Sewing lounge launch party

Photo credit: Piece Together

Summer has arrived early in Brisbane, bringing with it 30+ temperatures and the silly season in full swing. I think they call it the silly season because it's ridiculously silly how many great parties/launches/openings/events are on each night, making it impossible to get to them all especially post a smidge of bubbly. Tonight we'll be attempting to party hop from the Frock Paper Scissors launch to the launch of Brisbane's newest sewing lounge Piece Together.

You wouldn't think it possible that more wonderful businesses could pop up in the Woolloongabba Antique Precinct, but they have! Piece Together opened its doors a few months ago now, and just downstairs of their lofty studio space is new coffee nook Five Sugars. Champagne, cupcakes and live music will start flowing from Five Sugars from 5.30pm, with Piece Together's launch starting at 7pm upstairs. There's also a craft and vintage mini-market for your xmas-present-organising pleasure or just as a little treat for yourself.

Now you've got your schedule sorted for this evening, the only thing left to settle is what to wear! I think Janome will be coming out to play a tad this season - too many events and not enough handmade dresses...

Stitching the way

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

Thread Den is a quaint little sewing lounge in the trendy Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. Ladies (and some gents) are flocking to the space for all sorts of lessons and to check out the handmade independently-designed garments stocked in store.

Joanna, Kylie and Melissa all have a hand in running the ever-growing store and they work hard to stay ahead of the times - which can be especially tricky in culture rich Melbourne. The three don’t have a lot of spare time to tend to their own sewing machines, but sewing has played a huge role in getting them where they are today.

While Melissa and Kylie were cultivating their love of sewing by cutting up old sheets and altering op-shopped pieces, Joanna was busy sewing on a machine given to her by Prince Charles.

When Joanna was young she attended a sewing class held by the Prince’s Trust charity with her youth group. “[Afterwards] they recommended to the charity that they buy me a mannequin and a sewing machine… so they did,” Joanna says.

Luckily the skills stuck with these lovely ladies because the crafty population of Melbourne have embraced their classes. Thread Den often has a waiting list for their kids and adults classes, and the girls say they get some “weird and wonderful” requests for private lessons.

“We enjoy transferring these skills and giving people opportunities to learn more and seeing their enthusiasm for it,” Melissa says.

You can read more about Thread Den on page 10 of Seam's The Start-Ups Issue!