June 10, 2004
The fabric of this sewing shop is her love of sewing and for teaching children. After 16 years in the small home-based sewing service the change has taken place quickly for Yvonne Hamelin.
A desire to teach children sewing skills is what prompted Hamelin to take stock of her solitary life in her alterations shop. She took the plunge in 1996 signing a one-year lease for a tiny commercial space and “Yvonne’s Sewing Shop” was born.
“When you put your heart into something you love doing, business growth is a natural progression,” says Hamelin. While the business thrived in its new location, in less than a year it was outgrowing its space. Hamelin had no idea more changes were to come, but then the owner of Midland Sewing Centre decided to retire and closed his business, leaving the area with no sewing machine service centre.
Husqvarna-Viking approached Hamelin in 1999 with an offer to become an exclusive dealer for their line of sewing machines. There was only on catch – she had to purchase their entire line of new machines. Knowing that the banks required a business plan prior to loaning anyone money for a business venture, she had no idea of how to start writing one and Hamelin realized her options for financing were limited. By chance, she attended a business presentation given by Mary DiTomaso from the North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation (NSCFDC). Hamelin approached the NSCFDC and was overwhelmed by their helpfulness. They evaluated her business requirements and accepted her into their loans program. “Knowing that I had their support was paramount,” says Hamelin.
Since becoming a Husqvarna-Viking dealer, her new shop occupies over 2000 square feet, of which 1000 square feet is classroom and 1,000 square feet is retail. Hamelin acknowledges that managing her own business has been a liberating experience. “I’m still learning and I still don’t know it all,” she admits.
“Our children’s classes are running beautifully. It is so exciting for me to witness what these very young sewers are able to do,” she says. Since 1996 over 1,000 students have taken her courses, with children as young as 5 sign up for her classes after they hear how much fun they are. The Shop hosts fashion shows to display completed creations to parents and friends, and Hamelin is always proud when the students say “I made it myself”. Many know nothing about sewing when they start, but they leave proudly clutching beautifully finished projects such as pajamas and knapsacks. Hamelin also gathers approximately 200 people for a sew-a-thon once a year to create 500 Halloween treat bags they distribute at the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, Ontario. After 911 in New York City, a community project involving 800 people was started for a quilting project. The finished quilts were hand-delivered by Hamelin and her husband to the victims’ families of 9/11 in New York City.
Yvonne’s love of motivating young people is inspiring many youth to discover the rewards of sewing. She sums it up this way: “sewing is the outlet people need to be creative, to care, to shine, to deliver.”