By Angela Caito

The art of quilting can be traced back as far as the 11th century in the Middle East and then on to Europe by the 12th century. When the first European colonists came across the ocean to the new world in the 19th century, quilting came along with them. In the early days of quilting, the fabrics were used not only for colorful blankets to cover a bed, but for clothing, furniture covers and other household accessories. With many colors and patterns available, quilting is a craft that will hopefully be alive and well for years to come.

Since August of 2017, Lisa Fletcher, the owner of Fletchers Homemade at 510 East Elk Avenue in downtown Elizabethton, has been selling fabrics and other sewing supplies while also bringing the fun of quilting and other types of sewing and crafts to the local population. If you haven’t yet ventured into her shop, you’re missing out on so many incredible things. While visiting local shops in downtown Elizabethton, a member of the steering committee for the Tennessee Main Street program recently visited Fletchers Homemade and found out just how fun and interesting sewing can be.

Fletcher grew up in Butler and Hampton and went to Hampton High School. After college, she moved west where she lived in Seattle for more than 20 years before she made the decision, as many who leave often will, to move home to Tennessee. She always wanted to have a business downtown and had a dream that she would have a shop with an apartment upstairs and when she returned to Elizabethton, her dreams found their way into reality and she was able to open her fabric and sewing shop.

On any given day at Fletchers Homemade you can find a good old-fashioned sewing bee going on in the shop with women sitting around sewing and talking and enjoying the simpler things in life. Spicing things up a bit however, the sewing machines all have names! Sewing machines with names like Bluebell and Maybelline as well as others are all waiting on someone to sit down and make something.

Fletcher said she has many wonderful regular customers and that she’s made many great friends from those who frequent her shop.

“People who sew and quilt are just the most generous people you will ever meet because they seldom ever make anything for themselves. You can talk to somebody who has been sewing for years and you want to see something they made, and they’ll have to show you pictures because they’ve given it all away,” Fletcher said.

She said that those who sew are also very generous with helping to teach others how to sew and they love to help others with sewing.

Several classes are taught at Fletchers Homemade ranging from garment making to quilting. Class schedules vary depending on who is teaching and how many show interests in a class. Fletcher said she enjoys all the aspects of sewing, but quilting is her favorite.

She went on to say, “The thing I find so interesting about quilting is there is so much to it. I’ve met quilters who have been quilting for 20 and 30 years and they have not tried every technique out there and they want to learn.”

Quilts often capture a family history, whether through the fabric used or by the way the threads are sewn, and they have a way of bringing comfort to not only those who make them, but to their daughters and sons, grandchildren and others. Every quilt made has a story behind it that includes why a specific fabric or design was used, and who the quilt is going to once it is finished.

Fletcher said that men come in her shop frequently and talk about how their mothers made quilts for them and how comforting they are. She said, “Quilts are just such a comforting thing. They represent our culture, our heritage and it’s such a personal thing to make someone a quilt.”

June 17 through June 20 from 1 until 3 p.m., Fletcher is hosting a kid’s summer sewing camp. During camp, the kids will learn the basics of sewing and will be able to make an apron to take home at the end of camp.

Fletcher said she came up with the idea for the summer sewing camp after numerous customers came to the shop to ask if she could teach their children how to sew. With a decline in home economics classes taught in the school system today, there is a decline of people who know how to sew.

“We’ve got to turn this around. I mean, we’re still wearing clothing and we’re still using quilts,” Fletcher said. The store stocks fabrics for quilting and sewing and arts and crafts hand crafted by local artisans.

Fletchers Homemade was remodeled by Fletcher herself and she took time to paint the walls, redo the ceiling and really make the space her own. From the bright blue walls and the streetlights used to light the store to the colorful fabrics, artwork and other décor, this shop in downtown Elizabethton is truly one of a kind.

Be sure to follow Fletchers Homemade on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/quiltandsewing/ or visit the website at: http://www.fletchershomemade.com

Angela Caito is a freelance writer, film producer and publicist who writes a variety of columns nationwide. Sidewalk Stories is an initiative of the steering committee of the Main Street program and one that Angela is currently working on to help promote our downtown businesses. To contact Angela to be included in Sidewalk Stories you can email her at: angela@30dazeproductions.com