The Stitchery Expands!

My name is Liby Ball, and I am the founder of Bloomington Stitchery.

8 years ago, I moved my tailoring business out of my home, into our current brick-and-mortar location in downtown Bloomington. As Indiana's first (but not only!) inclusive tailoring company, and endorsed by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, we aim to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all of our clients.

Why am I starting a fundraiser? Well, we've been offered an unexpected opportunity...

A new shop!!! We're moving! (down the street)

As such a small business, we were ineligible for most of the pandemic loans, and came very close to shutting our doors forever. While we're busier than ever these days, we are still trying to recover what was lost. In fact, we simply can't keep up with demand, and can no longer avoid hiring another sewist. Which brings me to another problem: Where would they sit?

I plan to use the extra space to create a new waiting area, fitting area, dressing rooms, break room, bridal gown storage, and additional sewing stations. This would allow us to separate our [sometimes loud] retail shop and sewing equipment out of the way from the space we would use to meet with clients for their fittings and consultations, as well as make way for a better craft night/workshop area!

Funding for this project will be used to update our new space--

Here's what we need:

Any surplus of funds would be used for moving expenses, the deposit on the new shop, resetting the old space per lease requirements, and the employment taxes and insurance costs involved with adding a new hire.

It is important to me, now more than ever, to keep being visibly queer in the heart of our small city, in an increasingly unfriendly state.

Here's hoping that we can continue to serve the people of Bloomington for years to come!