Sewing and coffee: St Leonards' Unzipped Sewing Café is the perfect stitch

Owned by Vanessa Newman and a silent partner, Unzipped Sewing Café is located at 40a Marina, St Leonards, and opened in April.

Vanessa explains: I've been sewing since I was a young child. I made my own clothes and sold clothes at the Electric Ballroom in Camden in the '80s. I trained as a window dresser and was one of the top window dressers in London, working for Harvey Nichols and Versace, among others.

"I had four children between '92 and '99, and I couldn't afford childcare, so sewing became my small income - sewing for my family and other people was what I did in between looking after the kids. I started doing alterations for people from a tiny shop in Lewes. Many years later, I studied fashion design and the history of fashion at the University of Brighton, graduating in 2010. I became a vintage clothes dealer specialising in 1940s fashion, and from that became a specialist in altering and repairing vintage clothing. I have clients who come to me from London because they don't trust anyone else with their vintage clothes."

She added: "The support has been great. Everyone who comes in loves it. Crafts have always been popular. Plus, there is something very therapeutic about working with your hands: It's slow, and many crafts are portable, making them easier to take with you.

"When it comes to buying online, a lot of people are boycotting certain websites and prefer buying in person, as it's a much more pleasant experience. With fabrics, you want to feel them, and people definitely want to learn new skills and meet others who share their passions."

Vanessa said that the feedback she's received so far from customers has been very positive: they like the creative feel of the interior and find it very homely. She offers group and one-to-one sewing sessions for beginners upwards. There are also workshops available, and she welcomes birthday celebrations or hen parties, too.

Among the popular events hosted there is the social hand-stitching session, "Stitch 'n' Bitch," held every Monday morning. For just £5, sewing enthusiasts can enjoy two hours of socialising and a nice cuppa with friends.

Talking about her plans for the future, she said: "I'd like to find other people who can offer lessons here in areas I don't teach. If anyone reading this is interested, please get in touch. I want to become a CIC (Community Interest Company) and offer free and subsidised sessions. I need some help with this, though."

People can also buy a selection of Vanessa's own designs and vintage clothes at the café, as well as vintage haberdashery and Gütermann sewing thread, and a small selection of fabric. She also hires out sewing machines by the hour.

You can call or WhatsApp Vanessa at 07766 103039 or email [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581631544745