Stitch! is a new social enterprise that opened in May 2019 in the heart of Palmers Green in North London. We run craft classes including sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, mosaic and calligraphy for people living in Palmers Green, Southgate and Enfield. We sell fabrics, haberdashery and wool to support these classes. We work with schools on upcycling projects and offer work experience to older teenagers interested in textiles. We offer volunteering opportunities in our shop and are in the process applying to have apprentices through the Kick Starter scheme.
Our mission is to support crafters within our local community to both create and make, teaching and learning together. We actively engage with vulnerable groups including those living with disability. We have run campaigns to support specific groups such as making blankets for individuals who are homeless and knitting hats for the premature babies at our local hospital.
We began the venture as a pop up in a large but freezing shop and have recently moved to share cosy space with the Palmers Green Post Office. We have developed quickly since the pandemic, moving our stock online and many classes onto Zoom and creating and distributing crafting kits to be used at home whilst in lockdown or while self isolating.
Stitch has grown a significant local following over social media which has been a useful tool in making and keeping in contact with local crafters. We work with a local community pub, The Woodman who provide us with teaching space as covid regulations allow.