Waste to Weave in Textile Art: On Exhibit Now
Don’t throw out that worn-out tee shirt! That stained tie. That moth-eaten sweater. Turn them in to art! That’s what Sleepy Hollow weavers—practiced and new, and some Kendalites, too—did in 2025 in a Community Weave project throughout Sleepy Hollow, creating art from said “trash.” Marilyn Bottjer partnered with Kersten Harries, members of the Sleepy Hollow Arts Collective (SHAC), attracted community members of all ages to make “potholders” out of tee-shirt yarn (tee shirts cut into strips) along with other spent items. Sewn together, they made wonderful wall hangings. Kendalites joining in were Florence Walker, Alice Clague, Meera Srinivason, Carolyn Klinger, Susan Yao, Sally Costa, and Marianne Bloomfeld, all led by Marilyn
Why do all that? Fact: 92 million tons of textile waste are produced each year? Only 12% of textiles are recycled globally, while 57% go to landfills and 25% are incinerated. Why not turn it into art instead? That’s just what the Community Weave project did. And the results are now on exhibit at the Warner Library for the month of March.
Photos by Marilyn Bottjer