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Addison Resident Discovers Her Talent for Sewing in the Library’s Creative Studio

Efua Assan's Skirtby Emily Glimco, Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Oct. 2019

The Addison Public Library is one of the many libraries across the country that has its own makerspace or studio, where patrons can explore their crafty side and pick up a new hobby. For Addison resident Efua Asssan, the library’s Creative Studio was the perfect space for her to explore sewing, where she quickly breezed past the basics to design and sew her first custom skirt.

Assan lives close to the library and regularly borrows books and movies. She knew about the library’s Creative Studio, but didn’t know the Creative Studio had sewing machines until she happened to see someone sewing during one of her library visits over one year ago. When she asked about the machines, Assan learned that first she would need to make an appointment to learn how to use the sewing machines but would be welcome to use them any time after that initial instruction. She was interested in trying another machine-sewed project—her last attempt had been over three years ago—but didn’t have a project in mind. Then, she received an invitation to a party.

“My friend was having a theme party in New York where she wanted everyone to wear something with African print,” Assan said. “I knew I could either spend a lot of money and buy something, or be adventurous and make something for less money.”

Assan opted for the latter and promptly booked an appointment in the Creative Studio to learn how to use the library’s  Janome computerized sewing machine, meeting with Digital Services Coordinator Angelica Elias-Magadan in August 2019.

“I don’t have a sewing machine, and [the library] is the only place that had enough space [to sew],” said Assan. “I live in an apartment, and I just felt like in the Creative Studio I could clear my head and not be distracted by all the other things I want to do at home.”

After learning the basics of the machine, Assan turned to the library’s books to teach herself the other essential skills she’d need to complete her project.

“I didn’t know how to take measurements for something like a skirt, or how to sew it closed when it was done, so I went to the catalog online and looked up books that teach you how to sew. I went to get one book and ended up taking five or six, so I had a stack of books,” said Assan. “It was really helpful—I was between YouTube University and looking at the books, but the books were how I figured out how to do my measurements and put in the zipper.”

Armed with the know-how to operate a sewing machine, a few yards of stunning green patterned fabric, and a plan to turn her vision into a reality, Assan got to work in the Creative Studio.

“[Elias-Magadan] got this awesome beginner sewing kit that had all the tools you’d need to make any project: things like extra needles for the sewing machine, the roller cutter, pins, scissors, the stuff you use to mark your materials, that kind of thing. It saved my life!” said Assan. “I was using chalk and rulers and it just wasn’t what I needed. Besides buying spools to thread the machine and the fabric, I didn’t have to purchase anything extra.”

Before long, the skirt was completed. Assan shows off the zipper with pride—it’s expertly hidden within the skirt’s fabric, a technique that Elias-Magadan says most beginners are too intimidated to try.

“I had the chance to see the finished product and was amazed at her work,” said Elias-Magadan. “I was so impressed by [Assan’s] eagerness to learn and teach herself all the sewing tricks she needed for her project.”

For a lifelong library lover like Assan, having the Creative Studio available to her for this project affirmed what she already knew about libraries: that she would be able to find everything she needed.

“I tell everybody to go to the library. When I was a kid, we used to go to the library all the time,” Assan said. “My mom would take us with no plan or agenda, but we always found something to do, whether it was reading a book, watching a movie, using the computers, or seeing if there was an activity or event or something going on. [The Addison Public Library] is by far my favorite library I’ve been to in my whole entire life because of all the things that it provides for the people in this community.”

After debuting her skirt at the party in New York and posting photos on social media, Assan received a huge amount of praise from friends and family, as well as a few skirt requests.

“If I get better [at sewing], I might take orders,” she joked.

But for now, Assan is planning to make another appointment to learn how to use the Creative Studio’s vinyl cutter to make T-shirt designs. She got the idea while she sewed her skirt, chatting with another patron in the Creative Studio who was making T-shirts of their own.

“We were joking that we could start a whole business at the library—and we totally could, just because of all the resources [the library] provide[s],” said Assan. “That’s why I think it’s so important to go to the library. They might have what you don’t have.”

Elias-Magadan offers occasional sewing classes, among other crafting programs, in the Creative Studio but she always welcomes a one-on-one appointment to teach patrons how to use the sewing machines like she did for Assan.

“I was really inspired by working with [Assan]. She took a lot of initiative,” Elias-Magadan said. “I hope we have more people like her who want to come in and use our machines. I know we have so much talent in our community and I hope we can provide the space and the tools for more people to learn how to make things.”

Image and permission to use image provided by Efua Assan.