How the Stitchers Started

How the Stitchers Started

“I came to live in Trumpington in April 2013, and over the summer I was looking for an evening class for the Autumn. I happened to speak to Vicky Hathrell in August of that year and we discussed starting a sewing group. Vicky is the City Council Community Development Officer for the area, and has many useful contacts and good ideas.
 
Just around that time a lovely lady called Sonya had been engaged to run a course called ReVamp, which I signed up to. It was a small class, running for 4 weeks in the Pavilion, and aiming to give us the skills to revamp and upcycle garments, using small pieces of donated fabric and notions. We made cushions and aprons and skirts and embellished various pieces of clothing.
 
When the course ended, several of us wanted to continue sewing together. With Vicky’s help, we managed to start a group called Stitch and Chat, which started on 5th October 2013. We had financial help from Cambridge City Council to start with, then from the TRA, then again from the City Council in the form of a grant. We also had a grant from the Trumpington Parochial Charity which we used to buy scissors and three lightweight sewing machines. John Lewis has donated fabrics from the start, as have local individuals.
 
The group has developed over time, becoming Trumpington Stitchers.
 
We decided from the start to operate as a drop-in, with no requirement to join a formal club, which makes it easier for people to come whenever they can. We have sewing machines, fabrics and equipment for many types of stitchery and we help each other with our projects. We also talk quite a bit and have a cup of tea or coffee and sometimes a biscuit. We ask for a very small donation toward the cost of hiring the hall, which enables us to keep going, along with the occasional fundraising event.
Jackie