Any crafter knows how easy it is to end up with loads of materials: balls of wool pile up, supplies purchased for one project and never used again clutter up drawers, or perhaps there’s that unfinished project that you just know you’re never going to get around to completing.

And then there’s the question of what to do when someone leaves a stash of crafting materials behind. Too often these materials end up in landfill, but life-long knitter Laurelle Murphy wants to change all that with new initiative UpShop.

“After I turned 70 I started thinking about what would happen to all my stuff when I was gone. My daughter wouldn’t know what to do with it, she’d probably have to get a skip,” Laurelle said.

“But I’m really into recycling – I’m actually a bit obsessive – so I wanted to prevent all these materials ending up in landfill.”

She was inspired by social enterprise textile supply store The Nest Haberdashery in Brisbane and wanted to start a similar project closer to home.

Teaming up with local grassroots sustainability organisation SeeChange, Laurelle created UpShop: an op-shop for sewing, crafting and textile supplies.

Laurelle and Paula Mance of SEEChange say there is plenty of community interest in secondhand wool, fabric and other crafting items. Photo: Lucy Ridge.

And the mountain of donations has proved there is a need for just this kind of thing. In the first month of operation alone Laurelle collected up to 250 kg in reclaimed textiles.

“People might need to de-stash for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes they’re downsizing, moving interstate or overseas, or just won’t use what they’ve got,” Laurelle said.

“One example is a donation I had from a gentleman whose wife was diagnosed with dementia and moved into care.”

One commenter on UpShop’s Facebook page had to give up their favourite hobby due to arthritis and was very happy to see their supplies go to a good home.

No matter the reason, UpShop is happy to take the donations and pass them along to new crafty hands to repurpose.

The shop has also inspired other volunteers to start teaching sewing, knitting and more, so there’s plenty of plans for future classes to run alongside the shop.

Funds raised go back towards running the shop – they’re currently saving up for a larger storage shed – but the prices are very reasonable.

UpShop has buttons, thread, needles, zips, embroidery frames, tapestry and much more. Photo: Lucy Ridge.

Outgoing SEEChange executive director Paula Mance said UpShop was a small but significant project that aligned with the group’s organisational goals.

“We’re all about keeping useful things out of landfill while also building community capacity. It’s about social connection and empowering people with the skills to live more sustainably,” she said.

“This is a beautiful example of a tenacious person getting something done.”

The compact shop sits within the Diversity Hub at Tuggeranong. A central table is piled with balls of wool – Laurelle is putting them on sale to keep the stock moving after a large donation – and second-hand shelves are stacked with sewing patterns, knitting books, and fabric in all colours.

Two racks are full of unfinished projects; tapestry kits half done, quilting projects, granny squares and plenty more.

Laurelle says they have received several donations of lace and other fabrics. Photo: UpShop/Facebook.

Laurelle reckons that buying secondhand is an affordable way to try a new hobby.

“And if you don’t enjoy it, well, you can always donate things back to us!”

There are unused project kits perfect for school holiday activities, and hundreds of knitting needles in any size you might need: “Why would anyone buy brand new knitting needles!?”

Although Laurelle started the project as a way to de-stash, she has her eye on a few things in store and laughs that she buys more than she donates.

UpShop is located at Diversity ACT Hub, 8 Laidlaw Place, Kambah. It is open on Friday from 9:30 am to 3 pm and Saturday from 9 am to noon. Drop-offs can be left at Tuggeranong Repair Cafe, Community Toolbox Repair Cafe, Hawker Repair Cafe, or email upshop@seechange.or.au. Follow UpShop on Facebook or Instagram and find out more about SEEChange.