Baton Rouge needlepoint stitchers will have a new place to gather when moves to its permanent location.
Owner Sarah Edgecomb, a stay-at-home mom for 13 years, started The Red Stitch two months ago. The Red Stitch has temporarily operated out of 8312 Jefferson Highway, next to Merle Norman.
Its new home will be at 7517 Jefferson Highway in the Jefferson Plaza shopping center.
Edgecomb, who grew up crafting and "loves a hot glue gun moment," ordered a needlepoint kit on a whim about a year ago so she would have something to do on a lake house vacation.
"I picked it up and fell in love with it," Edgecomb said. "I finished the first canvas in two days, and then I ordered like four more."
When she returned to Baton Rouge, she went to The Elegant Needle and was excited to start her new hobby. After a year of practicing needlepoint, Edgecomb decided to open her own place for people in Baton Rouge who stitch to hang out together.
"I felt that Baton Rouge needed a place that was welcoming to anyone to come and stitch, meet new people, or learn how to stitch," Edgecomb said. "I'm basically funding my 'she shed.'"
The Red Stitch is Baton Rouge's second local needlepoint shop or "LNS" as stitchers call them. Edgecomb calls her customers and friends "The Stitch Krewe," and she welcomes others to join in on the screen-free hobby.
"People are wanting to get off their phones and reconnect socially," Edgecomb said. "Needlepoint you can do anywhere by yourself or with people. Sorority girls are stitching at the houses together. All ages are picking it up."
The new location of The Red Stitch is double the size of the current store with more room for a sitting room, threads and canvases.
Edgecomb is most excited about a back room that will be designed for stitchers to get together or for people to play mahjong. She said there will be tables that disconnect into groups of four for mahjong games or put together for needlepoint classes.
"I want friends to call each other and say, 'Meet me at The Red Stitch for an hour,'" Edgecomb said. "I want it to be a place for people to have a great experience and build each other up."
The grand opening is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 8. The first few customers will be eligible for giveaways and goodies. Every guest will have the chance to enter to win a Red Stitch Gift Card.
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