Last night, I was fortunate enough to find myself squeezed on to the Sewing Machine Essentials course at Parkdale's newly opened sew-and craft-by-the-hour space, The Workroom. Karyn Valino's space has only been open two months, but it's already gaining plenty of attention with a range of courses which include a three-hour basic sewing machine class, as well as longer weekly ones in making wrap dresses, quilt samplers and more.
Chock-full of sewing ideas, gorgeous designer fabrics that you won't find anywhere else in the city and rent-by-the-hour sewing machines, the alluring little shop is a sanctuary for the hobby or serious maker. You'll also find a button press, ironing equipment, books, sewing equipment and a small kitchen where you can make yourself a well-earned cup of tea.
Karyn, a seamstress with a background in media arts, has warm, helpful and, most importantly, calm manner (perfect for allaying the fears of snags, breakages and frustration that come hand-in-hand with a sewing machine). I left with a warm, cosy feeling, lots of inspiration and a gorgeous printed cushion that I'd just made all by myself.
A fantastic idea, and now as one of my class mates suggested, perhaps it's time for further creative, by-the-hour spaces. Scribe-by-the-hour for lonely writers, anyone?
