<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-06</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812906</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANCOCK FABRICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HKFI.PK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901719</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERG CARL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE FASHION WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALDWYN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>38824</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2717000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Berg &amp; Berg Enterprises, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.12</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-08-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Warrants to purchase common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9120</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Lightpointe Communications, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Owned 35% by Carl E. Berg and 65% by 1981 Kara Ann Berg Trust, Clyde Berg, Trustee.  Mr. Berg is the managing member of Berg &amp; Berg Enterprises, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase 400 shares of common stock at $1.12 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Owned 100% by West Coast Venture Capital, LLC which is 100% owned by Carl E. Berg</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert W. Driskell, by Power of Attorney for Carl E. Berg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
