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.
