Sewing Machine Basics: Coasters

With Briana Di Natale

What to Bring: (Optional) Bring your own sewing machine that’s in good working order, along with its power cord, foot pedal, bobbins, and the machine’s manual. (You can also use our machines if you prefer).

Dust off that sewing machine and finally learn how to use it with confidence! This essential workshop is designed for absolute beginners or anyone who owns a sewing machine but is intimidated by all the knobs, dials, and threading paths. In this hands-on class, you will bring your own machine and we will demystify it together. We’ll guide you through everything from winding a bobbin to sewing a straight seam, all while creating a practical and stylish project. Join this supportive beginner-friendly workshop, expand your handy DIY skillset, and connect with a community of fellow makers!

What You’ll Make:

  • A charming set of four quilted fabric coasters. You’ll learn a simple quilting technique that you can apply to countless other projects, from placemats to blankets.

Skills & Concepts You’ll Learn:

  • Identifying the essential parts of your sewing machine

  • Properly winding a bobbin and threading your machine

  • Basic machine operation (sewing straight lines, backstitching, pivoting)

  • Simple troubleshooting for common issues like looped stitches or thread jams

  • Fundamental machine care and maintenance

Equipment & Tools You’ll Learn:

  • Your own sewing machine (or ours), standard sewing notions (scissors, pins, seam ripper)

Class Outline:

  1. Introduction & Setup: Getting to know your machine's key parts, functions, and safety basics.

  2. Threading & Practice: Guided, hands-on practice winding the bobbin, threading the top thread, and sewing test seams on scrap fabric.

  3. Project Construction: Step-by-step instruction to create a set of quilted coasters, practicing straight seams and pivoting corners.

  4. Troubleshooting & Care: Learn to spot and fix common problems and how to perform basic cleaning and maintenance to keep your machine running smoothly.

  5. Wrap-Up: Review of skills, best practices for at-home sewing, and Q&A.

Other Class Details:

  • Prerequisites: None. No Experience Required.

  • Class Capacity: 8 maximum, 3 minimum

  • Materials Provided?: Yes

  • Age Limit: 13+ (guardian required if under 18)

  • Partner Ticket Available?: No

  • Available for a Private Class?: Yes (info)

  • Clothing/Equipment Requirements?: None

About Your Teacher

Briana Di Natale has been a dedicated sewist and knitter since 2011. Her favorite projects to create are clothing and accessories. She almost exclusively wears things that she has made herself.

Briana learned to sew from her mother who attended FIDM in Los Angeles when she was a child. She grew up surrounded by her mother's patterns, pins on the floor and wearing clothing she sewed for her. Her grandmother is also a sewist and quilter so sewing is in her blood and soul. She has a giddy passion for encouraging and teaching others to sew.

See some of her work @frolicinthefiber or at frolicinthefiber.etsy.com