Home Skills & DIY

Sewing Machine Repairs and Upcycling Clothes

Meets Wednesdays · 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM · on Zoom Fall 2026 · registration open Free to audit

This class runs in the Fall 2026 session. Registration is open now; lessons, materials, and the class discussion board are posted before it begins.

Here's the thing. Most machines people give up on just need cleaning, oil, and a fresh needle, and most worn-out clothes are one good afternoon away from being useful again. This class is for folks comfortable with basic hand sewing who want to move up to the machine without being scared of it. We'll rework old jeans and shirts into pieces you'll actually use, and along the way you'll learn to clear jams and fix tension yourself instead of waving the white flag. I demonstrate, you do it while I watch, then you fix your own jam. You'll leave knowing the machine isn't fighting you, it's telling you something. Bring your own machine if you've got one.

What you'll learn

Thread top and bobbin without guessing
Diagnose jams, tension issues, and thread nests
Clean, oil, and maintain your machine yourself
Sew straight lines, corners, and reinforced seams
Turn old jeans and shirts into new items

Lessons

Meet the Machine (and Stop Being Scared of It)
Get to know the parts that matter, thread it right, and sew your first honest straight line.
Tension, Needles, and Why Your Stitch Looks Bad
Read what the stitch is telling you and fix the two things that cause most problems.
When the Machine Jams (Fix It Yourself)
Take the throat plate off, clear the bird's nest, and get back to sewing without calling anyone.
Working With Denim
Denim is friendlier than beginners think, so we start our upcycling here.
Reworking Shirts
Take a shirt that fits wrong and make it into something someone will actually wear.
Putting It Together
Plan a project from clothes you already killed, cut better, and finish clean.

Class discussion

The class discussion board opens when the class begins this fall. Auditors and enrolled students ask questions and share work here once the session starts.