Common Threads
Common Threads, about the evolution and development of The Sewing Machine Project, is available now!
We believe that everyone has the power to make the world
a better place.
So we share sewing machines–
creating partnerships, strengthening community, and
nurturing the creative spirit.
Donate Machines
If you have a sewing machine or serger that you no longer need, please consider donating it to The Sewing Machine Project. Please make sure your machine is portable and in good working order.
Donate Time
Volunteers are the backbone of The Sewing Machine Project. Our family of local volunteers lend their hands and hearts to every aspect of the organization. Currently, our opportunities are local (Madison, WI). We’d love it if you would consider lending your expertise to our team!
Donate Money
Money donated to the Sewing Machine Project goes to supporting the organizing, preparation, and shipping of machines along with supporting our local classes and national curriculum. Every bit counts. You can even make a donation in honor of a sewer you love through our Forget Me Not program.
The Mission of The Sewing Machine Project® is to offer sewing tools and education to groups committed to learning new skills, building self-confidence and potentially contributing to their own livelihood as well as the well-being of their families and communities.
From our blog:
Stories to tell
I, like many sewers, have a few machines in my “stable”. It was time to clean house. My mom’s Featherweight…nope, can’t get rid of that one. My day-to-day machine…always in use. That one stays put. Back in the corner of the closet is a familiar case—a faded plastic...
Connecting threads
The Sewing Machine Project has a unique Business Model. By that I mean, we carve our own path with an ear to the pulse of what is going on around us. We are a tapestry of common threads, with a vibrant palate of fibers and colors- some expected and many surprising....
Gene
His name was Gene Alexander. And we knew each other...even though we'd never met. His note arrived in July of 2021, the handwriting shaky with age. He'd read about The Sewing Machine Project in the Christian Science Monitor and was impressed with our work. So...
The Sewing Machine Project® offers the tools and skills necessary to enhance lives through sewing
- Local Classes The Sewing Machine Project offers sewing classes and machines to individuals designated by partnering community centers in the Madison, WI area.
- Local Mending The Sewing Machine Project offers 2 free mending sites in the Madison, WI area.
- National Programs The Sewing Machine Project works with nonprofit groups that have developed sewing projects to serve underserved populations.
- International Work The Sewing Machine Project currently limits international work to US-based groups.