For over 45 years the Dorr Mill Store has been manufacturing woolen fabrics for the fiber arts.  For many years it was made across the street at Dorr Woolen Company’s mill.  After the mill closed we’ve had it made domestically to our specifications.

Our fabric is used for traditional rug hooking, braiding, wool appliqué (penny rugs), military reenactments, hand dying, cloth baby diapers, clothing, doll making, and whatever other projects fiber artists and craftspeople have in mind.  We sell our wool all over the U.S., Canada-and as far a field as Japan- to stores, hand dyers, fiber arts teachers, hat makers, and wholesale and direct retail customers.

I'm Terry Dorr, and it was my father, George Dorr Jr., who started this fabric line 45 years ago at the behest of rug hooking grand dame Pearl McGown — and it is with great pride that we continue this tradition. We are very active in the woolen market, seeking other manufacturing opportunities and taking advantage of the availability of surplus wool, both here and abroad. As a result, our inventories are constantly changing as new colors and textures arrive weekly.

I have been at the Dorr Mill Store since 1974 and I'm not the oldest tenured employee. Irene still decorates, after starting as store manager in 1961. Her daughter Gina (right) is current store manager, an experienced rug hooker, and started in 1971.

Martin has been double folding our woolen fabric since 1974. Nancy handles our accounts receivable and customer service, and has been with us since 1980. Jackie, our bookkeeper since 1988, also serves our customers and is a rug hooker and braider. Nancy D., another rug hooker and braider, makes our swatches and strippettes, also handles customer service, and has been with us since 1988. Nell, who has been on staff since 1986, is our wool appliqué expert and also an experienced rug hooker. Our relative newcomers — Tami in our mail order department, Roger joins Martin with our woolen fabrics, and Lisa, Caye and Roberta all bring fiber arts experience and enthusiasm to our team.