Today we’re sitting down with Molly Hottle to talk about stitching and her experience with Seattle Restored! Molly is the founder and operator of Seattle Chainstitch Massacre, a unique and interactive retail experience that provides custom chainstitch embroidery creations, handcrafted in Seattle with a Singer 104w113 from 1900.
Q: Tell us about your business. What inspired your pop-up concept?
I own Seattle Chainstitch – also known as Seattle Chainstitch Massacre (I love horror movies!) – which is an LGBTQIA+ and women-owned chainstitch embroidery small business. I customize apparel, accessories, and decor using a vintage chainstitch machine from the 1930s. This kind of embroidery is different than the kind done on the sewing machines of today. It’s done by hand, so each piece is different and unique.
My grandma taught me to sew at a very young age, so working with sewing machines has always been in my life. A chainstitch embroidery machine is different than a sewing machine, for sure, but the basics are similar. I first became interested in chainstitch embroidery when I watched Jordan Peele’s movie “Nope.” It featured an actor wearing what’s called a Nudie suit, made famous by legendary designer Nudie Cohn, who was known for creating rhinestone-encrusted, flamboyant western-style suits. He often made them for country music stars and celebrities. Once I saw the suit in the movie, I made my own by handstitching silk flowers and gluing rhinestones to a red jacket. But I knew I needed the real thing. I found my own Singer 114w103, I taught myself (using scanned vintage manuals and random YouTube tutorials) and more than two years later, Seattle Chainstitch lives.
Sustainability is important at Seattle Chainstitch, so we add chainstitching embroidery specifically upcycled vintage and contemporary apparel, accessories, decor, and more. At the shop, you’ll also be able to shop blank apparel pieces, so you can add your name or unique design or customization. The shop itself will also feature vintage gifts, handmade items, and gifts made by local artists!
Every month and many of the weekends during the pop-up, Seattle Chainstitch will be hosting other artists and creators for their own pop-ups at the shop! Be sure to go to seattlechainstitchmassacre.com for updates!
Q: Why did you apply for Seattle Restored? how will this opportunity help you reach your goals?
I had been doing pop-up events for about a year and had often dreamed of what my own brick-and-mortar space would look like. I always wanted to know how people would interact with chainstitching and my business if I had a public space where they could experience it visually. When I saw the opportunity, I immediately applied for it, and was thrilled to have been chosen! I’m hoping that it helps me determine if a permanent brick-and-mortar space is right for my business in the long term, and I’m looking forward to meeting new people and sharing chainstitching with them!
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your business? how do you hope to impact the community?
I LOVE sharing chainstitching embroidery with the community. The excitement in their faces when they learn that I can add their name or a design to something is so rewarding! People also love to talk about how unique the machine is and tell me about the vintage sewing machines in their lives. I’m an introvert by nature, so chainstitching has given me a common interest and conversation topic to share with others. I’ve also met so many people within Seattle’s art, fashion and small business scene. It’s such a supportive and close community that I’ve come to really rely on, which is not something I anticipated. It’s definitely deepened my love for Seattle. I hope to continue sharing this art with even more people with this shop location.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like our blog readers to know about you or your business?
Bring me your clothes! Seattle Chainstitch has tons of blank clothing items of all sizes ready to be stitched, but one of the best experiences is when people bring their clothes into the shop to add something special to them. The cool part about having a brick-and-mortar is that people can come in and check it out and then come back with their special items to be embroidered.
Q: Do you have any events or collaborations coming up?
I just held a grand opening event on March 15th. But I’m also looking forward to First Thursday Art Walks on April 3rd and May 1st – the store will be open late from 2-9pm. And I hope to have more special events coming soon!
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to locals, what would it be?
The pandemic hit Seattle really hard, and I think a lot of people think downtown Seattle and Pioneer Square are still empty and quiet, but that’s so far from the truth! Seattle Restored has done a really great job of getting those vacant spaces filled, and businesses have definitely been coming back to the empty storefronts we saw a few years ago. Spend an afternoon walking around or go to Art Walk! I think people will be surprised and delighted to see Seattle coming back strong.
Q: What’s your favorite Seattle Restored activation, and why?
Jamie Slye Hats + Accessories has been such an inspiration for me as I go on this journey! I reached out to her after getting the pop-up, and she has been such a great resource for questions and advice! Plus, her hats are so chic.
Q: Where would you take visitors or a group of friends for a fun, relaxed experience in Seattle?
I’ve done this so many times! We always go to Pike Place Market, the Space Needle and MoPop, as well as Pioneer Square, to see all the places most visitors have heard of before. We also make sure to hit up shopping in Fremont, beers in Ballard, and if it’s nice, the beaches at SLU, Golden Gardens, or the dog beach at Magnuson!
Q: What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
My pop-up for sure! I’ve never had my own shop before, so this is a completely new experience. It’s already been such a learning curve for me, but I’m so excited about watching it grow and seeing where we go next!
vISIT seattle chainstitch
Address:
611 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
Open hours:
Thursday: 2-7pm
Friday & Saturday: 12-7pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm
Dates: March 8 – May 31, 2025
The post Seattle Chainstitch: Participant spotlight on Molly Hottle appeared first on Seattle Restored.