From German Studies to the Sewing Café: Interview with Sarah Mittermeier, Co-Founder of "Nähcafé Edeltrauds"

I enter the "Nähcafé Edeltraud" in Würzburg's old town. Soon warmth and cosiness envelop me. I walk through the workshop in the entrance area into the café section at the back. Amidst a uniquely designed interior, sewing machines as decoration on the tables, I finally settle onto a homely sofa. A freshly baked apple cake and an Americano are brought to me. Here it feels like being in a cosy living room, here one feels at home.

The "Edeltraud" is no ordinary café, it is a sewing café. That's right, here you can not only enjoy coffee and cake but also take sewing courses, place sewing orders and hire sewing machines. The "Edeltraud" offers courses for children and adults, space for children's birthday parties or sewing parties.

Sarah Mittermeier, one of the two owners of the "Edeltraud", is already waiting for me. Between two sewing courses, she has found time today for an interview with Sprachrohr.

Sprachrohr: How did you come up with the idea of a sewing café?

Sarah Mittermeier: We [meaning Julia Schwedes, the other owner of the sewing café] are actually both teachers and met each other in the first week of our German studies in the very first Middle High German lecture.

…so a classic first-year love story then…?

…exactly, we've been inseparable ever since… (laughs). During our studies we already worked in gastronomy to finance it. We've always sewn too. Since we're rather the cautious types, we thought about building ourselves multiple sources of income. That's why we have the café area, the sewing area with sewing courses and alterations, and on Fridays we now also have a bar evening. So everything nicely broad-based!

How did the name "Edeltraud" come about?

Julia already knew back then that she wanted to open the sewing café in the Denckler. She was together with the owner of the René ["Café zum schönen René", a former café at Würzburg's train station square] and the two of them were in Berlin. Since the "René" already alludes to a first name, they stuck with this first-name direction. "Edeltraud" is already positively connotated with "edel" [noble], so the name of the new shop was quickly found.

So it's a return to the good old tradition.

Exactly. (laughs)

What's the gender distribution like in your courses? I read on your Facebook page that you even offer sewing for men with two left hands?

(laughs) There's already a large proportion of women, but more and more men are coming to us. Women usually come and say: "I'd like to learn to sew".

Men, on the other hand, often take on quite ambitious and challenging projects. But yes, definitely more and more men are getting a taste for sewing.

I can well imagine that sewing is a very relaxing activity.

Sewing is incredibly meditative! When you sew you work slowly and calmly. Creative work takes time.

Did you teach yourselves to sew?

No, we both trained as ladies' tailors. Otherwise we couldn't afford to do it either. Because sometimes projects come along that require training, alterations, bespoke tailoring etc.

So not just Christmas socks, but also quite often real sewing challenges?

Yes, definitely. Then you're always pleased! (laughs)

I hear you also hold lectures and concerts here.

That's right. We get quite a lot of submissions from bands and artists who want to play here. In the evenings we then convert the back area of the café into a stage. The bands always play for us on a hat-pass basis. Since it's so familiar here, the guests always throw something in.

I can imagine that your story repeatedly evokes admiration in many people: two German studies trainee teachers who thought "being a teacher is not for me" and finally turned their hobby into a profession.

I was fortunately brought up to believe that the most important thing in life is to be happy. Money and everything else doesn't matter. I can really only pass that on to everyone, because people are always so worried: "What if I don't become a teacher?" Well, shit. If you're not happy, then none of it does you any good!

So you're swimming against the tide and not following the conventional life path, characterised by security and civil servant status.

Everyone always says: "Wow, you dare to do that!" That surprised me so much, because for me it was no question. I always followed my feelings.

3,100 followers on Facebook, many young and old guests, as I look around. You've got quite a big fan base by now, haven't you?

…and Bavarian Radio has even covered us twice! Really all sorts of people come together in our shop, young and old, the Edeltraud has a lot of heart and soul in it.

Sprachrohr thanks you very much for the conversation!

Nähcafé Edeltraud

Grabengasse 11

97070 Würzburg

Telephone: 0931 – 710 537 10

E-mail: naehcafe@gmx.net

Opening times:

Tuesday to Saturday: 10.00 – 20.00

Sunday: 12.00 – 18.00

Monday closed

Cian Hartung