Fiber Fair in Delmont Spins Up Creativity and Community

 

The Raggz Fiber Affair in Delmont turned into a cozy hive of creativity last weekend, drawing folks from all over Westmoreland County for a day full of color, texture, and hometown talent.

Inside Faith Global Methodist Church, the warm hum of conversation blended with the soft spin of wheels as more than 20 vendors shared their passion for fiber arts — from hand-dyed yarns and alpaca scarves to whimsical upcycled accessories. About 200 visitors stopped by to shop, chat, and maybe even pick up a new hobby.

One of the show’s fan favorites was Dorothy Gallagher of Murrysville, who wowed the crowd by spinning goat fur on handcrafted European wooden spindles. Gallagher’s journey into fiber arts started years ago when she was a teacher in Poland — one hand-knit sweater, she recalls with a grin, earned her “a kilo of sausage.”

These days, she spins silk, cat fur, and alpaca not for fame or fortune, but for the joy and mindfulness the craft brings. “I’ve got a scarf that’s nearly 100 years old,” she said. “When you care for these things, they really can last forever.”

That love for quality and sustainability is part of what’s fueling a fiber arts comeback, especially among younger makers. According to recent stats, there’s been a 150% jump in crafters under 35 taking up knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and yarn dyeing — and many say it’s as much about self-care as creativity.

Delmont’s own Kalli Necheff, 34, is proof. When she lost her job in 2023, she turned back to her childhood love of knitting. Now, it’s her full-time gig. “I spend a lot of time in my kitchen with color charts,” she laughed. “It’s so satisfying to create something totally from scratch.”

Kalli hits up to 15 vendor shows a year, selling everything from cozy cardigans to reversible shawls. What she loves most, though, is the sense of community. “We all root for each other,” she said. “We keep our money local, and that makes a difference.”

Not everyone at the fair came for the fiber, though. Seven-year-old Addison Dick of Vandergrift was there for the stickers and a fun girls’ day out with her mom, Sierra Bigley. Between live music and homemade lunch, the pair enjoyed soaking in the crowd’s warm, crafty energy.

Organizer Toni Ritchey-Ridella couldn’t be happier with how the event has grown over its ten years. “People are always surprised at how much time and care goes into this work,” she said. “Everyone here makes everything themselves — some folks even raise the animals for their wool or make their own soap and honey. Buying from them means supporting real, local effort.”

Another crowd favorite was Cheryl Rondeau of Monroeville, who takes her color palettes seriously — this year’s theme was “Millennial Nostalgia,” featuring hues inspired by Little Women and The Chronicles of Narnia. “I’m particular about what I like to work with,” she admitted with a laugh. “My friends call me ‘bougie,’ but if it’s not yak, silk, or alpaca, I’m not interested.”

Speaking of alpacas, Philip and Lena Galing from Waynesburg shared just how amazing the soft, warm fiber can be. They run a fourth-generation alpaca farm near Lippencott, where their 19 alpacas help jump-start other small farms across the state. “We didn’t know a thing when we started,” Philip said. “Now it’s our passion — and it just keeps growing.”

Whether you came for the colors, the cozy textures, or just a little creative inspiration, the Raggz Fiber Affair in Delmont was proof that handmade still matters — and that our local makers are keeping fiber art alive, one stitch at a time.