BY AMANDA MACHAMER
FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — The Opelika Public Library hosted its Fiber & Fabric night Monday, June 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event brought residents of all ages together to hone their crafts and socialize.
Since its inception five years ago, the group has expanded beyond the size of its original space. Anna Jones, community relations specialist for the OPL, said the event helps the library reach people with interests beyond reading.
“You know, not everybody loves to read, so we try to offer craft programs, community resources, things like that to get more people in the door that don’t need us for our literary resources,” said Jones.
Fiber & Fabric differs from most craft events hosted at the library, primarily because of its purpose. Guests are not taught how to do crafts, but encouraged to spend the evening working on any current or new projects that they would like to. Crafts ranged from knitting, crochet to weaving.
First-time attendee Megan Shaw said she found the event fun, and said she chose to attend as a way to practice her craft outside of work. Specifically using a new mini loom that she ordered from Etsy.
“I was like ‘I’m going to get in trouble at work’ when I first started this [weaving] because I was so excited when it [mini loom] came in,” said Shaw.
Julia Llanes, a returning member, brought multiple projects with her to the event, including a plush brown sweater and “scarf number 20 and 21.”
“There’s a coat drive, and they bring coats to the library, and we had some scarves to go with the coats,” said Llanes. “Last year, there were tons of hats and very few scarves.”
Many guests at the event were there not only to give back to their local community, but also to other countries. Linda Niswender and her friend, Shannon Duffy, work with Duffy’s church on Operation Christmas Child.
Operation Christmas Child is a nonprofit created through Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, fueled by a mission of sending shoeboxes filled with gifts to children across the world, while also spreading the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
According to Niswender, the church has sent boxes to places like Africa, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and last year, Ukraine.
“A lot of these kids have nothing,” said Niswender. “We’ll send toothbrushes, toys, color books, everyone gets pencils and notebooks, that kind of thing.”
Over the last five years, Fiber & Fabric has become more than a place to catch up on a recent craft, but a community of people who feel a sense of belonging with one another.
“When we’re together, none of us is alone,” Llanes said. “Whatever medical thing we’re going through, this is our village, this is our support system.”
Fiber & Fabric is hosted on the first Monday and third Thursday of every month, with the next meeting scheduled for July 6 at 4:30 p.m.
