Loose seams, broken strings and other unfinished business. Montclair has a fix for that.
The necklace with a broken clasp, the chair you inherited, the guitar gathering dust or the shirt with the small tear...before you give up on it, there is a Montclair "Master Fixer" that knows exactly how to help. Chances are, someone in town knows just what to do. “The Fix is IN” introduces the local hands helping the things we love stick around, and teaching us a few useful tricks along the way. You know that little pile of clothes waiting for you to figure out what to do with them? The trousers that are a touch too long. The shirt with the unraveled seam. The vintage find you could see yourself wearing, with a little work. Consider this your nudge to revisit it.
The New York Sewing Center
Before you give up on those jeans, that dress or the shirt you keep moving to the back of the closet, consider this: your next favorite outfit might already belong to you. A repaired hem, a better fit or a little creative rethinking could be all it needs.
At The New York Sewing Center in Montclair, the Alterations and Mending Workshop puts that idea into practice. Bring a few garments you’d like to work on, and instructors will help you find the best approach for each. You might mend a worn favorite, shorten hems or sleeves, or take something in for a better fit. Projects can be worked on by hand or with a sewing machine. Come once to tackle a particular piece, or return weekly to work through that “I’ll deal with it someday” pile while building your skills.
The three-hour workshop requires previous sewing experience or completion of Sewing Machine Basics, Sewing 101 or Sewing 101 Bootcamp. Starting from scratch? The studio also offers beginner classes and private lessons.
Upcoming sessions are Friday, October 9, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A little attention, a few new skills, and suddenly your closet has possibilities again.
Book the Friday workshop, or explore the Montclair class schedule.
Frederic’s Fine Jewelers: Back in your jewelry rotation
Somewhere in that jewelry box is a piece you’d be wearing if it weren’t for one little thing. A broken chain. A missing stone. A ring that no longer slips onto your finger. Then there are the inherited pieces, too meaningful to part with, that could use a little attention.
At Frederic’s Fine Jewelers in Montclair, the first step is finding out what’s possible. The team examines your piece, explains your options and provides an estimate before you decide to proceed. Many common repairs can be estimated on the spot; more involved work requires further evaluation.
Services include ring resizing, chain and clasp repairs, gemstone replacement, pearl restringing and restoration. For an heirloom that doesn’t quite suit your style, remounting a stone or reworking the design can preserve its meaning while making it your own.
Watches get attention, too, from batteries and bands to more extensive repairs through experienced watchmakers. Appointments are welcome, but you can also walk in with your piece and your questions.
““I bought three beautiful necklaces at Frederic’s, but my hands aren’t as cooperative as they used to be, so I worried about managing the clasps. They were so understanding and changed the fastenings so I could put them on myself. It inspired me to wear fine jewelry again.””
Think of it as shopping your own jewelry box. That old favorite has a whole new round of compliments ahead.
Pedal Montclair: Back in the saddle
There’s a bike in the garage that had plans. Coffee runs. Weekend rides. Taking the scenic route just because you could. Somewhere along the way, it started making a strange noise, riding a little rough or simply collecting dust. Before you decide its riding days are over, give it some local attention.
At Pedal Montclair, riders of every level are welcome, from beginners to seasoned cyclists. The neighborhood shop says it treats each bike as if it were its own, with services ranging from basic and detailed tuneups to wheel repairs and more involved suspension and performance overhauls.
For the bike that needs a little care before its next outing, a tuneup is one place to start. For cyclists with bigger plans, the team also offers custom builds, tubeless setups and race preparation. They can even assemble a bike purchased online, helping turn that box of parts into something ready to ride.
Sometimes the fix is less about finding a new bike and more about rediscovering the one you have. Those coffee runs are still calling.
Guitar Doctor: An encore for your guitar
That guitar you keep meaning to pick up again? Give it a reason to come out of its case. Stubborn strings or an uncomfortable feel can put a perfectly good instrument on an unnecessarily long intermission.
At Guitar Doctor on Church Street, services include setups to adjust string height and playability, custom fretwork and vintage guitar restoration. Whether your guitar needs a little fine tuning or more involved care, there’s help right here in Montclair.
Your next solo might start with a repair.
Explore Guitar Doctor’s services
There’s something satisfying about putting an old favorite back into everyday use. And knowing who to turn to makes that first step a little easier. Have a favorite local fix we should know about? Tell us. We’re always happy to add another name to our “Master Fixer” repair list.
