We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erica Carpenter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erica below.

Hi Erica, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The mission of Stitching Supply focuses on community building and creativity. Ever since college, where I found myself in group settings during classes, the idea and practice of working alongside other artisans, I had the desire and drive to continue doing creative work in that way. When you surround yourself with creative people, you become more inspired and more willing to try different projects and techniques that you wouldn’t have tried by yourself. The always-free community table at Stitching Supply provides that space for my customers to become close friends and we are all inspired by each other.

Erica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At Stitching Supply, we value creativity, fellowship, quality hand-made, and natural fibers, as well as supporting small and independent businesses, We deliver this to the local crafting community by providing a welcome space to shop and be inspired by other crafters. We offer an excellent selection of yarn and supplies from beloved brands, but also with a wide selection of yarns from small independent dyers. We source from local and regional suppliers whenever possible. This gives Stitching Supply a unique vibe, and an unmatched selection in the local market.

Have you ever had to pivot?

About 5 years ago I picked up crocheting and knitting again and loved to go to local yarn stores to get inspired and touch yarns. the pandemic. Slowly, local sources of quality yarn started to disappear from Memphis and I had to rely on out-of-town and online sources for the quality supplies that I was hungry for. Buying yarn online is always a little risky because how it feels and how it looks in person can’t be understood through browsing online.
After working a corporate job while raising my family and getting closer to considering retirement, it started to occur to me that I could make the dream I had of providing a welcoming space for crafters by opening up a local yarn store. With the support of my family and my knitting circle, my dream suddenly became a reality.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I believe that the “secret sauce” at Stitching Supply is the welcoming environment. Bring in your project and chat with others at the community table. If you have run into a snag on your project, there’s always someone who can help. The community table is always free anytime we are open. Everyone is encouraged to join in, even if they have a project with supplies purchased elsewhere. We find inspiration at the community table every single day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stitching-supply.com
• Instagram: StitchingSupply
• Facebook: StitchingSupply

Image Credits

Elizabeth Lambe