Whether you’re a novice or a pro, Sewing Machines Etcetera (SME) is your one-stop shop for all your sewing needs. Opening their doors to the public in 1992 in Grimsby, the company relocated to Burlington in 1996 to better serve their Hamilton and Halton customers.
“Here at Sewing Machines Etcetera we literally do everything. We used to say that we have everything but fabric, but now we have fabric too,” admits Nick Kottelenberg, store owner. “We have our notions, our sewing machines, our machine service, our education, and we’re even building an online community to share information and inspiration with all our customers,”
Education has always been a big component of SME mission. They offer a wide variety of classes for students off all ages and all skill levels. If you’ve never used a sewing machine before, knowledgeable instructors will put you at ease as you learn basic techniques. Experienced hobbyists can hone their skills, whether it be quilting, new technology or embroidery.
Students are usually asked to bring their sewing machines to use during the class, but if you’re thinking about purchasing a new model and want to take it for a test drive, Kottelenberg suggests borrowing one from the store.
It may be a female dominated hobby, but there are men who sew. When Kottelenberg joined the SME family he wasn’t sure how he would fit in, but was quickly welcomed with open arms. The family atmosphere is a big part of SME’s success; after all it is a family business. Not only do customers come to the store to buy their supplies and take classes, they also find inspiration and share project ideas. The online community has become a big part of building that sharing experience. S ewers don’t just use their computer to chat about techniques and share patterns; they also use software to help them with their quilting and embroidery projects.
The friendly, knowledgeable staff at SME are all enthusiastic hobbyists themselves and they take the store’s motto to heart – “creativity blooms here”.
“We really try hard to make sure our customers’ needs are met. Anywhere from our custom classes to borrowing our machines or renting the new long arm for quilters,” says Kottelenberg.
For more information on what Sewing Machines Etcetera has to offer, visit
www.SewingMachinesEtcetera.com.
