The Makery in Burlington was bustling on a spring Saturday afternoon, which made it hard to hear the clicking of knitting needles above the din of chatter. Almost two dozen crafters gathered by a sunny window to knit, crochet, sew and weave for six hours. This was the second year that members of Vermont Fiber Fans have participated in the nationwide Knit for Food Knit-a-thon. This year they raised $2,655.
On April 11, more than 115 groups across the country knit to raise money for food equity nonprofits. They generated $559,776, which will be distributed equally between Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, No Kid Hungry and Meals on Wheels. Over the past six years, the event has raised more than $2 million for organizations that fight hunger.
In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger joined Vermont Fiber Fans — with a bag of her own knitting — to learn more.
She spoke about filming the episode.
Why did you feature this event?
In my experience, crafters are a great group of people to hang out with. I love the idea of knitters all over the country working at home or meeting up at gatherings to knit for a good cause. Plus, if anyone’s seen that classic knit-a-thon episode of Gilmore Girls, it looks pretty entertaining.
Are these crafters political?
Michelle Krasny, organizer of Vermont Fiber Fans, noted that “craft has a long tradition of being used for activism,” and that the fundraiser brings that activism to the local craft community. In addition to raising funds, Fiber Fans’ members have made blankets for new Americans, for queer youths through Knit the Rainbow and for seriously ill children through Project Linus. They have also participated in Pride events.
Had you been to the Makery before?
This was my first time visiting, and it was hopping! I had to resist the urge to touch everything and shop like a madwoman. I love the idea of recycling craft supplies and experimenting with different mediums.
Does this event have any Vermont connections?
All four of the organizations that this event benefits have helped feed people in our state. It does not get much more local than that. There were three groups in Vermont that participated in this fundraiser, and between them they raised $13,458.
Who did you meet?
An eclectic group of people who work in a variety of fields. It was nice to see so many crafts represented as well. I joked that their tagline should be, “Introverts, unite!” As someone who finds social situations a bit daunting, I find it helps to have something to do with my hands — whether it’s knitting or filming.
How can people join in?
The members of Vermont Fiber Fans welcome all “tidy” crafters — meaning that you can’t make a mess or take up too much space when working in a coffeehouse. They have an active Discord group, and the link to that is on their Facebook page. Their next meetup is on May 2, 1 to 3 p.m., at Specs in Winooski. I might see you there. ➆
This article appears in April 22 • 2026.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
