BREMERTON — When Melissa Dylan decided to open her own store, it was to fill a gap in the Kitsap County market.

“I learned how to sew a few years ago,” she said, “and I could never find the fabric I was looking for to make clothes. There’s a lot of quilting supplies in the area — not so many to make clothes and costumes and stuff like that.”

She said that in an effort to make her own clothes, she was constantly traveling out of the county to find the right kinds of fabric.

“One day, I decided to just open it up myself. It was literally a middle-of-the-night thing,” Dylan said. “Like, ‘I could do a store.’ And I’d get out of bed and start Googling, ‘How much is a lease?’ ”

She said the idea first came to her in 2012, when she had a job and was going to school to earn her master of business administration degree, which she earned in spring 2015.

“Then I just decided to take the plunge in January,” she said.

Now, Dylan’s Fabrics, a store specializing “in fabric, trim, notions and patters for fashion, costumes and all things wearable,” according to the press release, is open. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday, people can visit the shop at 408 Pacific Ave. downtown for fabric and inspiration. Soon, they can visit to learn new things, as well.

“We’re going to start beginner classes soon,” Dylan said, “and then we’re going to base classes pretty much around what the demand is.”

Aside from hosting classes, the plan is also to host community sewing nights, wine-and-sewing events and local sewing groups. According to the press release, “Sewers are welcome to pull up a chair and work on their own project at any time, free of charge.”

Dylan said the community response so far has been really positive.

“People are really supportive,” she said. “A lot of the sewing organizations, the Sewing Guild, they’ve all been spreading the word. People that have just wandered by on the street come in, they’re happy that it’s here, they’re happy it’s in Bremerton, they’re happy it exists at all.”

Dylan said she also hopes to create business relationships with local tailors and seamstresses so she can refer her customers to them when needed.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Aug. 23 to celebrate their grand opening. Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent attended, helping the Dylan family celebrate the start of their new venture.

“Every time we cut a ribbon in Bremerton, it means that we’re just advancing new business and new exciting things to see and do,” Lent said. “People can look from Seattle to all over, and they won’t find any shop like this anywhere else in Kitsap. Not only does she have beautiful materials of all kinds, but she’s willing to show you how to use your patterns, (and how to) get back to the organic lifestyle of making things for the kids and the grandparents.”

To learn more about Dylan Fabrics and what they have to offer, visit the website at www.dylanfabrics.com, or find them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, @dylanfabrics.