We may aspire to buy seasonal fruits and vegetables, dress our babes in responsibly-sourced organic cotton, and skip that Florida vacay in favor of, say, a local production of King Lear. But when it’s the dead of winter and your toddler is threatening to peel the paint from the walls if he doesn’t get a bowl of summery strawberries yesterday…you do what you gotta do (thanks for the free coffee, Trader Joe’s). Here, we profile several D.C.-area business owners who also happen to be parents—so you can reduce your carbon footprint in solidarity with entrepreneurs who, bless their hearts, haven’t slept through the night since 2010.
Allison Lince-Bentley – Bits of Thread
Newly back at work after maternity leave, owner Allison Lince-Bentley has been sewing since she was seven years old. She started teaching sewing classes to kids as a hobby a few years ago—the response was so positive that the business quickly grew to include a team of teachers and a beautifully-equipped studio in Adams Morgan. Bits of Thread offers weekend kid classes, Girl Scout programs, fashion design summer camps, and private birthday parties. Adults can sign up, too, and learn to stitch anything from pants and simple t-shirts to pocket squares and bow ties. Ambitious new parents can outfit a new nursery with classes on curtains or quilts, and dress-up enthusiasts can craft their family’s Halloween costumes. You can even rent a sewing machine by the week to flex your foot pedal muscles before you invest in the latest Singer.
Online: bitsofthread.com
Who did we miss? In the comments section below, tell us about your favorite local mompreneur.
—Katie Brown and Hilary Riedemann
