The following article was submitted by Betty Schwede, an Associate at the Manitowoc Public Library.
Sewing in the library? What?! Yes! There are sewing machines for the public to use in our Idea Box makerspace during library hours. Why not use these sewing machines to frepair your clothes instead of tossing them? We’ll get you started at a one-time program, Don’t Throw It Away—Fix It! Hemming & Repair Basics with Betty—on Thursday, January 27 at 6 PM.
Do you have a favorite shirt sitting in a corner because a button fell off? Learn how to sew it back on. It’s really not that hard. Do those pants fit great but they are too long? We’ll talk about different ways of hemming. The seam opened, but the rest of your pants are in great shape? You can fix it! Have other mending problems? We’ll talk about those too.
Sewing does have a language and process that can be overwhelming to a first-time sewer, not to mention the intimidating machines. We’ll cover some basics to get started and questions are definitely encouraged. Bring in one item to get help with that evening to get started.
The four sewing machines in the Idea Box makerspace at MPL are Singer Model 9960 machines. They have a variety of feet (the attachment on the machine that holds your fabric flat as it’s fed through and stitched) to do anything from decorative stitches to quilting to hemming to buttonholes to . . . let’s just say that these feet can help you to accomplish a lot. They even have an even feed or walking foot. Experienced sewers are welcome to get badged and use the machines anytime during Library Hours. Badging just means you’ve learned how to safely operate the equipment without breaking it or getting hurt.
Betty Schwede
The Idea Box makerspace is dedicated to both high-tech and low-tech hands-on learning for teens and adults. Tools and equipment in the Idea Box focus on nurturing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) skills in users, as well as igniting creativity and the imagination. Users will have the opportunity to make products and objects using 3D printing tools, explore advanced media creation software, play with sound, explore textile arts and crafts, scrapbook, and much more!
Use of equipment in the Idea Box is FREE! However, users are responsible for providing their own consumable materials to use with equipment, such as paper or fabric. At this time, some supplies are available to purchase from the Library. For example, the plastic used with 3Doodler pens is available for 30-cents per stick and sewing machine bobbins are can be had for 25-cents.
Whether you are trying to reduce and reuse more these days or you just want to save your favorite clothes, we can help. Sewing is not a craft of days gone by and it doesn’t require in-depth training either. With a few supplies and a little know-how you can make basic repairs easily. It’s very empowering to be able to fix something yourself.
You will need to get badged on the sewing machines prior to attending “Fix It”! We’ve got three badging session scheduled in order for you to get this done: Tuesday, January 11, from 6-7:30 PM, January 18, from 6:30-7:30 PM, or Thursday, January 20, 6-7 PM.
Registration for the January 27 “Fix It!” program opens on Tuesday, January 4, at 9 AM. Go to the “Events” page on our website (www.manitowoclibrary.org) or call (920) 686-3000 to secure your spot!
