GREENFIELD – Bundles of bobbles and yards of yarn have found a new temporary home at the Hancock County Public Library, but they could make their way into your craft closet too.
The HCPL is hosting its first Craft Swap this month, a new effort to let the community drop off unwanted items and come back later for something new to try.
Piggybacking off the popular Puzzle Swap, the Craft Swap lets anyone from Hancock County bring supplies into the Greenfield or New Palestine libraries now through Monday.
Those who bring in items will be given a ticket to come back Aug. 25 to browse through all of the supplies and take home whatever they want. Then, on Aug. 26, the swap is open to anyone in the community. The swap is happening at both library locations, in Greenfield and New Palestine.
Whatever is left will go to the HCPL for programs or other nonprofit charities.
“I want anyone in the community that wants to start crafting to be able to pick up materials,” said Kayanna Turner, HCPL librarian who came up with the idea.
Turner is a self-described “craft jumper” who likes to try one thing after another to see what’s her favorite. From knitting to cross stitch to jewelry, Turner has dabbled in quite a bit, and she has items she’d like out of her home.
Surely, she thought, there are others in the community just like her that are willing to bring new or gently used supplies to the library for a swap.
“I was very nervous we wouldn’t get anything, but on the first day we got more than I thought we’d get total,” she said.
Four tubs of yarn were the first donation. Ever since, people have been dropping off labeled boxes and bags for Turner to store. She’ll set out all of the items in the community rooms of both libraries, organized by category.
Florals, Scrabble tiles, thread, crayons and even empty bobbins have been making their way into the HCPL.
Kyle Turpin, marketing manager for the HCPL, said he thought Turner’s idea was a great one. People love free things; while the library has been loaning books, movies and music for years, Turpin said it’s also beneficial to use the library as a free place to trade pastimes.
“You either buy too much or you lose interest in what you’re doing,” Turpin said of leftover craft supplies.
When the community has finished looking through the supplies, librarians will see if the HCPL can use anything for children’s or adult programming. Crafternoon Club is a monthly adult group for people to connect and share hobbies together. Turner leads the group and will begin having organized crafts available at the event. Decorate paper fans Aug. 20, for example, or try air dry clay in September.
Those who want to learn more about programs at the HCPL can visit hcplibrary.org or call 317- 462-5141. To sign up for a newsletter with updates on arts and crafts programming, visit hcplibrary.org/online/enewsletter.asp. The central library is located at 900 W. McKenzie Road, Greenfield; the Sugar Creek branch is at 5731 W. U.S. 52, New Palestine.
