By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Medfield Public Library (MPL) hosts an extensive Makers Space, filled with craft supplies and machines not everyone has access to. Librarians will often host classes to help teach patrons about the different types of technologies available, the most recent being a sewing machine class.
Adult Services Librarian Bri Ozanne hosted a reversible napkin-making class to get people situated with the sewing machines and fiber crafts available in the Makers Space. The tutorial was very straightforward, and there was support every step of the way. The Makers Space offers everything used, besides bulk fabric, so any patrons can create the craft themselves.
The first step was for participants to choose their fabrics and trim off any excess. The squares were supposed to be right around 18 inches on each side. Rotary cutters, cutting mats and rulers were offered to help align and trim up the excess. The next step was turning the fabrics on the right side and putting the bright patterns against each other. This would allow the napkins to be turned inside out after sewing was complete. Up next was pinning the fabric into place, making sure to leave a space to reach into the project and turn it inside out.
Once the napkins were pinned patrons moved to the sewing machines. This project is perfect for beginners, as it only uses one stitch and minimal turns. Ozanne walked the group through how to use the sewing machines and the important basics to keep in mind. She showed the hand turn to bring the needle down, and the lever to bring the presser foot up and down. These were important for turning the corners of the napkin. Once the outside of the napkin had been stitched, patrons snipped the interior corners off, and turned them right side out. The last step was pressing the napkin flat with an iron and adding a decorative stitch along the edge of the napkin.
Once patrons had finished their napkins Ozanne showed interested participants how to thread the machines, change needles and create bobbins. This was for people learning their own sewing machines, and needing a jumping-off point.
Creating napkins is just a small portion of what sewing machines can help people create. The Makers Space has a sewing machine available for patron use when the library is open, those under the age of 15 must have an adult present with them.
