The Community Center opened the doors to its new fiber arts room recently and the volunteers working on projects are delighted with the change.

“The noise level is better, the lighting is better and we have room for more people and storage,” said Carol Cragin who assists the knitters.

Angel Tibbetts Ames, Bobbie Reed, Grace Morgan and Confetti Winslow, all members of the sewing group “Just Sew,” agree.

They said they now have the space to lay out quilts, a work table that is the perfect height and heavy duty tables for the sewing machines. And that extra space was badly needed. Before the new room opened, each group shared a much smaller space used by other classes during the week. With limited storage, the groups had to arrange to transport and set up their supplies every week.

The knitters finally have adequate storage for their needles, yarn, patterns and finished items and a comfortable spot to work on their projects.

For the stitchers, it means an end to lugging and setting up every week. “They had to bring their sewing machines from home each Friday for class, set up the back room with ironing boards, cutting tables and carry the fabric they needed from the kitchen area,” Jane Good, center director, told the Boothbay Register.

“Now all they have to do is unlock the door and go to town. Everything is all set up and ready to go for them.”

The professional look of the room is the result of a generous gift from Ames, who was downsizing and loaned the tables and fabric to the center. Morgan and Reed and others added to the items and the room now resembles a retail fabric store.

The groups don’t take attendance each week, but estimate that more than 50 people have passed through their classes. More sewing and knitting classes will come. And weaving is slated to begin when the center repairs a loom that was gifted to it.

Cragin hopes to add an evening knitting group starting this fall. Later this summer, the sewing group will welcome the first two members of a special program that will teach area junior high students how to sew.

What does all of this activity mean to the Boothbay region? 

Most of the fiber arts projects are donated to benefit the community at large. The list is long, and these include: “Preemie” quilts for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, warm winter scarves, hats and mittens for neighbors in need, scarves for clients of New Hope for Women, “twiddle” muffs for dementia patients, quilts for puppies and kittens at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Edgecomb, quilted gifts baskets filled with personal items for the residents at Safe Havens at St. Andrews Village.

Some knitted and sewn projects are sold to keep the center open. Last year, the sewing, knitting, crocheting and crafting groups donated finished projects which raised $1,729 toward the center’s operation.

All fiber arts groups welcome new members and donations of clean knitting, sewing and crocheting supplies, including patterns. To donate or to join, call the center at 633-9876.