Weave Got the Best Community Around!
FABSCRAP's February Workshop Recap
*Skip to bottom for step-by-step directions & visuals.
To be honest, I worried that our first workshop last month was a fluke.
I mean, on a cold, snowy January night, dozens of people made the trek to FABSCRAP’s warehouse—bringing an energy, excitement, and sense of community I could have only dreamed of.
So as the first Monday of this month rolled around, anxiety got the best of me—was that just first-time magic? Has the “newness” worn off? What would the evening feel like?
Those anxieties quickly disappeared as people started showing up—some familiar faces, some brand new, friends, an out-of-towner (Georgia to be exact!), people who had never even been to FABSCRAP before, and then… someone rollerbladed into the warehouse.
We’re back baby - and we never left!
What was I thinking? Of course a FABSCRAP workshop was going to have amazing energy. The room was bursting with creativity, joy, and the kind of community that makes this space so special.
If you know, you know—FABSCRAP’s energy is unmatched. We have the best community in the world, from first-time crafters to luxury brands, students to interior designers, sustainable New Yorkers, and beyond. I truly apologize for doubting ya’ll and promise it’ll never happen again!
So here’s a peek into that evening & I hope to see ya’ll at Craft Night next week : )
Let’s set the scene
Music: As requested by our amazing instructor, Hekima, Speakerboxxx / The Love Below by Outkast was jamming as attendees came in before the workshop to shop.
We open our shop an hour before workshops and craft nights, btw!
Once the workshop started, however, we did play fun love songs because… Valentine’s Day ❤️
Instructor: Hekima Hapa! Not only is she a fashion designer at Harriet's by Hekima, specializing in contemporary, ready-to-wear African fashion, and author, but the founder of Black Girls Sew! A NYC nonprofit that offers classes, workshops and a summer camp to teach children and adults how to participate in sustainable fashion. Be sure to check out her book and two locations in Brooklyn!
Shopping: I just want to make it known that our shop is open 5-6p on Workshop & Craft Night days! That means the first Monday and second Tuesday of the month you can come shop 5-6p (days our shop isn’t even open - we got you)!
Prep: This was all hands on deck. Not only did we develop another Fabric Journal (experts below), but used FAB materials to make looms, yarn, and strips of fabric for each participant! For you weavers out there - we used what we had to make the warp and the weft materials.
LOOM: FABSCRAP transformed the cardboard boxes that we receive, filled with our clients' textile waste, into 16x16 inch looms. Then, we created 1 inch notches at the top and bottom to secure the warp, aka the lengthwise threads in a fabric. See visual below!
WARP: Attendees could choose from a beautiful red yarn or white lace.
WEFT: We cut 600 strips of fabric (1x20 inch) from our amazing array of deadstock fabric! TBH, this process took a long time but it was SO fun to pick the colors and fabrics! Also, using a rotary cutter over and over again is truly a relaxing and satisfying process.
Having FOMO? Grab a ticket for our next workshop on Knits!
Ok, so what the heck am I talking about?
Reminder - fiber is spun into yarn that is then woven or knit into fabric.
We’re talking about woven fabrics!
Weaving is the process of combining warp and weft components to make a woven fabric.
Here are some facts, identifiers, characteristics, and more:
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Better Together Substack to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.