Having got hooked on sewing following a class, Sara Williams decided to turn her hobby into a business – and in 2018 opened The Patchwork Cat store and café in Newhaven. Six years on, the business is going strong and provides a social space for like-minded craftspeople to meet and learn new skills. We caught up with Sara to find out more.
Tell us about The Patchwork Cat and what you do.
The Patchwork Cat is a café and craft shop in the centre of Newhaven. We provide cakes, snacks and light lunches, all made and prepared on the premises – if you come in early in the mornings you will find us up to our elbows in flour! We are also a patchwork and quilting craft shop and we stock all the necessary sewing notions (accessories for sewing) and fabrics, as well as teaching classes every day of the week.
We are much more than just a shop and café though – many of our customers live alone and so when they pop in, we could be the only people they have spoken to all day. We always listen and try to help them in any way we can. Our customers know we offer a safe space.
How did you get into sewing/crafts yourself and why did you set up a sewing shop and café?
I joined a hand sewing class in Seaford about nine years ago and became slightly obsessed with my new hobby – and decided I’d like to make my career out of it. Originally I wanted to be based in Seaford as that’s where I live, but at the time there were no available shops. Then I stumbled on this property in Newhaven Square and knew it was the right place. The shop was so big I opted to open a café too, which brought together my two loves: sewing and baking.
How is business going?
We opened on 11th August 2018 and the business has blossomed ever since – we are busier than ever, and certainly busier than I ever anticipated.
Crafts like knitting and crocheting have had a resurgence in popularity in recent years – why do you think this is?
People are now more aware of mental health and mindfulness and are much more willing and able to talk about it. And so, I feel people are trying to take some time out for themselves, to calm their mind and their physical lives too by taking up a new hobby. There is nothing better than having a chat with like-minded people while sewing or knitting and making something.
Tell us about the events and classes you run at The Patchwork Cat and what skills people can learn. What sort of items do people like to make?
I teach every day of the week except Wednesdays. We teach patchwork and quilting and all the various techniques that go along with that. We also have open sessions where you can bring any project you are working on and use it as a space and a time where you can just ‘be’, to get on with your project, have a chat with others in the class – and of course have a piece of yummy homemade cake. In our classes we make quilts, cushions, bags, toys, doorstops – anything except clothes. Dressmaking is a very different skill and one which I don’t have.
Have you got any exciting plans coming up this year which you can share?
Because we have now been open for six years or so, we have a very loyal core customer base and I am always thinking of new projects to make and teach in class. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page and our website too for updates!
What do you think the biggest challenge is facing retail businesses currently?
It has to be the ever-increasing costs of just keeping the door open – with the price of power, rent, wages etc. I try to keep prices as affordable as I can, so that we can be as inclusive as possible.
How would you describe Newhaven?
Newhaven is a town with so much untapped potential and a wonderful community spirit. For so many years the residents of Newhaven have been promised the earth but it’s not often that these promises have been fulfilled. However, they still turn out to support local business like mine, and for that I am very grateful.
Tell us what you love about Newhaven – where is your favourite place in the town?
To be honest, I don’t get out much other than to work. What I love most is the people – I have wonderful customers who I now class as friends.
What do you think makes Newhaven a great place to base a business?
It’s the people who make it great – as a retail shop I am reliant on passing trade as well as some out of town visitors, and without the footfall we wouldn’t have a business.
Has Newhaven Enterprise Zone supported you?
The Newhaven Enterprise Zone has been very supportive throughout my business journey, particularly in answering my questions while we were still in the early set-up stage.
What’s your favourite place for lunch in Newhaven and what do you buy?
My favourite place has to be The Patchwork Cat… and my favourite thing to eat is cheese on toast with a spoonful of caramelised onion chutney!
What would you like Newhaven’s future to look like in 10 years’ time?
I would love for the town to be a thriving retail centre with all the shops full and busy. If people continue to shop online, there won’t be any physical shops left. Support your local!
What would you like Newhaven Enterprise Zone to spend its funding on in the town? Creating more commercial space in the town, more cultural events which make Newhaven a better place to live and work in, support for businesses to help them grow or something else entirely?
There are lots of plans for around the Newhaven area and I have been involved in the planning meetings for redesigning the town centre. I feel we need some financial incentives for small business to open in the town. We need people to take a chance just like I did. It’s hard work but with the right products, it can really work.
To find out more about the Patchwork Cat, visit: https://thepatchworkcat.co.uk/
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