Post Helene Help for Asheville area artists

The Big Fiber Giveaway was a gift of unmeasurable love and selflessness started by folks in Rhinebeck, NY and New England to support the artists of Local Cloth Inc. and other artists of Western North Carolina whose work was decimated by water, wind, and flooding by the hurricane Helene. The Local Cloth studio with store, resident artists, teaching center, and dye studio was wiped out.  If you haven't seen the pictures on national and international news, then check out our Instagram, Facebook, and blog postings.

BEFORE THE event

Mary Jeanne Packer of Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill kicked off what was to become the Big Fiber Giveaway at the Folk Art Center in Asheville by gathering donations from all over New England, including at Rhinebeck, NY.  Rhinebeck is the location of the Annual Sheep and Wool Festival in October. 

The NY group collected eight pallets of fiber, fabric, unfinished objects/projects (UFOs), and tools.  Donna Farrow and her husband (former owner of BM Yarn Shop) attracted and brought yarn from former customers, friends and vendors and brought an RV + Trailer full of donations.   

Local fiber artists brought yarn, fleece, equipment and tools they no longer needed to give away. And 2 friends of Judi Jetson drove here from Colorado to deliver a loom and spinning wheel.

Above: the fiber truck.  Below: Peggy Newell the main driver of the Big Fiber Giveaway effort by Local Cloth and Jerry the driver of the big truck that brought it down to the Folk Art Center.

Volunteers unloaded the truck, what a job! Lucky it was a beautiful day even though it was November.

An estimated 5,000 pounds of yarn and fabric which included were donated including an estimated 10,000 skeins of yarn. There were 32 feet of tables containing fabric, cone yarn, tools, sewing machines and weaving tools.  Volunteers from Local Cloth numbered 58 during the entire set up to break down and clean up at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  

during the event

About 500 people came over 3 days to find replacement for their lost treasures and they went away joyful. There was top quality yarn!  Those who received items at the Big Fiber Giveaway went away amazed, heartened, and ready to create new works. Local Cloth collected and re-distributed spinning wheels, looms, drum carders, scissors, sewing machines, warping tools embroidery hoops and thread.

AFTer the event

Only 10 boxes of yarn and knitting needles were left at the end of the day on Sunday.  Monday these materials were delivered to the River Arts District (RAD) where they are being given to artists whose studios were damaged.

Happy Results

Many artists and vendors received materials to boost their recovery and replacement of items lost in the flood and Donations from the Big Fiber Giveaway totaled nearly $6,000!  

Local Cloth, Inc, a non-profit to promote the local fiber economy in areas surrounding Asheville, NC.