http://www.joann.com/joann/home/home.jsp lets you look directly at their current flyers, without killing trees. Somewhere in there is a signup for their email newsletter, which also includes printable coupons (some only useable online, but most okay both online and in local stores.)

(If you do subscribe to the mailers, you can use the web-distributed coupon as well as the print coupon, they have different bar codes)

Hancocks has similar deal: email newsletter, and online display of the monthly flyers at http://www.hancockfabrics.com/index.htm

I keep a list of the patterns I'm interested in, by manufacturer, and scoop up several at a time when they do on sale.

cheers