On Pins and Needles

A short poem inspired by a man and his muse:

Matthew Brown has a vision, an idea, a dream/The ambition to form a club based on needles and string/Likeminded men and their passion for handcrafted things/Imagine it now: just man and his (sewing) machine/It won’t be a club filled with belching and bros/It won't cheer on dudes who sling dollars at hos/Just an intimate group, some beginners, some pros/A core group that grows, some close friends who sew.

Dr. Seussian verse aside, hearing Brown verbally envision Seamster, his boys-only sewing club, is truly an idyllic experience. This is a man who, although new to sewing himself, genuinely wants to gather every month with a small group of passionate sewers to trade techniques and talk shop. And while it sounds just like a guy's stitch and bitch, the club won't waste any time with bitchin' — especially about women.

"I am definitely into challenging gender roles," admits Brown, who co-owns Fancy Tiger boutique, where the group will meet. "I do personally agree with that philosophy, but there's not some giant political agenda involved. I know that by doing this, it will challenge those ideals and those roles and hopefully inspire some men who want to sew but feel uncomfortable in this arena.

"And it won't be some elite group of hipster messenger kids who are the crafters and sewers in town," he adds. "It'll be entrepreneurs and musicians and people who maybe work in the corporate world. It'll be a social thing, but I really never want it to lose sight of the sewing."

Be a man, man: Join Brown today from 5 to 7 p.m. at 1 South Broadway for the inaugural meeting of Seamster. Call the Tiger in advance at 303-733-3855 to let him know you're coming. Get more information at www.fancytiger.com.
First Wednesday of every month, 6-8 p.m., 2006