Sustainability Practices

It is important to me that I both acknowledge and am transparent about my sustainability practices in regard to my small business. 

When taking commissions, I do my best to use any yarn/art supplies I already own, or to buy secondhand or from a local yarn shop (LYS). When a specific texture, color, or brand is necessary for whatever reason, I will buy my yarn at big box stores like Michaels or Joann.

When making products to sell, I use yarn I already own or buy second-hand. I own a lot of yarn (too much, admittedly), but when I do buy yarn, I buy second-hand and from local yarn stores to avoid buying from big box stores like Michaels or Joann.

 

Buying Second-Hand

In Somerville, MA, there is a secondhand art supply store called "Make & Mend". Make & Mend is a small business selling art and craft supplies (in-store and online) they receive via donation at cheaper prices than you would pay for art supplies if they were brand new. 

In the Durham, NC, there is a place called "The Scrap Exchange". The Scrap Exchange is a thrift-store and creative reuse exchange combination selling second-hand art supplies, found items, office supplies, scrap metal and wood, and more. All of the items in their general warehouse is donated and sorted by their volunteers and employees. 

I have also thrifted yarn that has either never been used or was partially used and forgotten about. 

 

Creative Reuse Centers Nationwide

PSA: This is not a comprehensive list.

The Scrap Exchange (Durham, NC)*

Make & Mend (Somerville, MA)*

SCRAP Baltimore (Baltimore, MD)*

757 Creative Reuse Center (Norfolk, VA)

SCRAP Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)

The Wasteshed (Chicago and Evanston, IL)

SCRAP Portland (Portland, OR)

Austin Creative Reuse (Austin, TX)

SCRAP Richmond (Richmond, VA)

Seattle Recreative (Seattle, WA)

Upcycle (Alexandria, VA)

Big Reuse (Brooklyn, NY)

The Art Resource Center (Tempe, AZ)

 

Local Yarn Shops I've Been To

NORTH CAROLINA

- Great Yarns (Raleigh, NC)*

- Warm 'N Fuzzy (Cary, NC)*

- Unwound (Blowing Rock, NC)*

- Purl's Yarn Emporium (Asheville, NC)***

- Asheville NC Home Crafts (Asheville, NC)*

- Local Cloth (Asheville, NC)**

- Earth Guild (Asheville, NC)**

NEW YORK CITY, NY

Downtown Yarns (East Village)***

BOSTON, MA

Boston Fiber Company (SoWa)***

 

*Visited by me

**includes fiber shops

***LGBTQ+ owned and operated