SPRINGFIELD – According to Arminda Barnes, founding president and leader of Yarnies541, the Stringfield Yarn Collective is “the ‘Cheers’ of the yarn store.” As soon as you walk into 175 S. 5th St., you are surrounded by love and an array of vibrant colors, making it feel like “a place where everybody knows your name.”
Mo Sugrue opened the store in April 2025 with the goal of creating a space for the community to come together.
This yarn store offers a free library of yarn and craft books, much like neighborhood book libraries. People are welcome to leave yarn or take supplies as needed.
“If anyone is interested in knitting and crocheting, but can’t afford it, they can take it. I (don’t) want (cost) to stop people from making art,” Sugrue said.
Unlike most commercial stores, they focus on local and independent dyers and artists.
“I am proud of the fact that I have 10 independent dyers, seven regionally local from the Pacific NW, and two from the Springfield-Eugene area. We have some commercial products, but our focus is on hand-dyed,” Sugrue said.
One of their local products is AlwaysBeKindYarn, dyed on site. Laura Salisbury subleases the back of the store to dye her yarn and donates part of her proceeds to suicide prevention. Segrue believes in the positive message of her friend’s business.
Stringfield also hosts a variety of events, including craft nights, kids’ craft days, and movie nights in partnership with the Eugene Art House, featuring craft-related films.
“WIP it Wednesday” (Work in Progress) is a sit-and-stitch night that typically attracts 3-4 participants who work on crochet, knitting, embroidery, looms, and more.
“Weekend Wind Down,” held Sundays from 3-5 p.m., invites attendees to bring a current project or start a new one. This gathering draws 10-15 fiber artists and plays on the pun related to winding yarn.
“Sunday Kids Crafts,” scheduled for the second Sunday of each month from 10-11 a.m., welcomes all skill levels. Supplies are provided for directed crafts suitable for all ages, allowing children to create something tangible. “The goal is to get them into fiber and into making things,” said Sugrue. Mentors are present to help the kids achieve this goal.
The most popular event is “Queer and Crafty Night,” which takes place on Mondays from 5-7 p.m. This event typically attracts over 20 participants.
Their last knitting class filled up quickly, and in October, they will offer a needle felting class focused on making pumpkins.
For the Oct. 10 Springfield Art Walk, Wheel Haus art will be displaying student art. There will be refreshments, a make-n-take station for people to create something, and candy for trick-or-treaters during the art walk.
Yarnies rejoice
Stringfield is home to Yarnies541, an inclusive fiber arts community established in 2023 in the Eugene-Springfield area. The community is dedicated to connecting yarn crafters, promoting fiber art, supporting local businesses, and engaging in community care and mutual aid.
Barnes mentioned that the group consists of a close-knit circle of friends who wanted to come together to form a guild. They envision it more as a social club that requires less effort than a traditional guild. They hold business meetings and celebrate birthday parties at the store. Additionally, they raise money to support local communities and charitable causes. Their meetings typically have between 15 and 40 attendees.
“Building community is the most important thing we can do right now. This is the place the magic happens,” said Barnes.
