Sewing is Jan Rolin’s passion and for 30 years she’s been able to share it with every person that walks into her store. Rolin celebrated 30 years of owning The Sewing Basket on April 30 and says she loves it as much as she ever did.
“Some of us are lucky enough to find a labour of love and spend our lives sharing our good fortune,” Rolin said.
Over the years the store has shifted from selling fashion fabrics, to craft supplies, and now into a quilter’s dream. Rolin says as quilting became more popular, she got more involved with it.
Today, the walls of The Sewing Basket are covered in quilts made by Rolin and her custom patterns are for sale. She and her staff offer sewing classes and free demonstrations, maintaining an interactive atmosphere welcoming anyone who wants to learn how to sew.
“I believe everyone is creative,” Rolin said. “They just have to have somebody like me to bring it out.”
Rolin says her customers are more than buyers and refers to them as her ‘sewing friends.’
“I’ve taken classes here for 15 years and I learn something new with every class,” Anne Jeannotte said.
“Everything I have learned I’ve learned right here in this store,” Miki Mann said. “I don’t know what I’d do without Jan. I guess I wouldn’t quilt, would I?”
Rolin says she can teach anyone how to sew, starting with a straight line.
