UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 17, 2004


                              HANCOCK FABRICS, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


                         Commission File Number 1 - 9482

          Delaware                                           64-0740905
  (State or other jurisdiction                           (I. R. S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

  3406 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS                             38801
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)


               Registrant's telephone number, including area code
                                 (662) 842-2834

<PAGE>


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

         (c)     Exhibits:

           Exhibit
            Number      Description
         -------------  --------------------------------------------------------

             99.1       Press release issued by Hancock Fabrics, Inc., dated
                        August 17, 2004









                                       2
<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                       HANCOCK FABRICS, INC.
                                                           (Registrant)

                                                       By:  /s/ Bruce D. Smith
                                                           ---------------------
                                                             Bruce D. Smith

                                                       Senior Vice President and
                                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                                       (Principal Financial and
                                                          Accounting Officer)

August 17, 2004







                                       3
<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


   Exhibit
    Number       Description
---------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------

     99.1        Press release issued by Hancock Fabrics, Inc., dated
                 August 17, 2004





















                                       4
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HANCOCK FABRICS INC", "cik": "0000812906", "assigned-sic": "5940", "irs-number": "640740905", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0129"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-09482", "film-number": "04983531"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3406 W MAIN ST", "city": "TUPELO", "state": "MS", "zip": "38803", "phone": "6018422834"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 2400", "city": "TUPELO", "state": "MS", "zip": "38803-2400"}}
UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 17, 2004

                              HANCOCK FABRICS, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                         Commission File Number 1 - 9482

          Delaware                                           64-0740905
  (State or other jurisdiction                           (I. R. S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

  3406 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS                             38801
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

               Registrant's telephone number, including area code
                                 (662) 842-2834
Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

         (c)     Exhibits:

           Exhibit
            Number      Description
         -------------  --------------------------------------------------------

             99.1       Press release issued by Hancock Fabrics, Inc., dated
                        August 17, 2004

                                       2
SIGNATURE

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                       HANCOCK FABRICS, INC.
                                                           (Registrant)

                                                       By:  /s/ Bruce D. Smith
                                                           ---------------------
                                                             Bruce D. Smith

                                                       Senior Vice President and
                                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                                       (Principal Financial and
                                                          Accounting Officer)

August 17, 2004

                                       3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

   Exhibit
    Number       Description
---------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------

     99.1        Press release issued by Hancock Fabrics, Inc., dated
                 August 17, 2004

                                       4