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:
Here We Go!!
Last week was the big week! The Sewing Machine Project moved across town! We'd been occupying the Sunday School wing of a local church for over 10 years and managed to accumulate all kinds of stuff! Sewing machines, of course, but so much more. We even had a "museum...
Stepping into the new year
We cannot know what is coming. At best, we can make an educated guess. I’ve tried to impose my will on The Sewing Machine Project so many times over the past 20 years—thinking I was reading the signs and interpreting them correctly, then moving forward in earnest....
Saying Goodbye to Chris
In November 2023, we lost a beloved Board member and friend, Chris Thomas. The onset of her illness was so sudden and she left the world in a matter of months. What Chris left behind, however, will go on forever. Chris brought a quiet wisdom to our board. She cared...
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.