Stitch the Gap CIC is a BBC Children in Need funded project that is driving climate action through the art of sewing and up-cycling.

Thanks to funding from BBC Children in Need, Stitch the Gap are able to run their weekly classes which are designed to foster the life-long skill of sewing, educate on the environmental effects of fast fashion and empower the community to break that cycle by reducing, reusing and repurposing fabric in their everyday lives. The benefits are twofold, saving textiles from landfill and reducing the financial burden on families who are now equipped with the know-how to repair damaged clothing as opposed to replacing it.

Powered by their brilliant team and volunteers that span the textile and costume design industry, Stitch the Gap also provides a volunteer pathway for young people interested in breaking into the fashion design industry and furthering climate action.

Stitch the Gap has impacted the lives of many families in and around Glasgow since their conception in 2019, including eleven year old Rebecca and Mum Karen. Back in 2020, Mum Karen signed up the pair for their first ever parent and child class, wanting to get to know the basics of sewing and other families in the local community. Flashforward to now, the two are seasoned pros, taking their skills learnt from Stitch the Gap to modify and tailor clothes from the comfort of their own home. Rebecca said:

“Stitch the Gap made me realise my love and aspiration to work in fashion design. Over the last couple of years I have come so far with my sewing skills but also with my confidence, and I have met friends I will have for life. With the Stitch the Gap fashion classes, I get the opportunity to create an item of clothing from a pattern template all the way to a finished product. I now nearly have enough to fill a whole wardrobe, a bedset, wallet, jumper and shorts – all made out of repurposed and donated material. I one day hope to volunteer with the team on the fashion design pathway to begin my first steps into the industry.”

Trish, Co-Founder and Director of Stitch the Gap said:

“Stitch the Gap was founded in 2019, following a conversation with my fellow co-founder Amanda who wanted to bridge the sewing skills gap within her local community in Twechar. Amanda had been my daughter Katie’s carer and we kept in touch after we lost Katie to cancer. Amanda made it her mission to teach me how to knit as she felt it would help me with my grief in the months after we lost Katie. What was my therapy, is now my passion and the rest is history. Katie is the glue that brought Stitch the Gap to life and her personality is threaded within every aspect of the project, from the very pink branding to the family centric nature and creative pathways which bring so much joy to families like Rebecca and Karen.”

BBC Children in Need’s Core Funding grant covers all operational costs, allowing Stitch the Gap to focus on growth and expanding its offerings across Milngavie and Kirkintilloch