A Straight Stitch is a family owned and operated business located in Orrington, Maine. The owners, Deb and Jeff Norton, grew up within 10 miles of our present location. The store was originally opened in their home in 2005 and moved to Brewer the following year. Customers will find a friendly laid back atmosphere and excellent customer service. If our shop does not have what you need, then Deb and Jeff will do their best to find it.
Jeff serves as Service Manager and Technician at the store. He has received sewing machine service training and works on most makes and models. He also has worked, for many years, on electronic circuits and printed circuit boards (PCB’s). He is also a licensed electrician. Since Jeff is married to Deb, an avid sewer and quilter, he knows just how important a smoothly running sewing machine is to our customers and takes meticulous care of the machines that are brought in for service.
Deb has worked in the industry since 1988. She first began sewing at the age of seven, a very long time ago, and graduated from the University of Farmington with a degree in Home Economics Education. Upon graduation, she worked as a Home Economics teacher and moonlighted as a sewing instructor for a locally owned sewing machine store. This is where she also received instruction on trouble shooting the problems with sewing machines that were brought into the store for service.
Debbie also helped the store owner when it was time to make the rounds to the local Home Economics departments to service their machines. Once Deb and Jeff were married, Jeff naturally started to work on machines too. A team was born.
After the retirement and closing of the local shops, Deb and Jeff decided it was time to fill the needs of local quilters and open their own business. Now, Deb teaches and sells machines and Jeff keeps us all running smoothly. In addition their daughter, Autumn, has joined the staff. She may look young, but she was practically raised in the store and has accumulated a lot of knowledge about sewing and machine sales and service.
Inside our store you will find machine parts and accessories, fabric and notions and even embroidery software.
Stop by and check it all out!