Buffalo Grove resident Valerie Koppenhaver’s skill is sewing — an art that she fears is waning in popularity.
More Top Picks Best Egg Cookers
She sees this through her own sewing experiences, something the Buffalo Grove Arts Commission noticed when they granted her an award during its “Sew Beautiful” Textile Arts Contest.”
Koppenhaver captured the usable category after sewing together a tote bag made mostly out of men’s neckties. Other award winners included Lynne Schneider, Judy Yublosky and Anne O’Donnell.
Koppenhaver previously has worked for Patricia Rhodes in Rolling Meadows, joining the area designer on trips to the garment district in New York City to find fabrics.
“Sewing has been a huge part of my life,” she said. “That was where I realized that this was something that was just part of me.”
Q: Creative people find all kinds of outlets for their energy. What makes sewing speak to you?
A: Sewing is a skill that not many people have. But when you look around in your everyday life, a lot of the things we need are sewn. People don’t see that, going through their life. When something needs to be fixed in some way, sewing is often the solution for that. Sewing is a great way to volunteer, and it’s a great creative outlet. I can combine fabrics and colors into things you can’t find in the stores. It’s a way to be useful in the world, but it’s a great community of people. The social interaction that comes around sewing is just an amazing thing.
Q: A purse made out of neckties took you a while. What else do you like to work on?
A: I like to sew one-of-a-kind items. I’m not real fond of doing the same thing. I like to learn new techniques. I also enjoy making my own fabric.
Q: You mentioned sewing’s usefulness … but an iPhone doesn’t need any stitches when it breaks. Are there many younger folks who seem interested in repairing the fabrics they own?
A: I don’t think they are. It’s a slow craft. You can’t sit down and complete an outfit in an afternoon. People have less time. Sewing gets held back because it’s a slower skill. Harper College and College of DuPage both have fashion programs that are very active. What I have seen, the membership of our American Sewing Guild is older — almost post-retirement. You need to have some time to devote to it.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Check out more online at ChicagoTribune.com/ShoutOut.
Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer