Losing sleep thinking about my next sewing project or staying up till 4:00am to put the finishing touches on a costume - these are the things that tell me I really do love sewing. As a long time Capitol Hill resident, I've always thought there needed to be a fabric store in this wonderfully creative and diverse neighborhood. And not just a regular fabric store, but a place where I can find the fashion fabrics that the chain stores just don't carry. Stitches is that place. It is a place for people to learn new techniques, find inspiration, and meet like-minded people in the process. I've been sewing all my life, starting with outfits for my Barbie dolls to my current favorites: costume design and creating fuzzy animated bicycles. Through my store I hope to introduce others to the joy that sewing has given me, and they too will be able to say, "I made it myself!"

If you have a knitting or crochet question, see Daniel! His passion for fiber related crafts extends over 30 years, including knitting, crochet, tatting, needlepoint, embroidery, spinning, and of course, sewing. His forte is conquering pattern errors, confusing directions, construction methods, foreign and vintage knitting patterns, and other trivial information. He likes “yes or no” answers to “yes or no” questions and his philosophy includes classic styling, keeping it fun, and nothing is impossible. He is the resident expert at the Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat at the “Just-in-Time Answers and Solutions Clinic” or as he likes to call it, the “Free Clinic for Wayward Fibers and Survivors of Domestic Misknits.

Mark has been designing and making clothes and other things since he was in High School, sometime in the last quarter of the last century. He believes you'll quickly find success in sewing if you add a new technique or skill to each project you undertake.

Danial has been the sewing instructor at Stitches since August 2008. He strives to give his students a foundation in basic sewing techniques, which is grounded in 15 years of real world sewing experience. Before teaching at Stitches, Danial worked for 8 years in regional theatre and opera companies, including Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera and the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Still active in his own design business, Danial designs and manufactures custom clothing and soft goods for private clients and the film/television industries of the Northwest. Some of his clients range from Microsoft executives all the way to down to local drag performers and go-go boys across the nation.

Capitol Hill has been my home for over 20 years. I even live two blocks from where I was born. Along the way I have studied theater, escaped to New York, studied opera with a professional, went to art school, played the violin, played the ukelele, taught myself to knit, made many of my kids’ Halloween costumes, made zillions of sock monkeys, crocheted legions of amigurumi, and I have made all my Christmas gifts for the past 15 years. I love meeting and helping people who come to Stitches looking for their next project, or adding on yet another project simply because they find themselves wandering around the store clutching a bevy of fabric and some sexy fringe.

Andrea has come from a long line of seamstresses. She learned to sew from her mother, who learned from her mother, who learned from hers, and so on. She has been sewing since she was seven years old and loves it. Not only does she sew, she knits and crochets, she weaves and spins, she loves needle felting and felting in general, she beads and crafts all hours of the day (or night)! In the past Andrea has also taught beginner beading classes for schools. She grew up in a very large family, and one of the ways her mother got all of them to sit down and chill for a little while was arts and crafts! She loves all forms of them! So if you have questions don't hesitate to ask! She very well might have an answer or an idea that might help you! No matter how obscure your project may be, ask her anything, and she can help.