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Sewing Workshop Stitch Lab ATX Opens in Austin

The business offers two dozen monthly classes to teach Austinites garment repair and sewing skills.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Arts & Crafts

Bold vector editorial illustration of colorful thread spools, a metal thimble, and linen fabric, representing a local craft workshop.
Stitch Lab ATX, a newly opened sewing workshop in Austin, offers local residents classes in garment repair and tailoring skills. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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After being laid off from his bookkeeping job in May 2025, Eric Lugo turned a $375 investment in second-hand machines into Stitch Lab ATX, an Austin-based sewing workshop. The venture now hosts roughly two dozen classes monthly, offering residents a hands-on space to learn garment repair and tailoring.

Why it matters

Lugo created the space to bridge a gap in sewing knowledge and foster an offline social environment for Austinites looking to fix their own clothes. The business serves as a local model for hobby-based community building amid shifting trends in personal craft spending.

Stitch Lab ATX currently runs 24 classes per month at a cost of $65 to $85 per session, outpacing broader hobby spending that rose 7.9% in August 2026. While the studio has expanded its staff to two part-time instructors, total revenue figures for the operation remain undisclosed.

The players

Eric Lugo

The founder of the Austin-based sewing workshop business Stitch Lab ATX.

Stitch Lab ATX

An Austin warehouse-based business offering sewing classes and community giveaways.

The details

Operating out of a local warehouse, the workshop limits sessions to 10 students to keep instruction personal over the typical 2.5-hour duration. Lugo sources all equipment from Facebook Marketplace and continues to manage growth through TikTok and local business partnerships. Future plans include increasing output to 30 workshops monthly and expanding the brand to New York City, California, and Mexico City.

Timeline

  1. April 2024: Eric Lugo first conceived the idea for the sewing workshop.

  2. April 2025: Lugo purchased eight sewing machines for $375.

  3. May 2025: Stitch Lab ATX launched its first classes in Austin.

  4. September 2025: Demand for classes began to increase significantly.

  5. August 2026: The Sew It Forward monthly giveaway initiative debuted.

The Texas Context

The rise of Stitch Lab ATX follows the broader 7.9% growth in hobby spending observed across the market in August 2026. This trend highlights a shift toward skill-based social activities that mirror successful small-business growth patterns in other major Texas metros.

Local residents can sign up for two dozen monthly sessions ranging from $65 to $85 per class. The warehouse space also features a monthly Sew It Forward giveaway program for those seeking community access to sewing tools.

The takeaway

Austinites looking to learn garment repair can monitor the Stitch Lab ATX class schedule for upcoming registration openings. Keep an eye on the studio's social media channels for details regarding the monthly Sew It Forward initiative.

Further reading

For more on the local DIY scene, visit the Arts & Crafts section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by CNBC.

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