Originally Posted by mimstrel

Currently my only quilting "friend" is my mom...
and since about half of my quilting stuff is hand-me-downs from her (plus I'm gonna go ahead and plead the 5th on having permanently borrowed things from her quilting supplies), she is allowed to borrow my stuff.

I'm going to start teaching some quilting and knitting classes soon, and I'll have to decide what, if any, of my supplies I'll let students use (in-class only). Probably in quilt classes, I won't have anything that students can borrow (they can rent a sewing machine from the store), but with knitting classes, a different pair of needles can make a huge difference if you have any kind of joint or tendon issues in your hands or wrists, so I might let students try out some of my needles as long as they sign them out and return them prior to the end of class.

PS - others have mentioned the fact that the reason they don't share is because they can't afford to go replacing stuff (which is why people only get to use my sewing machine under direct supervision and in my house) but at the same time... one of the reasons that I will loan things out is because I am and always have been short on money. But others have been generous to me, not only with loaned items but outright gifts! and that has allowed me to try out many things I wouldn't have otherwise been able to do. So while I'm careful about when and why I loan things out (and usually loan out older or lower quality supplies), I'm paying it forward for everyone who has ever helped me.