Sewing is back in fashion | Local news from Detmold - LZ.de

Detmold. A gentle press on the pedal and the needle goes up and down, through the fabric and back. Sewing machines have made work in the textile industry easier since the 19th century. And for some time now they have also been used more frequently in private.

The trend towards making clothes and accessories yourself experienced a boom a few years ago with a boom in knitting and crocheting. Whether on the bus, train or university lecture - the clicking of the needles could be heard in many places, similar to the 1980s.

Now it is sewing instructions and fabric samples that are in high demand in shops. Dieter Wipijewski knows that too. He has owned the Lippe sewing machine center on Detmold's Wiesenstraße for 20 years. "For many, sewing is a form of calming down," says Wipijewski. The current sewing wave is often not about clothes at all, but everyday objects such as bags, belts or fabric boxes in which bathroom items can be stored, for example.

Even if the Internet is often used nowadays, things are different in the sewing machine business. "For a while you noticed the competition from the online sector, but now customers are relying more on the specialist trade again," reports Wipijewski. Service is the decisive criterion here. In specialist shops you get detailed advice and, above all, one Repair service and high-quality products.

Especially cheap machines are quickly at their limits. They often don't get along with thicker fabric and that frustrates the user. Wipijewski advises not to spend less than 300 euros on a good machine – special offers excluded. The youngest customer Dieter Wipijewski currently has is four years old. "Her mother has an expensive, large machine, but the girl couldn't reach the pedal," he says with a smile. She got a smaller model with a start/stop switch instead of a floor pedal. But not all beginners learn from an early age Anyone who wants to find out whether sewing is the right thing for them before making a large investment in a sewing machine can register for courses at the adult education center in Detmold-Lemgo, for example. The lecturers are offering 13 courses during the current semester. Sewing machines are available in the course rooms and do not have to be brought with you.

It ranges from courses for beginners to specific offers in so-called overlock machines or the creation of patterns to courses for young people from the age of twelve. The latter will take place during the autumn holidays – there are still places available.