The Workroom

Sewing and quilting can be a fairly solitary activity, and Karyn Valino wanted to change that. When she started the workroom in 2007, it was to bring sewers and quilters in Toronto together to form a community, giving them a space in which they could meet and share their common hobby. “I got the idea for it because I was interested in creating a space where people could get inspiration, buy fabric and supplies, take classes and also build a community,” she says. “…I think an important part of crafting is having a community that’s built around that.”

Karyn made the workroom an all-inclusive space where people of all ability levels could come together and improve their skills, whether they were making quilts to give to family and friends as gifts, or interested in knowing how to make their own clothes. “I feel like having a permanent space really is a lot different than just having a group,” she says. “It’s a space that’s always there.”