Erin’s Place

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Erin is ready early. Dressed and waiting, she watches for the bus that will take her to Scraps & Skeins. She does not like to be late.

At the shop, Erin gets to work. She vacuums, organizes materials, and helps keep the space running smoothly. She has learned to sew the reusable shopping bags given to new customers, and she helps prepare fabric by ironing and folding fat quarters. Each task is familiar now, part of a routine she takes pride in. She is not just spending time there. She is contributing.

Outside of Scraps & Skeins, Erin’s life is just as full. She is especially close to her family, including her twin sister, and is a proud and beloved aunt. At home, she spends hours working on puzzles, completing 500, 750, and even 1,000 pieces in short order. Her nephew built her a custom puzzle table, and many of the puzzles she has completed now hang as artwork in her apartment.

Erin is deaf and has been since infancy. She reads lips with remarkable skill. Communication, however, has not always been easy. Much of language cannot be seen. From an early age, her mother worked alongside her, using sign language, finger spelling, and other strategies to build understanding. Even with that strong foundation, lip reading remains essential for navigating the world.

Before coming to Scraps & Skeins, Erin worked at a nearby learning center. When COVID required masks, lip reading was no longer possible, and that job ended.

Finding what came next took time. A family friend suggested Scraps & Skeins, but Erin’s mother hesitated. She had spent years wondering whether her daughter would be accepted, whether people would be patient, and whether they would remember to face her when they spoke.

From the first day, something felt different.

People face Erin when they speak. They take the extra moment. They have learned how to communicate in ways that work for her. The space itself supports that. It is calm and thoughtfully sized, allowing the work to feel manageable and relationships to grow.

With patient, one-on-one support, Erin has learned new skills that now have a real place in the shop’s daily work. She sews, irons, folds, organizes, and adapts to challenges along the way, even learning to iron right-handed when needed. Over time, what once felt new has become part of her routine.

Just as important, Erin knows she belongs. She is part of the team. She is expected. She is missed when she is not there.

For her mother, that shift is profound.

“For the first time in my life, it’s acceptance.”

That acceptance brings something more. Confidence. Independence. A sense of ease that comes from knowing Erin is in a place where she is understood and valued.

Opportunities like this are created with intention. They take patience, thoughtful environments, and people who see ability first. With your support, Scraps & Skeins continue to grow and make this kind of impact possible.

It shows up in everyday moments like these. And Erin is ready for each one.

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