Embroidery enthusiast has business all sewn up

It is a Tuesday afternoon and Goldstitch Sewing Studio is bustling with activity. Women of all ages are engaged in a variety of tasks; cutting out patterns, pinning fabric together, neatening seams and sewing on buttons.

Some browse the shelves of colourful fabric, trims and ribbons, as others excitedly show off their latest projects, ranging from cushions and curtains to coats, dresses and teddy bears.

The sound of laughter and chatter soars above the gentle whirr of sewing machine and overlocker engines, while in the kitchen a boiling kettle signals that tea and cake are on way.

Welcome to Sew Cafe, in Nettlesworth, near Chester-le-Street, a place where stitchers of all abilities can feed their passion for fabric and thread.

These days, talk frequently turns to The Great British Sewing Bee. Presented by Claudia Winkleman, the BBC Two show pits amateur sewers against each other in a series of challenging tasks.

Judges May Martin, from the Women’s Institute, and Savile Row’s Patrick Grant scrutinise the sewers every stitch and have the difficult task of sending someone home each week.

This year, the series is particularly gripping for North-East viewers, as primary school teacher Amanda Gledhill, pictured below, from Darlington, is flying the flag for the region.

Sew Cafe owner Jean Westgarth, 53, follows the series avidly. “What I love about Sewing Bee is that the contestants all have different levels of ability.

Some are experienced, others less so, but they’re all enthusiastic, which is the most important thing. Sewing Bee inspires people to give it a go and discover just how enjoyable and rewarding sewing can be.

You gain a real sense of achievement when you make something yourself and it’s wonderful to create something unique.”

The series has also had a knock-on effect on Jean’s business, with demand for Sew Cafe soaring. And watching Jean in action at the Tuesday group, it is clear the mother-of-two could give May Martin a run for her money.

Friendly, patient and knowledgeable, she works her way around the room, offering advice, encouragement and support along the way. She is passionate about crafts and her enthusiasm is infectious.

“Sewing has always been part of my life,” she explains. “My mum and mother-in-law both sew and my daughters learnt to sew when they were five. At school, I was always the one people asked for help to thread up the sewing machines. It’s just something I’ve always done.”

It was not until the early 1990s that Jean’s hobby became a vocation. It started with a tailoring course in nearby Framwellgate Moor, where she learned how to draft patterns. Eager to discover more, she enrolled on a fashion course at New College, in Durham, where she further honed her skills and discovered a penchant for machine embroidery.

“One day we were asked if we would like to embroider a wedding dress, as an inquiry had been made to the college, “ she says. “I’d just bought one of the first embroidery machines so thought I would give it a go. This was my first commission and I really enjoyed it. I started to take on more and more embroidery work and Goldstitch was born.”

Jean launched her embroidery business in 1998 and now sends personalised items to customers all over the world. For the first ten years, she worked from home but when an empty shop became available in Tanhills, in her home village, she snapped it up and transformed it into a bright and welcoming studio. Sew Cafe and the haberdashery followed shortly afterwards.

“I decided to bring some of my sewing machines into the shop so I could show people how to alter their own clothes,” explains Jean. “I don’t do alterations but I thought it would be nice to teach people how to do it themselves.”

The flagship Tuesday afternoon group proved extremely popular and Jean now runs two groups on Wednesday evening, another on Friday evening and has recently launched a Friday afternoon session. She also offers one-to-one tuition for children and adults on Saturday.

Jean’s talented daughters, Jennifer and Caroline, are often on hand to offer advice, while her mother Jean and mother-in-law Irene ensure stitchers are supplied with home-made cakes. The haberdashery is also growing from strength-to-strength and Jean is proud to be one of the only Liberty fabric stockists in the North-East.

Doreen Johnson, from Nettlesworth, has been coming to Sew Cafe from the outset. Today she is executing the finishing touches to a reversible winter coat. “I love it here as I can actually get on with some sewing. I never have time at home,” she says. “Sew Cafe is brilliant because everything you need is here, including a big table to cut out your fabric. Everyone who comes is so friendly. I pop in most days to say hello.”

Claudia Powell, from Stanley, is a more recent addition to the group. “I can’t draw, but I enjoy being creative, so sewing is perfect for me,” she says. “I love coming here. Jean is fantastic and you get coffee and cake as well.”

For more information about Sew Cafe, visit sewcafe.co.uk or contact Jean on 0191-3711-444 or jean@goldstitch.co.uk