Nourhan Ali's creative journey with a little help from her friends at the Library
On the second floor of the Central Library, in the heart of downtown London, you might hear the soft hum of a sewing machine. Behind the machine, you’re likely to find Nourhan Ali, a social work student, immigrant, small business owner, and one of the many creative entrepreneurs who have found a second home in the Library’s free Labs spaces.
Three years ago, during the lockdown lull, Nourhan taught herself to crochet. Like many of us, she was looking for a creative outlet during a strange and quiet time. She started with coasters and soon moved on to floral keychains. Her friends loved them and encouraged her to start selling, so she did.
Today, Nourhan's business offers handmade plushies, accessories, and bags complete with sewn-in linings, made possible by the Library’s heavy-duty sewing machines. “A sewing machine like this is really expensive,” she says, gesturing toward the machines in the Labs. “This makes my products better quality and allows me to grow my business, without having to purchase it.”
For Nourhan, the Labs offer more than just equipment. We provide access and opportunity: a place where she can be creative without financial strain. As a student with limited disposable income, she appreciates being able to earn a small income while pursuing her passion. Although the machines felt intimidating at first, one of the Library’s Digital Literacy Facilitators, James, stepped in to teach her how to use them.
It was a chance meeting at Earthfest last year that first connected her to the Labs team. James noticed the bag she’d made and offered to show her how to use the Library’s sewing machines. Nourhan quickly became a regular, returning often to refine her designs and expand her skills.
“It makes art really accessible. I love the Labs space. It was really helpful to have the resources, especially someone to be there for me and be like, I can teach you. I can help you grow your business. That's really important to me.”
That sense of community resonates deeply with Nourhan given her field of study.
“Especially as a social work student…It's modelling what community can look like, what resource accessibility can look like, and access to art, which is important for community and healing.”
If it seems surprising that the Library has sewing machines, think again! For staff like James this kind of engagement is exactly what the Library aims to inspire. “Sewing machines are a natural fit in makerspace Library culture,” James says. “They empower creative minds to express their desire to create and wear exactly what they want to. They also make a statement about caring for the environment by upcycling existing clothing and repairing instead of adding to the landfill.”
That blend of environmental awareness and artistic freedom inspires Nourhan. She’s now thrifting and upcycling more, dreaming up new ways to use the tools available to her. She’s got her eye on the Cricut next! “The possibilities are endless when I’m in this space.”
And it’s that sense of possibility that keeps her coming back. Beyond sewing, she’s used the button maker to create playful, crochet-themed pins (“I don’t need therapy, I just need to crochet”), and even taught a crochet workshop to kids in the Library last year. Of course, sometimes it’s just about the joy of creating.
“I can come here and forget about school or work or whatever is on my mind…to just come here and let my creative juices flow is really, really nice. And I appreciate having that space…the staff here are so welcoming and kind…they remember me and they're happy to see me and that makes me feel like I want to come more.”
Sarah, our Labs Librarian, sees stories like Nourhan’s all the time. “People continually surprise us with their creativity in the Labs! The sewing machines have been used not just for basic repairs, but for making cosplay, designing costumes for plays, and even sewing prom dresses.” From personalized gifts and school projects to campaign buttons and custom wedding décor, you never know what someone is going to make when they come in.
We aim to break down financial and technological barriers, empowering people to learn new skills, pursue creative projects, and even explore entrepreneurship. The tools are here, and so is the support. We are excited to announce that you can now book one-on-one time with our Labs team to learn to use the equipment in the space.
With over 20 markets under her belt and her products in local stores like Duck and Dodo and Attic Books, Nourhan’s business continues to grow, and the Labs remain essential to her creative process. Her new fanny packs, sewn right here at Central, are now available for purchase. Make sure to follow @CrochetbyNourhan.
“All my friends know me as the number one Library fan. I'm always like, go to the Library! Oh, you need to print? Go to the Library! You need to make whatever? Go to the Library!” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
Sarah adds that she doesn’t want the Labs to be a well-kept secret! “Londoners should know that the Library’s Labs are powerful resources.” For Nourhan, they have helped transform a lockdown hobby into a thriving creative business. Just imagine what they could do for you!️