A former textiles teacher has launched a new sewing initiative in Shetland after trading the bustle of London for a slower pace on the isles.

Helen Barwick, founder of Shetland Stitch Club, moved to the North Mainland with her husband and rescue dog in November 2024. After years as head of textiles at a busy London secondary school, she visited Shetland during a particularly stressful period at work – and something clicked.

Helen said: “That first holiday was a bit of a reset. The landscapes, the wildlife, the sense of calm – it all just made sense. We came back a few times and realised, we don’t actually want to live in a big city any longer.”

The move marked a total lifestyle shift, and before long, Helen’s background in textiles caught the attention of her new community.

That encouragement sparked the idea for Shetland Stitch Club, a roving sewing initiative offering sociable, skills-based sessions in community venues across the isles. The first to pilot was the Lerwick Sewing Social, a weekly evening meet-up where people could work on their own sewing projects with guidance from Helen if needed.

Open to everyone from complete beginners to seasoned stitchers, the sessions are designed to bring people together over a shared creative interest.

Helen added: “There are so many talented knitters in Shetland, but not many places focused on sewing. People told me they’d love to alter or customise clothes but didn’t know where to start, or didn’t have the right equipment.

Others just wanted a space to sew with company. Sewing often needs a lot of kit and space, so it’s not easy to do at home. Shetland is an amazing place, but it can feel isolating – especially in the winter – so I hope the stitch club helps people to connect.”

The Lerwick Sewing Socials are currently on pause for the summer and will resume on Monday evenings at Islesburgh Community Centre from 25th of August, with bookings open via the website.

To help get her idea off the ground, Helen secured a £3,000 loan from BizBritain through the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme, using the funding to buy a fleet of sewing machines. From autumn, Shetland Stitch Club will grow its offering with six-week courses and more sewing socials in different locations.

Alongside her business, Helen also works part-time as a front-of-house supervisor at Mareel, Shetland’s arts centre. In the future, she hopes to run classes for children during the school holidays and eventually establish a permanent base.

Barry McCulloch, Senior Manager, UK Network, Scotland at the British Business Bank, said: “Helen has clearly spotted a gap for sociable, skills-based sewing sessions in Shetland – and her story shows how small businesses can make a big difference locally.

The Start Up Loans programme exists to support ideas like this that boost local economies and help communities thrive across Scotland.”