Patricia Murphy is celebrating her 10th anniversary of leading sewing classes and workshops, helping residents learn everything from upcycling clothes to making gifts from tablecloths.
She now runs three five-hour sewing experiences at Fairkytes Arts Centre in Hornchurch – as well as helping out with repair cafes and clothes swap events further afield – but her journey started off in the community room of Tesco Extra Roneo Corner.
Patricia told the Recorder that it has been a “lovely journey” so far.
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“It’s taught me that no man’s an island,” the retiree said.
“Because people also give me information and they say, ‘why don’t you try this?’
“People are just so lovely.
“My tagline is to discover the joy of sewing and I’m hoping that’s what I’ve managed to accomplish over the years.”
Patricia told the Recorder that no one turned up to her first classes at Tesco for “weeks and weeks”, but she continued to run it as if she was teaching “a room full of people”.
Eventually, people began to drop in – and some have been doing her classes ever since.
She explained that it grew “organically” through word of mouth, despite having to move venues after Covid.
Patricia said: “If I see an opportunity, I’ll have a go and see if it works.”
Sewing was a way for Patricia to fill her time after she stopped working, but it was a hobby that she started much earlier in her life.
“It’s my mum that introduced me to sewing when I was seven,” she said.
“I used to sit down and watch her and help her.
“And it wasn’t until she passed that we found out that she used to do workshops with women in the community as well.”
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Everyone who attends Patricia’s sessions came together on July 5 to celebrate 10 years of her classes.
Patricia said: “I thought it would be nice if we all met – all the groups together.
“I feel very lucky.”
