When you think of yarn, knitting, or crocheting, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For most people, it’s somebody’s grandma doing crafts alone in her rocking chair. Let’s be honest, fiber arts like this are normally thought of as a craft for older, white, wealthy women—right? Mary and Meg of Snake & Skein are flipping the script on what people think of when they picture fiber arts.
Snake & Skein stands out as more than just a yarn shop; it’s become the home for a community where creativity flourishes! Here, you’ll find all the supplies for your next crafting project, and you can engage in classes while building meaningful friendships. Mary and Meg confidently uphold their values, radiating a powerful message that boldly states, “we’re here to inspire you, whether you like it or not,” and… people love it!
They offer classes and events with a wide range of topics – including classes for beginners like learning to crochet and learning to knit. They have weekly sip and stitch events where anyone can bring the project they’re working on, have a drink or snack, and hang out with other makers. Mary and Meg stand firm in believing that the shop is a safe space for all while staying true to their values. Snake & Skein has also hosted Stitch and Learn events to educate locals on how to vote, tools for resistance, and has a similar event coming up.
On Saturday, May 24th, Mary and Meg are hosting a Stitch and Learn event for Project Mailstorm. This event, started by Gina Luker, is asking participants to join a “postal uprising” by sending letters to the White House opposing the president’s policies. This form of peaceful protest intends to flood the current administration with cold hard evidence that we are not happy with the policies and executive orders (among many, many other things) that have occurred since Trump took office earlier this year.
Believe it or not, crafting has always been rooted in activism for things like gender roles, sexuality, or even politics. In many ways, crafts like knitting or crocheting used to be considered feminine tasks. Before the activist movements of the ’70s, this was the narrative – but a few makers spoke out to shake things up. Artists began critiquing the binaries that existed between what was art or craft, and highlighted the correlation between gender roles. Men and young boys were not shown or taught crafts like this, only young women. One of the first shows dedicated to this was The Great American Lesbian Art Show, which took place in 1979 in Los Angeles. The exhibition was focused on showcasing lesbian artists and featured pieces detailing the intersection of feminism with gender issues and expressing yourself through your art.
Fiber arts is now a cool and creative way to be anti-capitalistic. Making your own clothes instead of buying from a big-name brand is called “slow fashion.” It’s also a fun way to learn a new skill, which is good for your brain and ultimately could improve your mental health. To top it all off, you could support a local business like Snake & Skein when shopping for supplies!
Mary and Meg have managed to cultivate a culture of belonging and inclusion for anyone who steps into the store. This extends beyond shoppers and into their retail partners – every wholesale supplier in the shop is a woman-owned business! Mary and Meg have even traveled to meet some of their suppliers and have more trips planned for this year. You can find the names of these makers directly on their website, like Susie of Fiber MacGyver, Grace of Nerdy Knits, and Kelly of Shirsty Cat Designs.
Mary and Meg are such a fun duo, and you can feel their passion for their store without ever stepping foot inside it. You may have seen their recent expansion announcement, but they have news—there will be a second expansion operation to give them more classroom space! Stay tuned on Instagram or their website for the latest updates!
Femme Forward - Lancaster, PA 
Leave a comment