We are thrilled to announce the birth of Sewing Shares: The Lending Library of The Sewing Machine Project! We have received a donation of 25 new machines from Bernina International which will form the foundation of this exciting initiative.
Sewing Shares will offer sets of machines to groups on a temporary basis. Machines can be used for classes, short term projects or community initiatives. At this time machines are not available on loan to individuals. If your group might be interested in using some of our Sewing Shares machines, please click here to fill out the application for machines.
University Apartments-UW-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
The University Apartments are the first group to use Sewing Shares machines. I visited the sewing class last night and it took my breath away. Women of many cultures and backgrounds worked together, creating projects, helping one another, sharing their knowledge, skills and traditions with one another. It was an incredible scene. When you think about it, sewing is a global art and it’s history is rich and colorful. Each of these women–whether from India or Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Nepal or the Philippines–came from a country with rich sewing traditions. As they worked they talked amongst themselves about how they began to sew and what sewing meant to them.
The group is repurposing donated clothing items–not purchasing any new fabric. To Pay it Forward, they are making weighted blankets for autistic children in the campus daycare center.
Even now I smile, remembering the warmth, energy and creativity I witnessed last night.
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Cornucopia-Madison
Cornucopia is an arts and wellness activities center run by and for people who have mental health issues. Through peership, they celebrate creativity and diversity. Growth and dignity are promoted by helping members develop individual strengths and talents which build upon self-directed recovery goals and community life skills.
Cornucopia is now offering sewing lessons with the help of Sewing Shares machines.
