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): September 22, 2003


                              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 5.  Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

     As disclosed in a press  release dated  September 22, 2003,  Jack W. Busby,
Jr., the President,  Chief Operating  Officer and a Director of Hancock Fabrics,
Inc.,  will retire from all  positions  at the end of the current  fiscal  year,
ending  February  1, 2004.  In  accordance  with the terms of  Hancock  Fabrics'
restricted  stock  plans,  all  restricted  shares  held by Mr.  Busby will vest
immediately upon his retirement.  Accordingly,  the deferred  compensation  that
otherwise  would have been amortized  subsequent to February 1, 2004,  $495,000,
will be expensed over the remainder of this fiscal year.

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
                        September 22, 2003



                                       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)

September 22, 2003


                                       3
<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


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

     99.1        Press release issued by Hancock Fabrics, Inc., dated
                 June 11, 2003




                                       4
<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 99.1

Hancock Fabrics, Inc.                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Corporate Headquarters
3406 West Main Street
Tupelo, MS  38801                                         September 22, 2003


Released by:    Ellen Kennedy
                (662) 842-2834, Ext. 109


            JACK W. BUSBY, JR., HANCOCK'S COO, TO RETIRE AT YEAR END


Hancock  Fabrics,  Inc. (NYSE symbol:  HKF), today announced that Jack W. Busby,
Jr., 60,  President and Chief  Operating  Officer,  will retire from the Company
effective  at the end of the current  fiscal year  ending  February 1, 2004,  as
contemplated  in the Company's  succession  planning  process.  Mr. Busby joined
Hancock Fabrics in 1966 as Store Manager in Gulfport,  Mississippi, was promoted
to  District  Manager  in the  Louisiana  market  in 1970 and was  elected  Vice
President-Regional  Operations  Manager in 1984. He was elected  Executive  Vice
President-Chief  Operating  Officer in 1996, became President of the Company and
joined Hancock's Board of Directors in 1997.

James A. Austin, 49, Executive Vice  President-Operations,  has been named Chief
Operating  Officer  effective  with Mr.  Busby's  retirement.  Mr. Austin joined
Hancock  Fabrics in 2001 with over 20 years of progressive  responsibilities  in
retail  merchandising and marketing,  most recently with Wards,  Tuesday Morning
and Waccamaw Pottery.

Larry G. Kirk,  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer,  said, "It's difficult to
adequately  measure  the  positive  impact  that Jack  Busby has made on Hancock
Fabrics in 37 years of service in a wide range of  responsibilities.  Certainly,
he's been a trusted  friend and advisor to me. Jack and Jamie Austin have worked
closely  over  the  last  two  years  in  effecting  a  smooth   transition   of
responsibility,  and both Jack and I, and our Board of Directors,  are confident
in Jamie's ability to lead our Store Operations,  Merchandising and Distribution
activities."

Hancock Fabrics,  Inc. is a retail and wholesale  merchant of fabric and related
home sewing and decorating  accessories.  The Company operates 432 retail fabric
stores in 42  states,  supplies  various  independent  wholesale  customers  and
operates an internet  store under its two domain  names,  www.hancockfabrics.com
and www.homedecoratingaccents.com.

Released at 4:00 p.m.
Tupelo, MS
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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": "03904637"}, "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): September 22, 2003

                              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 5.  Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

     As disclosed in a press  release dated  September 22, 2003,  Jack W. Busby,
Jr., the President,  Chief Operating  Officer and a Director of Hancock Fabrics,
Inc.,  will retire from all  positions  at the end of the current  fiscal  year,
ending  February  1, 2004.  In  accordance  with the terms of  Hancock  Fabrics'
restricted  stock  plans,  all  restricted  shares  held by Mr.  Busby will vest
immediately upon his retirement.  Accordingly,  the deferred  compensation  that
otherwise  would have been amortized  subsequent to February 1, 2004,  $495,000,
will be expensed over the remainder of this fiscal year.

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
                        September 22, 2003

                                       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)

September 22, 2003

                                       3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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

     99.1        Press release issued by Hancock Fabrics, Inc., dated
                 June 11, 2003

                                       4
Exhibit 99.1

Hancock Fabrics, Inc.                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Corporate Headquarters
3406 West Main Street
Tupelo, MS  38801                                         September 22, 2003

Released by:    Ellen Kennedy
                (662) 842-2834, Ext. 109

            JACK W. BUSBY, JR., HANCOCK'S COO, TO RETIRE AT YEAR END

Hancock  Fabrics,  Inc. (NYSE symbol:  HKF), today announced that Jack W. Busby,
Jr., 60,  President and Chief  Operating  Officer,  will retire from the Company
effective  at the end of the current  fiscal year  ending  February 1, 2004,  as
contemplated  in the Company's  succession  planning  process.  Mr. Busby joined
Hancock Fabrics in 1966 as Store Manager in Gulfport,  Mississippi, was promoted
to  District  Manager  in the  Louisiana  market  in 1970 and was  elected  Vice
President-Regional  Operations  Manager in 1984. He was elected  Executive  Vice
President-Chief  Operating  Officer in 1996, became President of the Company and
joined Hancock's Board of Directors in 1997.

James A. Austin, 49, Executive Vice  President-Operations,  has been named Chief
Operating  Officer  effective  with Mr.  Busby's  retirement.  Mr. Austin joined
Hancock  Fabrics in 2001 with over 20 years of progressive  responsibilities  in
retail  merchandising and marketing,  most recently with Wards,  Tuesday Morning
and Waccamaw Pottery.

Larry G. Kirk,  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer,  said, "It's difficult to
adequately  measure  the  positive  impact  that Jack  Busby has made on Hancock
Fabrics in 37 years of service in a wide range of  responsibilities.  Certainly,
he's been a trusted  friend and advisor to me. Jack and Jamie Austin have worked
closely  over  the  last  two  years  in  effecting  a  smooth   transition   of
responsibility,  and both Jack and I, and our Board of Directors,  are confident
in Jamie's ability to lead our Store Operations,  Merchandising and Distribution
activities."

Hancock Fabrics,  Inc. is a retail and wholesale  merchant of fabric and related
home sewing and decorating  accessories.  The Company operates 432 retail fabric
stores in 42  states,  supplies  various  independent  wholesale  customers  and
operates an internet  store under its two domain  names,  www.hancockfabrics.com
and www.homedecoratingaccents.com.

Released at 4:00 p.m.
Tupelo, MS