Sew Brooklyn

Thank you for your interest in Sew Brooklyn! Due to high demand and low supply, holds on all sewing machines are currently paused. Patrons will temporarily be unable to place a hold. We will continue to process existing holds. Thank you for your patience while we work on expanding + finetuning our program.

Sew Brooklyn is a BKLYN Incubator program that loans out sewing machines, fosters self-guided learning of the craft, and promotes sustainable habits. We will offer freely loaned sewing machines and free workshops for patrons interested in learning to sew by hand and/or machine!

Brooklyn Public Library patrons with a young adult or adult library card can borrow one sewing machine at a time for a period of three weeks.

Learn more about the art and craft of sewing–workshops are open to all ages and all skill level and cover a variety of topics. From the basics of how to use a machine to modifying your own patterns, instructors can help you at any stage!

To begin, read the FAQ below and fill out this form.

Have a quick fix you need to make on a garment? See the end of the FAQ below!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can borrow a sewing machine from the Library?

Anyone with a valid young adult or adult Brooklyn Public Library card. Patrons must also bring ID (school ID or school program is acceptable for young adults).

How many sewing machines can I borrow?

One at a time, please!

How long can I keep the machine?

Three weeks.

Can I renew my machine?

As long as nobody else has your machine on hold, you will be able to renew. Please note that due to anticipated demand, renewals may not be granted during the program’s initial launch.

What does the machine come with?

Currently, machines are only equipped with the foot pedal, a power cord, a carrying case, a 90/14 needle, two class 15 bobbins, and black and white all-purpose thread. The Brother PS300T and the BM3850 models also come with a wide table for quilting purposes. To request additional accessories and notions, please see what we have available using our form to place a hold.

Do I have to fill out a liability waiver/am I responsible for the machine?

Yes! After you fill out the form and the hold is placed, a staff member will reach out to you with a liability waiver for you to sign and date. You will have to give the waiver in to us via email before the machine is sent to your branch for pick-up.

Where/when can I return my machine?

You must return your sewing machine to the library that you borrowed it from by its three week due date. Machines should be returned to the reference desk and should absolutely not be dumped in the book drop.

Please call your local library to ensure that it is open prior to pick-up or drop-off.

What happens if I return a machine late?

The library currently does not charge late fines. However, patrons who keep their machine beyond the due date will be charged a flat $300 replacement fee. This fee will be removed from the account upon return, but will block the patron from borrowing/renewing other library materials in the interim.

What do I do if my machine breaks?

If any part of your machine breaks, please email [email protected] We will provide instructions. For reference, it’s not the end of the world if your needle breaks, but if you have nicks in the throat plate, that’s a different story. We need to know whether the machine has to be sent to a technician to be fixed.

Please do not attempt to rewire the machine in any way.

Machines are tested prior to loan and upon return.

Will the machines have instructions?

Absolutely! Each machine comes with a company-provided instruction manual. You can also access instruction manuals online (see next section).

We strongly require you to look through the instruction manual before you begin sewing.

Are instructions available in languages other than English?

Brother provides instructions manuals in Spanish online. Search for your sewing machine’s model here.

Singer provides instruction manuals in a variety of languages, including Spanish, simplified Chinese, and Russian online. Search for your sewing machine’s model here.

Do you have a resource list available for sewists?

Absolutely! A printed version of this list is also provided with your loan. Please also feel free to consult the staff at the reference desk to see what else is on the shelves at your branch when you go to pick up your machine.

Can I donate a sewing machine?

Yes! Email [email protected] to talk about donating a machine that is in good working condition. Please, no industrial machines!

Tell me more about the voucher…

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer a voucher for free material from FABSCRAP with our loans. We encourage you to volunteer 2.5 hours of your time at the Warehouse to receive the same benefit! More information on that process here

Tell me more about FABSCRAP!

FABSCRAP is a textile waste recycling service, an affordable textile supply store, a sustainability education center, and a community hub. To learn more about how to get involved, shop for saved from the landfill materials or to volunteer visit www.fabscrap.org.

Okay, I’m ready – how do I actually borrow a machine?

Here’s how this process is going to go:

Fill out this form. A staff member will email you shortly to ask follow-up questions as necessary, fill out a liability waiver, and confirm your place in the queue. Filling out the form does not guarantee that a hold has been placed.
Once your machine arrives at your branch, you will receive an automated notice (please check your notification preferences in your account!) letting you know that your machine will be ready to pick up. You have a week to pick up your machine upon receipt of this notice.
Pick up your machine from your selected branch. Please call and confirm its open hours ahead of time.
Take your machine home and sew to your heart’s content!
Return your machine to the SAME BRANCH that it was borrowed from with all accessories intact. Report any malfunctioning parts to [email protected] Please also fill out the provided survey to help us improve our service!

What machines are available to borrow?

RST531HD (2 machines) – The Experienced Quilter – For the person who knows what they want and at what length and width. 14.3 lbs Catalog link

PST300T (1 machine) – Ole Reliable – Best option for experienced sewists, lightweight. Also great for quilting – has decorative + lettering stitches. 10.5 lbs Catalog link

BM3850 (3 machines) – The Beginner – For the person who’s just getting started and wants to learn. 19.46 lbs Catalog link

4411 Heavy Duty (1 machine) – The Workhorse – For the person sewing heavy material…or light material! 14 lbs Catalog link

Tell me about Creativebug.

Creativebug is a video-learning site for art and craft classes, which BPL provides access to as an online resource. New classes from top artists are released every day, with instructors bringing a lifetime of practice and proven teaching methods. Click here to access Creativebug.

How do I do xyz thing with my sewing machine?

Consult the instruction manual and/or consult YouTube. Please remember to actually read the instruction manual before you begin sewing. Refer to the resource list for instructional videos on YouTube based on make/model.

Wait, what about classes?

Check out the robust list of upcoming in-person and virtual classes below!

I just need to use a sewing machine for a couple of hours, is there any way you could help me out??

Thanks to a generous donation, we now have a machine available for public use at the Mill Basin branch! Please call 718-241-3973 and speak to Damla to set up an appointment. Appointments are scheduled around existing branch programming. The sewing machine must be used onsite in the meeting room. Patrons must still fill out a waiver.

Sew Brooklyn is a BKLYN Incubator project. BKLYN Incubator was founded in 2015 with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and continues to operate with funding from the Charles H. Revson Foundation.