Sew Many Stitches

by Debbie Thompson
(O'Fallon, IL, USA debbiethompson@charter.net)

I began sewing as a 4-H member when I was 9 years old. I not only learned to sew, but to hand embroider and cross stitch. I had no idea at that time I was beginning what would become a career as a home economics teacher. Through the years I have been offered many opportunities to learn skills that have proven useful as I transition from working outside my home, to working out of my home. For example, after making a clergy vestment as part of a church history class while studying at the seminary, I discovered that I have a special talent for fabrics, and how to work with them that many do not. I considered sewing and collecting fabrics my hobby until my health got in the way of my family services support work.
While I was recovering from extreme exhaustion, I made a kitchen curtain out of leftover quiltblocks, which helped me to realize that I had skills to not only read patterns, but design my own projects. Instead of return to family support ministry in the traditional sense, I have discovered that teaching others how to sew, and using my quilting and embroidery skills to design vestments and paraments for churches is not only my skill, but my spiritual gift. I have just finished my first commissioned pulpit parament and have just contracted with my local fabric store to begin teaching once again which will give me a source of income while I build my custom sewing business.
I can envision my business growing into three divisions: teaching, quilting and vestment making. For now I am getting my name out into the community by doing some tailoring and mending which I am discovering is a whole new market. I always took for granted that people knew how to hem pants and sew on buttons or Girl Scout badges. Sew Many Stitches is already proving to be an appropriate title, but I can see that I will eventually have to choose which market I will serve and which one I will hire staff to support if my business continues to grow.