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Flexible Schedule
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Seattle, WA 98122
We run a free, monthly event to teach fellow Capitol Hill residents how to mend or modify their fabric belongings. Join our team so that we can host this event more frequently and help community members build these skills! Overview The Capitol Hill Tool Library is an all-volunteer organization that empowers our neighborhood to build DIY skills and improve sustainability, by offering tool borrowing, workspace, and free classes. Our borrow-able tools include eight sewing machines, a serger, and many other mending supplies. At our "mending circle" events, anyone can bring in their torn or broken fabric items (or learn using our sample materials) and our volunteer team will teach them the skills they need. This event has been so well-attended in recent months that we’d love to grow the volunteer team and offer mending circle twice per month (or more!). What you’ll do For one or two two-hour shifts per month, you’ll come in and - alongside other volunteers - teach folks how to repair their items. You’ll do this by demoing or helping them get started; we’re not here to fix items for guests, but rather to teach them how to do so themselves. Why you’ll be excited Lots of people have no exposure to sewing, and attendees often come in really unconfident. By mentoring them for a few minutes and giving them the tools they need, our attendees totally change their outlook; they leave mending circle not only having solved their current project, but being able to fix their fabric belongings for the rest of their life. We feel extremely rewarded and excited to see this empowerment in action, and to interact so closely with our neighbors. It also feels great to play a small part in slowing overconsumption and decreasing how much gets thrown away. Additionally, we get to work as a fun, tight volunteer team during each shift. What skills you’ll need You’ll need to have some experience with fabric repair skills, and feel comfortable teaching others the basics. If you know hand sewing techniques, how to use use a sewing machine, how to work with knitted garments, or any other similar skills, you’ll fit right in and be a huge help to our community!
Date Posted: May 29, 2025
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Flexible Schedule
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Seattle, WA 98122
We run free skill-building and DIY classes for the community, and are looking for more teachers! All skills are welcome, and we can provide equipment, supplies, and space. Here are a few classes we've taught recently, to give an example of the breadth of domains the community is excited about learning: Brewing kombucha Crafting custom holiday cards Taking your first backpacking trip Power saw safety Mending your clothes Last-minute tax prep How we serve the community The Capitol Hill Tool Library is an all-volunteer organization that empowers our neighborhood to improve sustainability and build self-reliance by offering tool borrowing, workspace, and classes. Our inventory includes items ranging from ice cream makers to hedge trimmers to sewing machines to drills, and our workshop has spaces for woodworking, jewelry making, and 3D printing. We're an entirely volunteer staff, all our classes are free, and membership is pay-what-you-can, so that we can serve everyone. What you’ll do You'll work with an existing tool library volunteer to plan out the class: what topics would be most useful to the community, what time is convenient for you, and which supplies will be necessary. We'll take care of publicizing the event and purchasing items that we don't already have in inventory. When you teach your class, we'll have an experienced volunteer present to help you set up, welcome folks, and answer any questions. No prior teaching experience is required, just an excitement to share your knowledge! Why you’ll be excited Teaching classes at the tool library is a fun, rewarding way to connect with your community. You’ll meet your neighbors and enable them to take on projects that they're infectiously enthusiastic about, empowering them to be more capable and self-sustaining for the rest of their lives.
Date Posted: Jun 17, 2025
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Flexible Schedule
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Seattle, WA 98122
Join our crew to learn new skills, connect with your community, and have lots of fun. No prior experience required! How we serve the community The Capitol Hill Tool Library empowers our neighborhood to build DIY skills and improve sustainability, through offering tool borrowing, workspace, and classes. Our inventory includes over 3,000 items, ranging from ice cream makers to hedge trimmers to sewing machines to drills. Our workshop has spaces for woodworking, jewelry making, and 3D printing. And our classes cover everything from backpacking to kombucha brewing wood shop safety to tax prep. We're an entirely volunteer staff, and everything we offer is free or pay-what-you-can so that we can serve everyone in the community. What skills you’ll need Absolutely none. Really! Many of us (including the person writing this VolunteerMatch listing!) came to the tool library with no DIY, woodworking, or "maker" experience at all - just an interest in connecting with our neighborhood. It’s very easy to learn on the job. What you’ll do We're open six days per week, for three hours each day. You'll pick a day to come in for, where you and one or two other tool librarians will serve patrons and improve the library. This includes checking tools in and out (like a library book), organizing inventory, helping patrons plan their projects, designing outreach and signage, and repairing broken items. During your first shift, you’ll get an orientation from an existing volunteer and we’ll help you find tasks that you enjoy. Why you’ll be excited Staffing the tool library is a fun, rewarding way to connect with your community. You’ll meet your neighbors and help them with projects that they’re infectiously enthusiastic about. You’ll also learn a ton through your own tasks - whether it’s by cataloging new inventory, chatting with patrons, or opening up and trying to repair items. You’ll do all this while working as a team with other sociable, community-minded tool librarians who are excited to make Capitol Hill a better place. You'll also have a chance to meet tool librarians from other shifts at our monthly volunteer potlucks.
Date Posted: Jun 17, 2025
(December 10, 2024)