Due to the size of the classroom space and for the safety of our community and staff:
- Currently, there is no vaccine or testing required to take a workshop
- Please sanitize your hands upon entry. Hand sanitizer is available at the door.
- Classes are limited to 8 people, including the instructor, and might be smaller due to class type.
- Any shared tools will be sanitized between sessions.
If you have any questions or concerns, please send us a message or give us a call at the shop for clarity.
Thank you so much for supporting your local community of makers!
General Guidelines
- There will be a $5 registration fee for the day and evening open sews. You will receive a $5 credit towards any purchase you make in the shop during the Open Sew for which you registered. The $5 fee cannot be transferred or saved.
- We understand that life happens. However, if you need to cancel your seat, please let us know *48 hours in advance by emailing (hello@needlesandbolts.com) or calling the shop (215-316-5696) so we can open your seat. If you do not let us know within this time frame or do not attend, your $5 registration fee will not be refunded but will go toward stocking the Little Free Stitchery Library.
- Open Sew will be limited to no more than 12 sewists. We will have 5 sewing machine stations and 7 hand sewing seats. We will have a separate registration for machine use, so please sign up for the correct seat. If you want to bring your own sewing machine, please sign up for a machine station. Once the machine spots are filled, only hand-stitching stations will be available.
- You are welcome to ask for advice on a project or assistance with how to use a shop machine or tool. However, Open Sew is not the time for private instruction. We simply do not have enough staff to work with each person individually. You should be comfortable threading a machine and winding a bobbin before signing up to use a sewing machine station.
- Open Sew registration will now be one month in advance instead of the entire year uploaded at once. This will allow new sewists who find us throughout the year to have a chance to attend an open sew and reduce the number of last-minute cancellations.
- Open Sew was created to help build a strong creative community. To build this community an environment characterized by mutual respect and civility is expected. Every participant in Open Sew is responsible for ensuring that their behavior promotes these goals. Disruptions will not be tolerated and may lead to unenrollment from future open sews and classes offered in the shop.
Machine/Tools Guidelines:
- Please keep in mind that tools are used by multiple people – including during Open Sew and classes. We strive to keep things in good working order. However, you should always inspect the tool before using it on your project. Please bring any issues to the staff's attention.
- If you break a tool during Open Sew you will be responsible for working with the shop to have the tool replaced or repaired. Please treat our tools as if they are your own.
- Thread will no longer be provided for our shop machines. Please bring your own thread. We will provide bobbins to use, which need to stay with the machines when open sew ends.
By signing up for Open Sew, you agree to abide by these updated guidelines.
What is a haberdashery?
In British English, a haberdashery is a business that sells small articles for sewing, such as buttons, ribbons, zippers, and other notions. Fun fact: in the US, Haberdashery refers to menswear so we're adopting the British definition for our purposes.
Why don't you sell yarn?
We know being a small business can be tough and we want to uplift our crafty neighbors. At the moment, we do not carry any yarn or knitting supplies. To find beautiful knitting supplies check out the following local yarn shops: Wild Hand, Hidden River Yarns, Love2Knit & More, and Yarnphoria.
Will you carry garment fabric?
Philadelphia has a robust garment district in Center City that can fulfill many garment fabric needs. Currently, we carry alternate substrates such as cork and linen and a curated offering of garment fabrics such as rayon and poplin. We are always looking for unique items to add to our inventory - let us know if you are looking for something specific and we can work with you to find it.
Can you upholster my chair, sofa, or other pieces of furniture?
We cannot. Unfortunately, our sewing skill set does not include upholstery.
Do you offer longarm services?
At this time we don't have the space to offer in-store longarming services, however, we have cultivated relationships with local longarmers. Reach out to us if you would like recommendations.
Do you sell completed quilts?
At the moment, we do not have any completed quilts to sell. We do anticipate holding sample sales throughout the year as our fabric rotation changes. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of any future sample sales!
I'm new to sewing, will you teach me?
Absolutely we will! In fact, we would love to. Check out our classes and workshops to see what's on the calendar. We hope to see you in class!
Will you sew a quilt for me?
We will not, but we will teach YOU how to sew a quilt! See our classes and workshops to sign up!
Do you offer sewing machine repair/maintenance?
At this time we do not. But we recommend Steve's Sew & Vac in the King of Prussia area or Byrne Sewing in New Britain.