In 2003 Common Thread was just an idea, a dream about remembrance and honoring life. Common Thread would be a place where students could be taught the art of weaving, where works would be created from recycled and donated fabrics, and ultimately where original textile creations could be purchased with proceeds to benefit organizations working to improve the quality of life for families in Lee County.

Today, Common Thread is fulfilling that dream. As a non-profit organization, it is dedicated to helping others through its creative work. Common Thread includes a studio, weaving instructors, fourteen looms and amazing students creating functional art, with a growing list of excited soon-to-be weavers. Being fortunate to have several instructors, Common Thread is able to offer the student a choice in levels of interest and flexible class schedules. The result is beautiful hand woven articles for sale at the Common Thread studio/store location, 234 Carthage Street in historic downtown Sanford, North Carolina.

The goals of Common Thread are to educate, create and perpetuate. Education is accomplished through workshops where students are introduced to the basics of hand weaving and textile arts. For information on how to enroll in the next available class, please call (919) 774-7524.

As the students progress, the individual's creativity is welcomed and encouraged. These new ideas keep our finished products fresh and up-to-date. Common Thread welcomes ideas on how to recycle all donated fabrics into beautiful and practical works of art through weaving.

Perpetuation begins as we cycle through the process again. The art form of weaving will be preserved for future generations through the teaching of new students, assistant instructors and production weavers.

We are a community of people who gather together to weave, to learn, to share and to give back to our community. Please join us as our excitement grows! Call for details on how you can become a student, a weaver, a studio volunteer, a customer or a patron.