on a wall or display on a shelf.

“If you talk to any crafter, this is their form of therapy, their way of dealing with what is going on,” Ballmer said.

Remodeling work on the new shop space already has begun. Ballmer said the new shop should open on Sixth Street this spring.