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Momma Nancy's avatar

Thrift store clothing can be a source of fabric. Cut it up, press it, and you can start sewing.

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Liz Haywood's avatar

And remember to check the curtain, tablecloth, sheet and duvet cover sections too.

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asia's avatar

Ask about library events too!! A local tailor hosted a “Mend It Night” and taught people how to make simple mends and alterations with a few machines, and that’s what made me more confident in buying one. It was a great, and I hope to pay it forward by hosting one when my skills are on par, lol

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Liz Haywood's avatar

If your library doesn't have a particular sewing book you'd like to borrow, recommend that they buy it and then you can be the first to borrow it.

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Juel Duke's avatar

How wonderful and inspiring. Sewing is my happy place and I’ve been wanting to teach more people the skill. My tip: don’t skip the ironing part. It’s important in ways you don’t understand yet.

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Laura lake's avatar

Quiltingboard and Victorian Sweatshop,

https://www.quiltingboard.com/

https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/victorian-sweatshop-501752

Both have active active online sewingmachine repair forums for folks who have found a lovely vintage sewing machine, either in a thriftshop or a relatives basement or attic and would like to sew with it. Many people on those online spaces sew with vintage and even antique machines. I myself do all my sewing with machines ranging in age from 60 to 120 years old, including a hand crank and a treadle machine. It doesn't get much thriftier than that. Though of course, like all things, you can drift into antique, rare and expensive machines, but your standard cast iron machine that is availible everywhere second hand items are sold in a nice wooden cabinet can be repaired at home, with simple tools, a bit of sewing machine oil, and never need to see the inside of a shop, ever. I was not mechanical at all when I bought and repaired my first vintage machine. I was broke, and I didn't want to buy an expensive piece of plastic if sewing wasn't going to work out. I figured at least I would have a nice side table if I never used the machine, as vintage machines frequently come in lovely wooden tables, there's your storage and ergonomics sorted!.

I dropped links in, but don't know if links are allowed, so search the names of the two online communities mentioned, then look for the sewing machine repair and sewing machine manual sections. Cheers!

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AJ's avatar

If your book library doesn't also have other items to lend like a sewing machine, check if there is a tool library in your area. The one near me definitely has a sewing machine available.

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Evelyn's avatar

Our library has a whole entire "makers library" where you can come and use stuff like 3D printers and stuff but also SEWING MACHINES!!

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Karin Nangreave's avatar

I learned how to sew using the craftsy course on hoopla via the library

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