Can we talk about how spring cleaning sometimes… becomes late-summer-I’ll-get-to-it-eventually cleaning? 
If you’re anything like me, the yarn piles multiply when you’re not looking and suddenly your stash is looking less like “organized inspiration” and more like “what even is this?”

But here’s the thing: summer is the perfect time to clean house. And not just for yourself… but for your community, too.

 Whether you’ve got unloved skeins, extra needles, or just a pattern book that deserves a second life why not donate it to a Free Fibre Library near you?

If you’ve been following along over the years, you might know that we dreamed out loud about a network of community-based fibre libraries. And guess what? That little idea – born here online has become a beautiful real-life movement.

Free Fibre Library in Olympic Village (@adoptaplantyvr)

The concept of a fibre box is similar to the little libraries you might see sprinkled throughout your neighbourhood. These libraries are home to used books, and encourage families to exchange ones they have already read, with a new and exciting book that someone else has left in the box. Fibre boxes are similar, only they aren’t stocked with books, they are stocked with knitting supplies. Can you imagine a super cool box near you stocked with fun yarn, needles, and pattern books to inspire a new and amazing project? Sounds perfect, right?

Free Fibre Library in North Vancouver (@fibre.seed.cabinet)

People have been excited to make these happen and have offered up their woodworking talents, grants writing skills, and extra yarn that’s been sitting on the shelf just waiting to be turned into something amazing. After pooling together these resources, Baaad Anna’s has worked with many volunteers to create a freesource Little Fibre Library RESOURCE page to share with any other community that wants to build fibre boxes of their own.

Want to find a Fibre Library. Check our handy map! 

Lastly, you would think it would be challenging to keep it stocked and maintained. But we are here to help with that as well! Anyone who wants to host a neighbourhood Fibre Library can reach out and we will put together a starter pack of yarn, needles and patterns to get your library launched from our in-house Upcycling Program. And once it is started it is sure to be a place of unburdening of underloved skeins and duplicate notions from community crafters!

Weather-proofed and labelled as ‘Donated by friends of Baaad Anna’s’; ready to go out into the community from our Upcycling Program.

Not seeing a Fibre Library pin on the map in your hood? We would love to work with anyone else in the Lower Mainland that wants to add their skills, time or host another Little Fibre Library. Email us at baaadannas@gmail.com if you want to share your love of fibre and creativity (and accessibility) with your community. You don’t have to do it all, as we aim to connect resources, interest and skills throughout our neighbourhoods to create a sweet, sweet network fibre love!