A New Little Library Knit Into Our Community

How Erika Flory and the Little Free Fiber Library share a passion in Queen Village

By Shelby Fisk

The next time you are walking on the 200 block of Fitzwater Street, keep your eye tracked to the south side and you’ll be sure to find italong a wrought iron fence and above a beige brick wall sits the “Little Free Fiber Library.” Curious kids might find it first, as the tan box with a clear door can be packed with colorful yarn, knitting supplies, and tutorials for knitters of any level. Either way, Erika Flory hopes you’ll stop and take in this new community concept.

At first glance, it may look familiar, as it’smodeledafter LittleFreeLibraries;community boxes scattered throughout the city’s parks and public places akin to big bird houses. They invite people to take a book or leave a book for any reading level, toddlers to adults. Surrounding Queen Village, you can find a Little Free Library at George W. Nebinger School, Cianfrani Park, and Staar Garden Playground. The Little Free Fiber Library, however, is the first of its kind in our area.

The idea for opening a Fiber Library in Queen Village came to Flory after she and her husband Michael Hauptman, (Emeritus Director of QVNA), visited the yarn shop Wild Hand, in Mt. Airy. Seeing a Fiber Library outside the store’s entrance caught Flory’s eye.

“I thought it would be nice for people in Queen Village to have their own place to share yarn, tools, and instructional books. Many fiber-oriented people tend to collect yarn and this is a good way to share the excess, especially if you’re talking about just one or two skeins,” said Flory.

Flory is obviously passionate about fiber. She’s the CFO (chief fiber officer) of Liverpool Yarns, a company she created that specializes in 100% Shetland yarn which is ethically sourced and locally spun. She also sells her own knitting patterns on Ravelry, a community social networking site for knitters.

“I’ve been knitting pretty much all my life, having been taught by my grand- mother when I was maybe seven or eight years old. Once I mastered the basics, I haven’t stopped,” Flory explained.

Thankfully, a passion for creating things is a shared interest for Flory and her architect husband. “We walked through Cianfrani Park, where there’s a Little Library, and Micheal looked at and said ‘I can do that.’” So in their basement workshop, Hauptman did just that – designing and building the box after taking in local examples. Flory is elated with her husband’s work of art, and together, they made the Little Free Fiber Library a reality.

The plywood box, with a picture frame for a door, opened and became ready for sharing in the Fall of 2022 and it’s been a success ever since.

“It was really exciting the first time I came out and it was empty…in a day!” For people to refill the library, “it took maybe a week,” said Flory.

While most donations are anonymous, Flory enjoys the occasional conversations amongst fellow knitters as they donate or peruse the current offerings of yarn. But visit often because any offerings are “here today, and gone tomorrow!”

Flory and Hauptman hope the box and concept of facilitating a common interest for knitting neighbors will continue to be an asset, bringing something unique and wonderful to a neighborhood their family has loved for over 35 years.

“Making things with yarn is an integral part of my life and brings me joy, and I’m pleased that the Little Free Fiber Library is getting good use,” said Flory.

Remember, leave what you can’t use, take what you need, and enjoy creating with The Little Free Fiber Library! ■

Want to start a Little Free Library of your own?

https://littlefreelibrary.org/ has information on how to start a library plus locations of existing ones. If you’d like to create a passion project of your own, visit Flory’s library to get inspired!

Connect with Erika Flory on Instagram @erikanits

Learn more about the Little Fiber Library by contacting littlefiberlibrary@ gmail.com