Pittwater Life December 2018 Issue

Art Life
Art Life
Celebrating 10 years
in Mona Vale ‘Patch’
Robyn Evans opened her
colourful shop Patchwork
On Pittwater in Mona Vale 10
years ago with a simple plan:
she wanted to teach and pass
on the skills and traditions of
quilting.
“I started with one room,
which is the shop, and had
a table in the corner for
teaching,” Robyn recalls. “As
our classes grew, we quickly
realised we needed a separate
teaching room, we then
moved our teaching area in to
a separate studio.”
Robyn said that although
the patchwork craft had
always been popular, it had
undergone a revival with the
modern quilt movement.
“Patchwork is a craft where
traditional and modern sit side
by side and we love both at
Patchwork On Pittwater,” she
said. “There are always new
things to learn which keep our
craft fresh and interesting.”
Robyn said sewing, quiltmaking
or any type of slow
stitching could be very
therapeutic, with crafters coming
together with a common
interest.
“Of course, the social side of
this craft is just as important
as the sewing side – there is
nothing as enjoyable as time
spent in the company of likeminded
others.”
One of the great benefits
of the craft was the increased
interest in repurposing, reusing
and recycling of fabrics
and clothing into items such
as quilts, bags and wall hangings,
she said.
“We recently made a quilt
for a lady using all the wonderful
tea towels she had collected
on her travels around
Australia with her husband.
It’s now his 60th birthday
present from her to go in their
caravan.”
Patchwork On Pittwater runs
classes for beginners, bagmaking,
machine quilting and
sashiko/boro stitching and applique.
Being a Bernina agent,
they have Bernina machines
and accessories.
“We offer a sewing machine
PASSING ON SKILLS: Robyn Evans
service and repairs available
to all sewing machines,” said
Robyn. “We are lucky enough
to have the services of two
long arm quilters. We stock
an extensive range of fabrics,
including liberty, reproduction
and original feed sacks from
the US. There is an extensive
range of bag hardware and we
stock patterns for cushions,
quilts and clothes including
Tessuti patterns and Aurifil
and rassant threads.”
Robyn says her shop,
located on Level 4 of the Gateway
Building (1 Mona Vale Rd),
appeals to anyone who loves
fabric, whether a patchworker,
quilter or sewer.
“We have people of all
ages visit us and come to our
classes. Lift access to the 4th
floor makes it easy to get to
and there is plenty of parking,
both underneath the building
and in the council carpark
behind us; we are also on the
bus line.
“Our studio has a lovely
peaceful atmosphere and
we run weekly sit and sew
mornings. We also have a big
interest in learning sewing and
quilting, with some of our local
school girls attending our
Saturday classes.” – NW
48 DECEMBER 2018
The Local Voice Since 1991