Studio/workshop space for fiber and fabric fans opens doors in Lakewood
CLEVELAND, June 25 — Ladies and gentlemen, start your sergers! Stitch Cleveland, a new studio/workshop space in Lakewood is holding its grand opening launch party July 21, 2007. Offering classes in everything from sewing and knitting to fashion illustration, the company’s three partners looked beyond northeast Ohio for inspiration to fellow craft shops and events.
Partner Shannon Okey is the author of over nine books, a columnist for knit.1 magazine, and a frequent guest on crafty television shows such as Knitty Gritty, Uncommon Threads and Crafters Coast to Coast. She remarked: “Studio spaces like ours are popular thanks to the Stitch ‘n Bitch effect — you’re more likely to work on a project if you’ve got like-minded friends there to cheer you on.”
“We want crafty Clevelanders to try new things. Many of my former students put off learning how to sew because they were anxious, but we’ve got a really welcoming learning environment here.” comments partner Megan Engelmann, a former education director for Jo-Ann Fabrics. Stitch Cleveland’s third partner is Engelmann’s mother, Heidi Massingill, a longtime craft community promoter.
The team founded Stitch Cleveland to serve as both a learning space for the community and a home base for their own design work. Okey is a knitwear designer, Engelmann a fashion designer and Massingill a couture seamstress. All three will be teaching classes and designing new pattern lines in the Sloane Avenue space.
Expect demos of everything from dyeing and felting to wire crochet, sewing and embroidery at the event July 21. Come try your hand at crocheting or knitting, and bring your friends! “Crafting is always more fun with friends,” says Massingill. “That’s why we’re offering half-off a second student’s class fee in July when you register together, even for private class sessions.”
Other upcoming events at Stitch Cleveland include a book signing and class July 14 by renowned crewel embroidery designer and author of The New Crewel, Katherine Shaughnessy, and the launch of Okey’s new book AlterNation, written with local designer Alexandra (Xan) Underhill.
For more information, or to sign up for classes, check out stitchcleveland.com
Contact shop@stitchcleveland.com or (216) 220-4808 for more information. Photos and interviews are available on request.
Source: Stitch Cleveland