Last week I visited Common Thread, a weaving classroom and studio in downtown Sanford, NC. It’s at the corner of Horner and Carthage streets, open 9:30 am – 1:30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and perhaps at other times by appointment. Call 919 774-7542 for more information.
Common Thread is home to about a dozen Lerclerc (and other) looms, and a huge inventory of donated fabric and weaving fiber. Weavers in the studio make a variety of tote bags, placemats, and other handwoven products which are then sold to support a number of non-profits in the surrounding area.
Much of the warp they use starts in local carpet companies, who donate the leftover cone ends to the studio. Carpet factories can’t use 10 or 20 yards of warp cost-effectively, but that could warp a fair percentage of a loom for a tote bag project. When the cones are completely empty, Common Thread sends the cardboard tubes back. The tubes are reloaded with warp and sent back to the carpet factory, completing the re-use cycle.
At this time, the studio does not have its own website, so call during business hours if you want to know more about classes or products. You can also find their products at craft fairs in the area. They are open 9:30 am – 1:30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and perhaps at other times by appointment. Call 919 774-7542.
