The Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) is preparing to host its inaugural Fiber Fest at the Warrensville Heights Branch’s Innovation Center this Saturday, June 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., marking a new chapter in CCPL's extensive community programming.

Sew 4 Service members.The Warrensville Heights Branch is the natural choice for the event, with a textiles-focused theme. It's the perfect space for anyone interested in designing and creating apparel, 3D printing, embroidery, and quilting. Users are responsible for bringing or purchasing consumable materials such as fabric and thread.

The Fiber Fest event, developed with nonprofit Sew4Service, a community of service-minded creative people who sew, quilt, crochet, and knit, offers something for everyone interested in fiber arts—from beginners to seasoned crafters.

According to Angeline James, CCPL’s adult programming specialist, the timing is perfect for the free event on Saturday, June 13, featuring “fiber-tastic fun and creativity” with demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

"This is the first time that we are hosting Fiber Fest," James explains, noting that the library has been working with Sew4Service for several years, hosting individual fiber arts classes.

Plans for Fiber Fest gained momentum when Sew4Service received a $5,000 2026 project support grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) to help fund programming at CCPL’s Warrensville Heights Branch.

CCPL's Garfield Heights branch Innovation Center."[Sew4Service] received a grant last year through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture… and they proposed the idea of Fiber Fest,” says CCPL’s James. “They wanted to do it at the Warrensville location because we have a Innovation Center with a makerspace that is fiber textile themed.”

James says the branch has had a long-standing quilt group and a knitting group that meet at the Warrensville branch.

“A lot of fiber artists are really connected in the community of Warrensville,” James notes. “So when we built the Innovation Center we gave it a textile focus.”

James points to a broader cultural trend that is driving interest in activities like fiber arts.

"There's been a big return to the more analog activities—like fewer screens, more touching," she says, explaining that events like Fiber Fest resonate with community members who are seeking more tactile, meditative experiences.

What to expect
The daylong festival will feature activities, demonstrations, and workshops designed for every skill level.

Creating unique textile art at Fiber Fest."Anyone who has an interest in creativity, anyone who is interested in learning more about fiber arts—whether you're just thinking of dabbling in fiber art, or your grandmother taught you to knit when you were five years old, or quilting is something you picked up during the pandemic in 2020—there’s going to be a little bit of everything for everyone."

The “something for everyone” includes everything from a vendor area to craft-making, and even a sheep-shearing demonstration.

Sheep shearing
Among the festival’s most unusual demonstrations will be live sheep shearing, which James says she expects to draw plenty of interest. “Presenters will show how you shear a sheep and then talk about what they do with that wool,” James explains. “They show what the wool is in its like natural form and they talk about how they clean it up and work it so then it—they will share how it goes from sheep to strand.”

The inaugural Cuyahoga County Public Library's Fiber Fest will be held at the Warrensville Heights Innovation Center on Sauturday, June 13.Hands-on classes: Although many of the smaller capacity workshops have already filled up, James says participants should not give up hope. "It looks like a lot of the hands-on classes are full already with a waiting list,” she admits. “But we always encourage folks to get on the waiting list. And a lot of the demonstrations are still open."

Innovation Center showcase: The Warrensville branch's textile-focused Innovation Center will be on full display, featuring sewing machines, a long-arm quilter, an embroidery machine, quilting equipment, and other tools. “Lots, lots, and lots of textile stuff," says James.

Sit and Stitch room: For those looking for a more relaxed experience, there will be "a sit and stitch room,” says James, “for when you just want to take a break and connect with other knitters and crocheters, embroiderers, needle crafters."

Vendor area: The vendor room will have different organizations, nonprofits, and local stores that James teases guests “may have never heard of before."

Make and take crafts: For beginners, the stitch room will feature make-and-take crafts, says James. “There's a start-and-finish craft that you can take, do there, or [start it and] take it with you."
Diverse class offerings
Fiber Fest spans both traditional and modern approaches to fiber arts. James highlights several specific offerings, including classes on upcycling, where participants learn about "using something and turning it into something else instead of throwing it away," says James.

A representative of Sew 4 Service.Organizers are also highlighting slow stitching, which James says “appeals to folks who are trying to be more analog," says James. “Slow stitching is more of the meditative process of creating designs with fabric and thread—learning simple embroidery and sewing techniques to create fabric, fabric collages.

“It’s perfect for beginners and experienced stitchers alike,” she adds. “It’s a mindful stress-relieving craft."

A complete schedule of Fiber Fest events. Registration for many classes and workshops is full, but some events still have availability and wait lists remain open for others.

James suggests contacting CCPL’s Warrensville Heights Branch directly at (216) 464-5280 with questions about registration or other information. The Warrensville Heights Branch is at 4415 Northfield Road, Warrensville Heights 44128.