Ann Jefferson, coordinator of the Sustainable Fabric Workshop, does not really need any more fabric donations. Jefferson has plenty of fabric scraps waiting to be upcycled or repurposed.
The Sustainable Fabric Workshop is a project of the Sustainable Future Center in Vestal. “Everyone should have a fabric exchange. Bring what you can’t use and take home what you can use,” Jefferson said.
The Sustainable Fabric Workshop shifted from Sustainable Future Center to the South Knoxville Community Center at 522 Maryville Pike in January and is open 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The new space at the community center means that Jefferson can organize and display the clean fabric scraps, notions, zippers, threads, patterns and quilting books. The Sustainable Fabric Workshop also provides a workspace that includes use of sewing machines, irons and a quilt planning wall.
“Maybe I should start charging for it, because people don’t trust ‘free’,” joked Jefferson. “The good thing about being here at the community center is that people will pass by for whatever reason, see us and come in and look around. We want to be a part of the community.”
The Sustainable Fabric Workshop has three elements to its mission.
“First, reducing trash and keeping fabric that is perfectly good out of the landfill,” Jefferson said.
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“Second is to make stuff that we need, from household goods to clothing, using fabric that is already existing. Third, is to have fun doing it.
“There is so much to get organized,” Jefferson said. “We have cotton and cotton-blend and synthetics. We just had a big donation of faux suede in various colors. We have silk and felt, too.”
In addition to sharing their resources, Jefferson said their group hopes to share their skills. “We have had classes, but during COVID it has been hard to get enough people to form a class,” she said. “My idea is to have one day a week where you can come in and have an expert help sort out a technical problem on your project.”
Jefferson does most of the heavy lifting at the Sustainable Fabric Workshop. “I want to form a core group of three or four people who will commit to a day a week here,” she said. “We are always looking for more members.”
Everyone is welcome to bring their own project and materials to work on while they meet new friends. There are also plenty of incomplete projects ready to take over.
“A lot of the yarn is half-finished sweaters that need to be unraveled and rewound,” Jefferson said. “They are waiting for someone to fall in love with the color and do something new. We have unfinished quilt tops, too.”
The workshop room also has lots of crochet hooks, quilting books for design inspiration, clothing patterns and knitting needles available to use.
“The reason I am here is therapeutic,” said Jean Anyian, while she worked on her current crochet project. “I am a senior and if I stay in the house I would never come out. I enjoy meeting others and learning.”
Jefferson said her central message is to come to the Sustainable Fabric Workshop first, before going to the craft store.
“At least try to use already existing fabrics,” she said. “We have such a mindset for getting new stuff, and it is easier. Here you may have to work around a faded area or a small hole. As we change to a more upcycling mindset, we will begin to use what is already here.”
The Sustainable Fabric Workshop is collecting African and African-style fabrics including batiks, wax prints and any large-design bold colored prints that could be combined into a community quilt project.
Follow Sustainable Fabric Workshop on Facebook for upcoming events.
