Friday, October 9, 2026
For some residents, the new sewing club at the East Meadow Public Library is an opportunity to learn how to thread a machine or finally finish a project. But for others, the monthly get-together is an opportunity to sit around a table, share a hobby and make new friends in their own community.
Led by Nanda Sundri, a longtime East Meadow resident and retired East Meadow School District science teacher, the free club held its first meeting on Sept. 10.
The group meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, with the next meeting scheduled for Oct. 8.
Sundri, who has been sewing since around age 12, first brought the idea of a sewing class to the library in the spring. What was intended to be a one-time program quickly turned into something more.
“People in the class said, ‘When are you coming back?’” Sundri said.
After seeing the interest, Sundri proposed creating a regular sewing club where residents could work on projects, exchange ideas and learn from one another.
Sundri said she was inspired, in part, by seeing how many people wanted to learn basic sewing skills. One participant arrived with a brand-new sewing machine but did not know how to thread it.
“It was like, wow, there was a need there,” Sundri said.
The club is designed for anyone with an interest in sewing. Members can bring their own sewing machines and projects to work on, while Sundri and other members offer guidance. Projects can range from hemming pants and altering clothing to learning how to sew a zipper.
Sundri said some members are hesitant to make changes to their projects because they are afraid of making a mistake.
“They just need a little bit of a boost and some guidance,” she said.
But as members have discovered, the club offers more than sewing instruction.
For Linda Romano, an East Meadow resident who heard about the club through the library bulletin, one of her first impressions was the friendliness of the group.
“The people are very willing to help one another, share ideas,” Romano said.
Romano said she is still working to improve her sewing skills and appreciates having others nearby to help her get started. She expressed hope that the club continues and becomes a regular fixture at the library.
“I’m hoping that it’s a permanent club,” Romano said. “It’s the ideas and it’s the friendships, the friendships that you build later in life.”
For Romano, the invitation to newcomers is simple.
“Don’t hesitate,” she said. “People are willing to help, and it’s a fun night.”
Rhonda Matalevich also joined the club after seeing it listed in the library’s adult programming. After retiring in June, she wanted an activity that would give her a reason to get out of the house while allowing her to meet people in her community.
Matalevich, who has been sewing since she was 16, said she also does machine embroidery. While she has turned to YouTube to learn new techniques, she said there is something different about learning alongside other people.
“You don’t meet people,” Matalevich said of learning solely through YouTube. “I love the interaction.”
That interaction has become a major part of the club. Members share projects, offer advice and talk about their experiences, creating connections that extend beyond the sewing machines in front of them.
For Matalevich, the club provides a chance to spend an evening doing something she loves with people who hold the same passion.
“It’s just nice chatting about something that you enjoy with other people that do it,” she said.
Sundri said she hopes that spirit of collaboration continues as the club grows. While she may lead the group, she sees it as a place where everyone can contribute something. “I mean, we all learn,” Sundri said. “We all learn from each other.”
Sundri said she hopes the library will eventually be able to accommodate more participants as interest grows.
For more information or to register, visit EastMeadow.info.
