A haberdashery with a crafting twist is scheduled to open at the Triangle this month.
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Not only will Cathy Baker’s ‘Darn It and Stitch’ stock locally sourced fabrics, plus buttons, ribbons, scissors and more, there will also be classes to inspire and build confidence.
And “open space” sessions will mean people can use the facilities and pay for what they need as they go.
Some of the space in the Triangle shop, which previously housed Rob Fry’s photographic studio, and before that the Paradise beauty shop, will be used by ‘Made by Rachel’, which is run by a friend of Cathy’s. She'll be making jewellery and decoupage, and also running classes.
“Our three headings are ‘Inspire’, ‘Equip’ and ‘Educate’,” said Cathy.
“So we have plenty in here that people will see and think: ‘Oh wow, I really like that: so they’ll be inspired; they’ll be equipped to make whatever it is they’ve seen – they’ll have the fabric, they’ll have the thread, they’ll have the needles; but actually there are a lot of people that can’t sew and want to get into that, so we’re going to be running classes as well…
Open space
“Also we’re going to be running an ‘open space’… the idea is that people can come, they can use the sewing machines, they can pay for the bits they need, they can start a project with the idea that they build confidence, know what they’re doing, and then they can head home and finish it off or they can come back the next day, the next week…
Hub
“So we’re hoping it can be a bit of a hub. People can sit here and just have a cup of tea, and just enjoy themselves.”
Ready-made crafts and gifts will also be available to buy, and packs will be on sale so people can get all the bits they need to have a go at making something they’ve seen and like.
It’s a new venture for Cathy – something she’s always been interested in, and she thinks Bitterne Park is a great place to do it: “I wouldn’t have been so inspired or driven to do it if it hadn’t been in Bitterne Park!” she said.