Sweet Seams Are Made of This

Andrea Jones is excited to be joining in the ebb and sew of downtown Southern Pines with her new shop: Andrea Marie Tailoring. It is located in the Belvedere Plaza in the former home of Valhalla Tattoo. The professional sewist will take all sorts of orders, from bridal alterations to school uniforms, hems and patches and even military uniforms — which she knows must be precise. “We’re talking less than an eight of an inch,” she laughs. She aims to have a fast turnaround time; pricing depends on the work.

Andrea has been designing clothes for several years, from garments for her own use to special projects like Cotton and Grain Boutique’s Designer Dress Series. Although this shop won’t have a design focus, she is open to occasional collabs with other shops. And no, Andrea Tailoring is not just for women.

Tailor shops are few and far between in our area. “It’s kind of a dying art,” says Andrea. “I’m excited to meet all kinds of people.” Her passion for building community is no fabrication. “I’d love to bring in clientele that might not just come browsing downtown Southern Pines shops,” she says. “Maybe they need something sewn, and now they’re wandering through all the shops.”

Andrea says she’s open to teaching others, and plans to eventually offer workshops for things like basic sewing, choosing and cutting a pattern and more. “I know it can be intimidating, but it’s empowering to be able to fix your own stuff, even just sewing a button,” she says.

Now that you’re in the sew, you can walk in from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Thursdays will be 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays will be by appointment only. Find it at 134 W. Pennsylvania Ave.

• Friday, July 12, noon to 2 p.m.: Join a grand opening celebration including cookies, Thistle & Moon bouquets for the first five people through the door, and a giveaway for a $50 credit in the shop plus $25 to Cotton and Grain.