Nestled into upper Capitol Hill at 1408 E. Pine Street and soon to be filled with the rich scent of coffee and tea, the clink of crochet hooks, and the excited chatter of local fiber artists, Stitch Cafe will be opening its doors Oct. 1. 

Following enthusiastic support via Kickstarter, the former Poco Bar and Lounge space has been refurbished to create an environment that owner and founder Sarah Chae describes as “grandma-chic.” 

Stitch Cafe has been a year in the making and required meticulous planning. Between finding a functional space, acquiring a business loan and proper licensing, and eventually working with an architect and contracting team for a newly constructed coffee bar that meets ADA requirements, Chae has had her work cut out for her in bringing this small business to life. 

Thankfully she hasn’t done it alone, and is grateful for the support of her business partner Shimon Masaki, owner of Upright Tree Coffee Roasters, Stitch’s coffee supplier. 

“He is a really close friend of mine, but I also really like his coffee,” Chae explained. “He does a lot — he really really cares about the quality, he’s been really excited for Stitch to open and he’s been such a big help.”

Integral to Stitch Cafe is a focus on local community and collaboration. The cafe will have a donation section for unwanted crochet and knitting supplies to find a new home, and classes will be offered to teach patrons how to crochet and knit, encouraging people of all skill levels to come and enjoy what Stitch has to offer. 

Chae even plans on working with the community to make sweaters for local trees. A practice similar to tree wrapping, giving a tree some wooly swag helps protect trees from harsh weather, disease and hungry animals.

“It’s extremely adorable and actually really helps the trees out, especially the young little saplings that don’t survive very well with the cold,” Chae said.

Another testament to Chae’s appreciation of artistic pursuits, Chae is in the process of creating a wall to celebrate and recognize the works of local artists. 

“I’m going to fill every inch with beautiful art that everyone has been bringing.” 

In a recent Instagram post calling all local artists to submit art to be placed on the wall in the cafe, Chae emphasizes “granny chic, vintage, autumn,” and “crow” as themes for the submitted art. 

She plans to otherwise adorn Stitch with pale pink, green and beige paint, vintage picture frames and the mascot of Stitch — an adorable illustrated fuzzy crow. The space will keep some of the original woodwork and warm light fixtures from Poco, making the Cafe feel all the more cozy and inviting. 

Ellie Bowen-Keyes, a third-year nursing major, is excited about the unique crochet focused space offered by Stitch.

“I haven’t specifically sought out crocheting communities, probably because I’ve never heard of any. So when I heard about the Stitch Cafe, I looked at their Instagram, and it looks super cool.”

Capitol Hill is known as a diverse and welcoming hub for artists, perfect for a place like Stitch to thrive. Chae stated that her desire to create Stitch in Capitol Hill was in large part due to a lack of craft focused “third spaces” in the area — places separate from both home and work. Third spaces provide a place for individuals to relax, socialize, and meet people outside of their usual operations.

Julie Smith, a third-year nursing major, describes difficulty in finding others who share an interest in crochet.

“I found a couple of friends who do enjoy crochet, you happen to find it in conversation, you stumble upon the people who crochet. We’re not all congregated in one area. That’s a good place to get inspired by other people on new things that you could make that you haven’t branched out and made before, like more in-person inspiration.”

With the incoming fall weather, a warm place to relax and rejuvenate sounds all the more appealing.Whether you’re a long time crocheter, local art enthusiast or coffee fan, Stitch Cafe has something for you! 

For updates and information on Stitch Cafe, visit their Instagram or upcoming website.