Bringing the sewing bee back
A primary school teacher is bringing the sewing bee back to Hamilton’s working bees as she plans to open a social sewing studio at Riverbank Lane.
Sip & Sew Workshop owner Sarah Oliver wanted to build a business that connects generations – to honour the time she sewed with her mother and the time she didn’t get to sew with her daughter.
Oliver remembers spending summer holidays as a little girl, sewing and laughing together with her mother. While her mother made cushion covers for their house, Oliver made bedding for her dolls and Barbies.
She imagined recreating those memories with her own daughter, but was devastated when her 4-week-old baby Amalie died of a brain tumour.
Oliver remembers every moment of the short time she spent with Amalie. “I couldn’t go for a walk by myself because the last walk I went on was with her in a stroller. I didn’t want to go to the lake, I took her to the lake, and now I’m going by myself.”
After many counselling sessions and spending time alone, Oliver decided to dust off her sewing machine, putting the rest of her maternity leave and her restless love towards the long-forgotten hobby. “I would have been making clothes for her. But now I couldn’t, so I will make things for other children.”
To get back to sewing, Oliver first made crowns, wands and capes for children under the brand Amalie’s Room. Then she found a path where she can use her sewing and teaching talents.
Oliver had heard stories of when people were given their grandma’s sewing machine but don’t know how to use it. Likewise, when people were struggling to shorten their skirts. So she started a sewing workshop.
After holding garage workshops, floating around cafes and restaurants, and trialling a two month pop-up at Made, Oliver finalised her business goal – “to connect women from multi-generations together”. She was ready to launch into a permanent space.
There will be workshops for all ages, with projects available from tote bags and cushion covers to more challenging skirts.
Oliver is excited to sign the lease on the Riverbank Lane location, while the city is also excited to have her.
Hearing about the newcomer, Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams said Sip & Sew would provide another thing for experience-seeking consumers to try.
The opening date for the workshop has yet to be determined, but it will be announced on sipandsewworkshopsnz.com