Margaret Ball-Lumumba reminds us to “Thread Lightly”

Making clothing that would be loved and passed down was a tradition in Margaret’s home. Her Grandmother Grace and her Mother Debbie made clothing which Margaret and her brother proudly wore, and passed on to Margaret the essential skills of sewing. Growing up in the Watkins Glen area Margaret had plenty of sewing guides as she learned the ropes in 4-H, starting when she was in second grade.

After graduating from Watkins Glen High School and the University of Rochester, Margaret circled the Ithaca area, applying her passion for organic farming in Dryden, Interlaken, Alpine, and Candor, New York, and earning a Master’s degree in Soil Science at Cornell. Margaret knew and liked people, places, and things in Ithaca before she moved here in 2019.

Margaret was inspired to start her own business as a seamstress in November 2022. A friend was complaining of a broken zipper and Margaret thought, “I can fix that!” Her first site was in the CommonSpot: “…The CommonSpot started on the Commons in 2015 with a simple vision of creating a vibrant, inclusive workspace shared by local mission-driven businesses and like-minded people…The CommonSpot offers a variety of spaces to work, meet, or host small gatherings. You can rent short term or ongoing and enjoy high-speed business Wi-Fi and other office amenities…”

As word of Margaret’s business spread, she relocated to the Press Bay thriving small business community. With a small fitting “room,” a large sewing work area, and room to organize orders, fabrics and more, this location seems ideal after almost a year. “Broken zippers, pants and dresses that need shortening, hemming, occasional alterations are the main requests…Replacing a zipper is a puzzle I like to problem-solve—finding the right color match, and replicating the method used to put in the original zipper, is the reward.”

Margaret looks back and views the many decisions she has made in her first year of business, relying on her own observations, rather than a boss’ feedback, since she is her own boss. “It’s a challenge to start a business from scratch, but so far, my clients and I are pleased.”

“Most workdays are good. I feel upbeat throughout the day, get a lot done, and send off finished products of which I’m proud to happy customers…When I go home, I try not to think about work until I unlock the door the next day, ready to go.”

When her day in Thread Lightly Sewing is done, the unfinished work remains, as Margaret is an adept scheduler and can generally gauge an approximate turnaround time for items left for her handiwork. “Sewing is something I have wanted to do for a long time. When I begin on an item I want to do a good job. I know when the workday is done, that’s the time to head home and come back energized for the detailed work to have my full attention the next day.”

At home, Margaret, and her husband, who works at the Southside Community Center, usually listen to music, with each of them bringing their own eclectic musical tastes and abilities to their family life.

Margaret has a large following, separate from her Thread Lightly fans, comprised of fiddle music fans of various bands with which she plays at dances and weddings. “Listening or playing music renews my energy…I stream folk and fiddle music from Pandora, and music from other countries. …I also enjoy cooking shows, fashion shows… really anything where people are expressing themselves and their talents!”  

Margaret’s husband enjoys making art and writing, when not playing his bass guitar, so they relax together while pursuing their own interests.

Margaret hopes that Thread Lightly Sewing will help slow the tide of waste created from “fast fashion,” keep treasured items in use for longer, and promote a culture of mending and repair. “Making a new piece of clothing uses a huge amount of natural resources, and mending instead can avert some of those environmental costs.” Margaret is starting to teach mending classes at SewGreen, also located in Press Bay, so keep your torn clothing items ready and your eyes open for more classes throughout the year. “Mending is very satisfying, and I want more people to enjoy it!”