Christchurch City Libraries have a number of sewing machines available:

• Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre – two sewing machines and an overlocker
• Matatiki Hornby Centre - two sewing machines, an overlocker, and an embroidery machine
• New Brighton – a sewing machine
• South – a sewing machine and an overlocker
• Tūranga – four sewing machines, an overlocker, and an embroidery machine

You can use the sewing machines at Creative Times in those libraries.

Use our Book a Creative form to arrange a time that suits you to get one-on-one help.

A sewing machine is used in garment (clothing) and other fabric construction, such as quilting, upholstery and repairs. It uses an automated needle, bobbin and thread to create stitches, allowing fabric pieces to be joined together.

An overlocker is a machine that uses multiple threads to finish the edges of fabric to keep them tidy and preventing fraying. It can also sew a seam and finish the edge at the same time – allowing it to be used for making clothes – usually from a knit fabric like t-shirting.

An embroidery machine is a type of sewing machine that can stitch designs and patterns onto fabric. Our embroidery machine uses designs created on a computer using the Hatch embroidery software.

Embroidery machine: Tūranga, Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4

Our embroidery machine at Tūranga is only available to use under staff guidance, it can be used during Creative times, by requesting a one-on-one Book a Creative session, or during select programming. Use of the sewing and overlocker machines is free and they are available during normal library hours. Talk to our friendly staff about swapping your library card/ID for a sewing kit that contains the essentials to use the machine.

When you have finished sewing you can return the kit to retrieve your library card/ID.

The sewing kit includes a variety of threads, pins, scissors, marking chalk, various needles, sewing machine feet, repair implements, and black and white thread cones for the overlocker.

Some thick fabric and layers may not work with the machines.

File types for the embroidery machine includes JPG, PNG, and BMP.

• Sewing Machines: Bernina 1008 (2)
• Overlocker: Bernina L450
• Embroidery: Janome 500E

At Matatiki Hornby Centre, there is :

• A Bernina L450 overlocker
• Two Bernina 1008 sewing machines
• A Janome Memory Craft 550E embroidery machine

You can work on your sewing projects.

Linkedin Learning

Check Linkedin Learning for courses:

• Sewing
• Embroidery

Creativebug

Go to Creativebug for art and craft video classes.

Find resources in our collection

Check out the Sewing page

• Machine sewing
• Sewing machines
• Machine embroidery

Customers are responsible for understanding their legal obligations under copyright, trademark, patent, and industrial law as well as their moral obligations to protect their own and others' intellectual property. Our libraries are busy public places. While we will endeavour to do our best to protect the privacy of your work, we cannot guarantee that it will not be seen by other customers. The Library reserves the right to refuse any request.