Theatre Program at Russell Sage College Makes, Donates Dozens of Winter Scarves and Hats

On Friday, Dec. 9, Theatre Institute at Sage Costume Designer Lynne Roblin brought 90 hand-sewn scarves, plus several handmade hats to Unity House, a human services agency in Troy, New York. 

Russell Sage College students and TIS high school interns, along with faculty, staff, alumni and friends — many with ties to Sage’s  Creative Arts in Therapy, Theatre and Musical Theatre programs — made the winter items at TIS’s annual Scarf Day event.

Lynne estimates that volunteers have made nearly 1,000 scarves and hats for local agencies over the 10 years she has organized Scarf Day. 

She hosts it annually on the day before finals begin. Participants drop in for as little or as long as they want, for snacks, music, community and a creative outlet during what can be a stressful week.

It takes about 20 minutes to make a scarf,  Lynne said, and all skill levels are welcome. She or one of the repeat volunteers can help first-timers learn sewing basics, and people are needed to iron, cut and fold, too. 

Creative Arts in Therapy major Liz Broderick ’23 said that helping out at Scarf Day was a lot of fun — plus a great way to reinforce all she has learned about sewing during a work-study position in the costume shop. “I fell in love with sewing this semester,” Liz said, “and I’ll use it my entire life.”

That’s Lynne’s goal for Scarf Day:  “Students have a good time and hopefully learn a skill they can use,” she said.