Sewing machine basics

Learn to use your sewing machine (or one of ours). Do you have a sewing machine in the cupboard that you’d like to dust off and use? Would you like to feel confident borrowing the tool library sewing machines?

If so, join Rebecca for an afternoon learning the basics of machine sewing. This will be a very practical session so bring your own machine or practice on ours (we will have x number available so you may be sharing with others). Rebecca will help you get started with your machine from threading to sewing a straight line so that you have the basics you need to keep learning on your own.

What you’ll learn:

•             How to thread your machine

•             Correct thread tension and how to adjust it

•             How to sew a straight, even seam

•             Machine needle types and uses

•             The difference between knit and woven fabric and how to sew each

•             What the different stitches are and why they are used

•             What the different machine feet are for

•             Troubleshooting when things go wrong

•             Basic sewing machine maintenance

What to bring:

•             Your sewing machine* (if you have one) including foot pedal, machine feet, sewing machine needles and bobbins.

•             Your sewing machine manual (if you don’t have the hard copy, see if you can find a PDF version online)

•             Thread

•             Scissors and/or thread snips

•             Scrap fabric if you have some (we will also have plenty)

•             An extension cord

•             Your questions and challenges!

*This session is for sewing machines not overlockers which need a session all of their own. Let us know if you are interested!

Note:

If your machine is not working, we recommend bringing it along to our repair café beforehand on Saturday, 26 July between 2pm and 5pm to see if our volunteer repairers (including Rebecca) can get it working. There will not be time during the workshop to fix individual machines.

The Toolbox is in a demountable building with 3 steps to the entry.