Photo courtesy of Metro Creative Connection.
On one Wednesday each month at Vector Brewing, the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses blends with the quiet rhythm of needles pulling through canvas. At the Lake Highlands Stitch Club, women gather to stitch, unwind and build friendships over a drink.
For years, Molly McDaniel stitched alone to keep herself busy. As her projects piled up, she realized something was missing: a community of people who shared her hobby.
“I felt like there was a common interest in people wanting to build community, but I didn’t know how,” McDaniel says. “That’s why I kind of started [Lake Highlands Stitch Club] two years ago.”
The idea sat dormant until Kendall Beas came across the group’s Facebook page while searching for a local stitching community of her own. A longtime crafter who had recently taken up needlepoint, Beas reached out to McDaniel to see whether the club was still active.
The two teamed up to relaunch the group. They created a logo using ChatGPT, promoted the club through the Lake Highlands Mamas Facebook page and watched interest quickly grow.
“We blasted [the logo] on the LH Mamas Facebook page, and it just kind of took off,” Beas says.
Today, the free club draws anywhere from 15 to 50 people each month. Its Facebook page has grown to more than 460 members, while its Instagram account has more than 500 followers. Attendees travel from across Dallas and its suburbs to spend an evening crafting and connecting.
Before settling at Vector Brewing, the group experimented with meeting at Waters Edge Winery & Bistro and Unimarket. They ultimately found that Vector Brewing offered the right combination of space, lighting and a welcoming atmosphere.
“We just kept coming back to Vector because it’s a good sense of community, and it’s an easy setup,” Beas says.
Although many attendees enjoy needlepoint, the club welcomes all types of fiber arts, including crochet, knitting, embroidery, quilting and cross stitch. Even those who don’t craft are invited to stop by and socialize.
“If it involves a needle, we don’t discriminate,” McDaniel says.
The meetups aren’t formal classes, but experienced members are happy to answer questions and help beginners learn. Organizers recommend picking up a beginner kit from a local needlepoint shop before attending.
“It’s really just a gab-and-drink-and-stitch kind of night,” Beas says.
Lake Highlands Stitch Club meets one Wednesday each month at Vector Brewing. The next meetup is scheduled for Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. Attendance is free, and participants are encouraged to bring their own project.
For updates on upcoming meetups, follow Lake Highlands Stitch Club on Instagram at @LHstitchclub or join the LH Stitch Club Facebook group.
