KOTA KINABALU: On a small table strewn with colourful scraps of cloth, three Sabah women are stitching more than just fabric.
They are sewing a path to independence, one vibrant scrunchie at a time.
At a time of rising costs and other household pressures, the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) has given them a much-needed lifeline.
The free sewing classes offer not just skills but purpose, besides extra income.
For Tracylella Marjuki, 41, the opportunity came last June when she joined Nadi’s basic sewing classes in Taman Kinarut Ria after finding out about it from friends.
Six months on, she is no longer just threading a needle but crafting aprons, tudung, modern baju kurung and tackling advanced projects.
“There is no fee, just that for materials,” Tracylella said as she tugged a scrunchie into shape.
“I feel useful. I can make something with my own hands to earn some money too,” said the mother of five whose husband is a lorry driver.
The scrunchies she sells through community WhatsApp groups bring in a modest income.
“It helps us a bit. At least I can contribute,” she said at Kampung Kopimpinan Nadi in Putatan here.
Sisters Veronica and Clare Jaikul are pursuing their own paths at a Nadi centre in Penampang.
Veronica, 50, initially joined gadget courses but quickly fell for sewing, a lifelong hobby she never had the chance to explore.
“I’ve just completed my first baju kurung moden. I hope to start selling my creations once my skills improve,” she said with a smile.
For Clare, 52, the classes are more than a hobby, describing them as a rare, affordable opportunity.
“Learning outside is expensive. Here it is free. I can sew aprons now and hope to take orders someday, and save up for a better sewing machine,” she said.
The single mother, who has two sons including a 16-year-old with autism and Down syndrome, urged Nadi to consider instalment schemes for sewing machines.
“A machine costs between RM700 and RM800. It may not seem much to some but not everyone can pay that in one go,” she said.
Encouraging other women to join, Clare said: “Just once a week. Be patient and stay committed. You will learn something that can really help you.”
