Shirley Lataille, a Madison resident, has transformed her passion for sewing into a successful business, delighting customers with her creative projects.
Lataille’s journey began in Rhode Island, where she learned to sew at the age of 14 from her mother, a skilled homemaker. Tragically, her mother passed away at just 52, leaving Lataille to navigate her love for sewing on her own. After working various factory jobs, she moved to Starks to work as a seamstress at the now-closed Dirigo Stitching in Skowhegan, creating items like flags and sofa covers.
In 2024, Lataille married and relocated to Lewiston, but her marriage ended shortly thereafter due to abuse. With support from her sister, she returned to Starks, facing significant health challenges, including a bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2012. By 2014, she became disabled due to spinal stenosis and other ailments. “I’m bone-on-bone in both knees and I have a torn Achilles tendon,” she explained.
With encouragement from her sister, Lataille ventured into the world of mobile sewing, visiting clients’ homes in central Maine for alterations and repairs. However, the rising cost of gas made this model unsustainable, prompting her to explore alternative avenues.
In October, Lataille set up her sewing machine at the local Grange Hall on Saturdays, quickly attracting a loyal customer base. Her services range from minor alterations, which she often completes on the spot, to larger projects that she can take home and return the following week.
On December 6, she assisted Maili Bailey of Skowhegan, who was thrilled with her work. Bailey, a repeat customer, discovered Lataille’s services during a visit to the Grange hall’s indoor flea market and has since brought in several projects, including a conversion of a pajama top into a blouse. “You just think of all these things that pile up at home undone,” Bailey remarked.
Lataille has also caught the attention of other customers, like William Bishop, a 65-year-old Elvis Presley impersonator. He visited on December 6 to pick up a jumpsuit that needed a new zipper. After inspecting Lataille’s work, he praised her skills, stating, “She did a great job.” He paid her $15 for the replacement, one of 45 zippers she has replaced since starting her business.
Sewing has become more than a source of income for Lataille; it serves as a vital outlet for her mental health. “Sewing helps with my mental illness,” she shared. “It puts me in a creative mode rather than focusing on my disability.” She encourages others facing similar challenges to explore creative hobbies, emphasizing how they can boost self-esteem and provide joy.
Lataille operates her sewing business at the West Farmington Grange Hall, located at 124 Bridge St., every other Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Her story illustrates the power of resilience and creativity, as she continues to rebuild her life through her passion for sewing.
