[python] xlsxwriter: is there a way to open an existing worksheet in my workbook?

You can use the workbook.get_worksheet_by_name() feature: https://xlsxwriter.readthedocs.io/workbook.html#get_worksheet_by_name

According to https://xlsxwriter.readthedocs.io/changes.html the feature has been added on May 13, 2016.

"Release 0.8.7 - May 13 2016

-Fix for issue when inserting read-only images on Windows. Issue #352.

-Added get_worksheet_by_name() method to allow the retrieval of a worksheet from a workbook via its name.

-Fixed issue where internal file creation and modification dates were in the local timezone instead of UTC."