Yearning for yarn? Upcoming library sale has you covered
From left to right, Louise Paolella, Harriet Green and Maureen Cunningham measure and sort fabric. Photos by Sue Jackson
Jane Haupt sorts through a growing mountain of fabrics.
Donna Fox-Rubin categorizes and prices yarns.
From left to right, Louise Paolella, Harriet Green and Maureen Cunningham measure and sort fabric. Photos by Sue Jackson
Jane Haupt sorts through a growing mountain of fabrics.
Donna Fox-Rubin categorizes and prices yarns.
Hundreds of skeins of yarn surrounded volunteers at the Wareham Free Library.
They sat on the floor, classifying zippers, snaps, quilting rulers and hoops and labeling, bagging and pricing yarn. Knitting needles, notions and pattern pamphlets line the room.
“An entire room is devoted to yarns,” said Wareham Stitch-n-B*tch, or S&B, member Stacey Christi-Terrio, “ranging from cotton, bamboo, acrylic, blends, wool to novelty varieties. Of special interest is a large amount of wool rug braiding supplies.”
These were part of the preparations for the Friends of the Wareham Free Library’s second Fabric, Yarn & Notions Sale.
Over the past several months, donations have been delivered in bags and boxes of all sizes to be sorted, measured and priced before the early October sale.
Visitors can buy yarn by the skein and fabric by the yard, or fill a bag with partial skeins and fabric scraps. “We will also have notions, kits, books, patterns, other crafts and at least a few sewing machines, all priced to sell,” S&B member Amanda Cobb said.
Sewers will also have plenty of options. Christi-Terrio said they will offer quilting, cottons, apparel fabrics and décor items like vinyls and sailcloth.
Managing the dozens of donated bins and bags full of fabric has been a logistical challenge, but these volunteers know what they are doing. Large pieces of fabric are measured, then separated into categories such as cottons, blends, silks, fleece, flannel and upholstery. Pieces that measure under a yard are likewise sorted as scraps, some that may be used for “fussy cutting” quilting motifs.
Cobb said the first fundraiser of this kind, held in 2024, “was a huge success and provided much needed support” to the library’s programs. “We are really proud of all our volunteers as well as donors. The 2024 fundraiser collected thousands of dollars. We’re looking forward to beating that number this year,” she said.
The sale will take place at the Spinney Branch of the Wareham Free Library at 259 Onset Ave. in Onset, on Friday, Oct. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The volunteers encourage visitors to park at the Hynes Lot across from the Leonard C Lopes Memorial Park or take the Circuit Shuttle, which starts running at noon. She requests shoppers to bring their own tote bags for their paid purchases.
