Colorful patterns, intricate quilts and cheerful chatter filled the room as dozens of people gathered for the grand opening of Peggy’s Place on Saturday, June 28.
Peggy’s Place is a community initiative located in an aisle of the Ithaca Mega ReUse Center. It is dedicated to encouraging the reuse of fabric and sewing supplies by working to make them affordable and accessible to the community. At Peggy’s Place, shoppers can purchase items, donate supplies and learn about quilt making through activities and quilting classes that are open for all levels of experience.
Peggy’s Place is a part of the Community Quiltmaking Center, founded by Peggy Dunlop ’59, M.S. ’63. The initiative is a volunteer-led organization under the leadership of Nancy Thompson. Dunlop’s original goal was to make a place where people “did not have to make an investment in expensive things” to learn how to quilt.
“I loved being surrounded by fabrics and thought, I really want to accumulate as many as I can so that someday I can open this kind of quilting center,” Dunlop said. “[The supplies] would be available for them to use and create, and you can see the results of what happens when you create access, opportunity and equity.”

The grand opening included remarks from Dunlop, who reflected on the initiative and the people who made it possible. In addition, attendees were treated to door prizes, second-hand sewing supplies and a mini quilt show.
Two of the attendees, Bill and Carla Block, said that their experience with the Community Quiltmaking Center has become “the high point” of their Sundays and a newfound passion for the couple.
“We bravely decided to walk in, and I announced that I wanted to learn to hem my pants and make a quilt, but I didn't know how to sew, and they welcomed us with open arms,” Bill said. “We became regulars quickly.”
The two commented on how supportive the group is and how much they have enjoyed using their newfound skills.
“We both have sewing machines at home and work outside of Sundays when we find the time,” Carla said. “I can’t tell you how much the social aspect meant to us.”

Brigid Hubberman, a CQC volunteer who helped organize the grand opening event, said that the initiative is about “creating access and opportunity” centered around Dunlop’s vision.
“[We] keep prices so low that it feels like we are sharing, and then when anyone has more than they can use, we are confident they will donate it back for us to sell and share again,” Hubberman said. “In this special little aisle at Finger Lakes Reuse, we are creating our own little quiltmaking circular economy.”
Diane Cohen, chief executive officer of Finger Lakes Reuse, said that initiatives like Peggy’s Place and CQC “add to the greater effort” of keeping materials in circulation and “out of dumpsters.”
“I love this initiative,” Cohen said. “When I look around, I see colorful patterns, the warmth of the people, and what I’ve been really sparked by today is the friendships that have developed as a result of the effort today.”
Cohen said that the friendships formed from Peggy’s Place demonstrate the social element of reusing, which she noted as an important element of fostering a long-term recycling effort.
Hubberman said she hopes that people take away an understanding of Dunlop’s vision for “creating a space and place that brings people together with a shared love of quiltmaking and community” from the grand opening and the inspiration to become involved in the initiative in some way.
Peggy’s Place is now open from 1 to 4 p.m. through the month of July and will close in August with plans to reopen in September. Donations are accepted on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., with quilting classes on Sunday at noon.
Zeinab Faraj is a reporter from The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun's summer fellowship at The Ithaca Voice. This piece was originally published in the Ithaca Voice.
Zeinab Faraj is the assistant sports editor on the 143rd editorial board and a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.