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{{Short description|American corporation based in New York City}}
{{Self-contradictory|date=March 2020|reason=In different places, the article claims a founding date of 1991 and a founding date of 1993.}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sew Fast/Sew Easy, Inc.
| logo = Sew Fast Sew Easy Logo Color.png
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| industry =
| fate = closed
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| founded = June 23, 1993<ref name="NYSTATE">{{cite web |url=https://appext20.dos.ny.gov/corp_public/CORPSEARCH.ENTITY_INFORMATION?p_token=606327E8EAB361B0CF4EACAE944927082C619282EB9606174F6CE9F684A26DBE8D34AF19AB83E63B788553E0A690226A&p_nameid=F2CA5344700E3E1A&p_corpid=034333391E3DC37A&p_captcha=16715&p_captcha_check=606327E8EAB361B0CF4EACAE944927082C619282EB9606174F6CE9F684A26DBE5CEA2DAC3C6DFA885D1AEDC2516F5FA9&p_entity_name=%73%65%77%20%66%61%73%74%20%73%65%77%20%65%61%73%79&p_name_type=%25&p_search_type=%50%41%52%54%49%41%4C&p_srch_results_page=0 |title=Entity Name: Sew Fast/Sew Easy, Inc.|website=Division of Corporations |publisher=[[New York State Department of State]] |access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref>
| founder = Elissa K. Meyrich
| defunct = December 10, 2012<ref name="NYSTATE" />
| hq_location_city = New York, NY
| hq_location_country =
| area_served = New York City
| key_people =
| products = Online Video Learning, Sewing Patterns, Sewing Machines, Sewing, Knitting, Crochet Education and Products
| owner = 
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year = 
| parent =
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20111015085222/http://sewfastseweasy.com/ sewfastseweasy.com]
}}

'''Sew Fast Sew Easy''' was a [[corporation]] based in the [[Garment District, Manhattan|Garment District]] in [[New York City]], that is best known for sewing classes, sewing patterns and sewing books. It was founded in 1991 by Elissa K. Meyrich, a designer in New York City's garment district for over 26 years, an instructor at [[Parsons School of Design]], and an author and contributing writer to sewing publications. Sew Fast Sew Easy classes were part of a resurgence in traditional home economics<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/its-sew-trendy/|title=It's Sew Trendy|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-28|date=2013-02-05}}</ref> enabled by networked technologies including Internet chat groups and digitally-adjustable patterns.<ref name="Owens1997">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/02/style/sewing-30-million-women-can-t-be-wrong.html |title=Sewing: 30 Million Women Can't Be Wrong |last=Owens |first=Mitchell |date=1997-03-02 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2019-08-28 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==History==
In 1997, the company created NYC's first Stitch and Bitch group.<ref name="Time OUT">{{cite news |last=Yun |first=Helen |title=NYC's Best: Craft Stores |work=TimeOut New York |date=2007-12-13 |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/shopping/nycs-best-craft-stores |accessdate=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |last=Elsworth |first=Catherine |title=It's getting bitchy in knitting circles |work=Telegraph.co.uk |date=2006-11-02 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1510240/Its-getting-bitchy-in-knitting-circles.html |accessdate=2019-08-30}}</ref>

In 1998, the company started an Internet guestbook, the ''Stitch and Bitch Cafe''.{{fact|date=December 2023}}

In 1999, knitting book author [[Debbie Stoller]] established a knitting group called "Stich ‘n Bitch" [sic] in the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village of Manhattan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jwa.org/people/stoller-debbie|title=Debbie Stoller |website=JWA Profiles |publisher=[[Jewish Women's Archive]] |access-date=2019-09-09 }}</ref>

A controversy around rights to the phrase "Stitch and Bitch" then arose. In 2002, Sew Fast Sew Easy registered a service mark designation for "Stitch & Bitch Café".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=76026522&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch/ |title=STITCH & BITCH CAFE USSN #76026522 |website=United States Patent and Trademark Office |publisher=[[US Department of Commerce]] |access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Robertson2010">{{Cite journal |last=Robertson |first=Kirsty |date=2010-03-01 |title=Embroidery Pirates and Fashion Victims: Textiles, Craft and Copyright |journal=Textile |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=86–111 |doi=10.2752/175183510X12580391269940 |s2cid=146418502 |issn=1475-9756}}</ref>

In 2005, many sellers on Café Press who created goods using related phrases received cease and desist letters on behalf of Sew Fast Sew Easy,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://knitting.livejournal.com/4593293.html |title=Can you copyright 'Stitch n' Bitch'? |author=Sh-ahh-let (insabatu) |date=2005-05-29 |website=knitting.livejournal.com |language=en-us |access-date=2019-08-28}}</ref> which had filed for a "Stitch and Bitch" trademark related to sewing goods. The website freetostitchfreetobitch.com was formed shortly thereafter, urging crafters to boycott and protest Sew Fast Sew Easy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-feb-07-me-stitch7-story.html |title=She's Saying: Don't Thread on Me |date=2006-02-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |access-date=2019-08-28 |last=So |first=Hemmy}}</ref>

Stoller filed a petition to cancel Sew Fast Sew Easy's trademark application, arguing that the term had been in use previous to 1998. The two parties settled in 2008.<ref name="Robertson2010"/>

In December 2012, Sew Fast Sew Easy ceased operations.<ref name="NYSTATE" />

==Brands==
Brands marketed by Sew Fast/Sew Easy included:{{fact|date=December 2023}}

*Sew Fast Sew Easy sewing classes, books, and patterns.
*[[Stitch 'n Bitch|Stitch & Bitch, and Stitch & Bitch Cafe]] sewing and knitting products.

==Company timeline==
*1991 – Opened the first Sew Fast Sew Easy classes held in a small studio in New York City.
*1992 – Sew Fast Sew Easy opens a full service sewing center with knitting and crochet classes, sewing notions, patterns and machines.
*1994 – ''[[New York Newsday]]'' features an article on Sew Fast Sew Easy entitled "It's SEW Soothing".<ref>{{cite news |first=Diana |last=Morrill |title=It's Sew Soothing |work=New York Newsday |date=1994-03-02 |at=S1, S4}}</ref>
*1995 – Sew Fast Sew Easy creates its first computer fit made-to-measure sewing patterns.
*1996 – ''[[The New York Post]]'' features an article in which the classes by Sew Fast Sew Easy are described as being "on the cutting edge".<ref>{{cite news |first=Patricia |last=Jacobs |title=A Sewing Class that's on the Cutting Edge |work=The New York Post |date=1996-02-26 |page=27}}</ref>
*1997 – ''[[The New York Times]]'' publishes an article discussing Sew Fast Sew Easy's computer fit made-to-measure patterns.<ref name="Owens1997"/> ''Burda Mode'' magazine labels Elissa Meyrich a "PowerFrau" (powerhouse).{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} ''The New York Times'' features the company in an article.<ref>{{cite news |first=Christine |last=Muhlke |title=PULSE; Sewing Circles |work=New York Times |date=1998-06-21 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/21/archives/pulse-sewing-circles.html |accessdate=2019-08-30}}</ref> Sew Fast Sew Easy creates its first Stitch and Bitch Nights in New York City.
*1998 – The online forum, Stitch & Bitch Café, along with the Sew Fast Sew Easy website are started. Magnetic seam guides are made to support the Stitch & Bitch Café brand and incorporated into manuals and instructions.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} ''How to be your own Designer'' first airs on [[Manhattan Neighborhood Network]], [[Public-access television]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}
*1999 – Sewing trade magazine, ''Round Bobbin'', titles Sew Fast Sew Easy as the pioneer of hip sewing as "Lone Cowgirl on the Open Prairie" while MSN Sidewalk lists its classes in a City Survival Guide.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} [[CNN]]{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} and ''The New York Times'' feature Sew Fast Sew Easy's voodoo doll making classes.<ref>{{cite news |last=St. John Kelly |first=Erin |title=NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: MIDTOWN -- BUZZ; As Cupid Sheathes Arrows, Voodoo Dolls Come Out |work=New York Times |date=1999-02-28 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/28/nyregion/neighborhood-report-midtown-buzz-as-cupid-sheathes-arrows-voodoo-dolls-come-out.html |accessdate=2007-10-15}}</ref>
*2001 – First release of its online video learning series.
*2002 – Best of New York lists company as "Tailor Made".{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} ''Sew Fast Sew Easy: All You Need to Know When You Start to Sew'' by Elissa K. Meyrich is published by St. Martin's Press.
*2003 – The [[New York Historical Society]] features Sew Fast Sew Easy patterns in exhibit. {{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}
*2004 – Stitch & Bitch product line expanded to include knitting.
*2005 – ''Sew Fast Sew Easy'' featured in ''[[Teen Vogue]]''.
*2006 – ''RIP IT!: How to Deconstruct and Reconstruct the Clothes of Your Dreams'' by Elissa K. Meyrich is published by [[Simon & Schuster]] and featured in ''[[Elle Girl]]'' and ''[[Readymade]]'' magazines and on Venuszine.com.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}
*2007 – Company expands and moves to a West 35th street location. In June 2007, Stitch & Bitch Café digital learning center, has a grand opening. [[CNBC]] World News includes the company in its showcase of the modern face of sewing and technology.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isdal |first=Karin |title=Arts & Crafts are Big Business |work=CNBC World News |date=October 10, 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvsbpj0m8-Y |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/xvsbpj0m8-Y| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Stitch & Bitch magnetic seam guide featured in ''Craft Magazine''.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} Series of t-shirts offered under the Stitch & Bitch Café brand.
*2008 – ''Sew Fast Sew Easy: Sew On'' by Elissa K. Meyrich is published<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.threadbanger.com/post/9534/threadbanger-book-club-sew-fast-sew-easy-sew-on|date= September 7, 2019 |title=Threadbanger Book Club- Sew Fast Sew Easy Sew On|access-date=2019-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717052223/https://www.threadbanger.com/post/9534/threadbanger-book-club-sew-fast-sew-easy-sew-on |archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref> by St. Martin's Press with former Vice President Gregory Garvin on the cover. Teacher Kenley Collins goes to Fashion Week as a finalist on ''[[Project Runway 5|Project Runway]]''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111015085222/http://sewfastseweasy.com/ Sew Fast Sew Easy website (archived)]

{{sewing}}

[[Category:1993 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:2012 disestablishments in New York City]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1993]]
[[Category:Companies based in New York City|Defunct]]
[[Category:Textile arts organizations]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Clothing companies established in 1993]]
[[Category:Clothing companies disestablished in 2012]]

Sew Fast Sew Easy - Revision history

imported>Transpoman: Refined category