About Us
The shop is owned and run by Jan assisted by Jenny, Mich, Lucy and Greta and we all have a passion and experience for everything sewing related. If it is a love of fabrics and creativity that you need then come and visit us!
We aim to make Stitch a warm and welcoming place for you to visit. Whether it’s just for a browse and a little bit of temptation or for a specific item – you are most welcome. As we are all local we can also direct you to tea rooms, places of interest and recommendations for local shops too!
Here’s a little introduction to the team.
The Team
Jan
Jan, the owner, has been sewing since doing ‘O’ level needlework at school (which she didn’t enjoy and came out with a D!!)
Her passion lies in encouraging everyone to try sewing and her often heard mantra is …” If you make a garment and it doesn’t fall apart and show your pants when you are wearing it, then you have done a good job! Perfection and detail will come later with experience”.
Alongside dressmaking she enjoys free motion embroidery, a little hand embroidery and generally anything textile related.
When not in the shop her other activities include a little sea swimming and walking, along with spending time with friends.
Jenny
Jenny has had a love of sewing since watching her mum make dance costumes for her when she was small. She has continued to sew on and off since then making clothes for both herself and dance costumes for her daughters. Working with fabrics over the past few years has reawakened her passion for sewing
In the shop, Jenny is our queen of buttons, embroidery threads and ribbons –she keeps them all in order and loves shopping for the new buttons!
When not working with us in the shop, Jenny has her own business making jewellery and offers restringing service. As a qualified gemmologist she loves working with semi-precious stones and creating beautiful jewellery.
Mich
Mich, sewed at school but didn’t rekindle it until 2008 when she made her first quilt. Since working in the shop she is enjoying learning dressmaking and hand embroidery and continues with her quilting. Her happy place in the shop, when not serving customers, is keeping the quilting cottons in order and cutting the fat quarters!
When not working, Mich will often be found cooking, walking her dogs, looking after grandchildren or away in her caravan.
Greta
Greta, one of our tutors, is an established Textile Artist, exhibiting her work across a range of venues in the local area.
She is passionate about sharing hand-stitching skills such as Smocking, Embroidery, Sashiko and Visible Mending. Greta is also keen to foster the sense of wellbeing & mindfulness which comes from stitching together in a group.
In her own time Greta enjoys dressmaking for herself and can usually be seen sporting one of her own creations when running workshops.
Lucy
Lucy is our dressmaking tutor. She began sewing as a child making dolls clothes and soft toys. She continued sewing alongside her working and family life and has made a few wedding dresses for family and friends in that time.
Along with her skills in upholstery, soft furnishings and dressmaking, lucy has exhibited her textile artwork at exhibitions too. Freemotion embroidery is one of her loves as well as applique which she has used in a few of her upholstery projects to stunning effect.
When not teaching at Stitch or creating in her studio at home, she enjoys walking, yoga and pilates and playing with her delightful cats.