Quilts, Creativity, and a Fresh Start at Kokroma

Every July, the very first month of the Nepali Fiscal Year, we at Kokroma step back from our regular sewing work. This break is our time to deep clean, organise, rearrange, and reflect on how we are doing things and how we can do better.

This year, instead of only tidying up, we decided to take on a challenge that had been bothering us for a while: what to do with all the fabric scraps from our workshop. We have always tried to recycle, turning scraps into cotton wool for mattresses, but we wanted something more meaningful, creative, and lasting.

So, we came up with an idea: a quilt-making workshop and competition. At first, we reached out to quilting organisations and trainers for guidance, but we only met with disappointment. No one was available to help us. Instead of giving up, we said, let’s do it ourselves. And that’s how the adventure began.

Sorting Scraps at Kokroma

● Week 1: The team started sorting scraps and stitching them together—no size, no pattern, no colour rules. Just free flow.
● Week 2: They figured out how to join pieces more efficiently.
● Week 3: Colour combinations began to appear, and suddenly, quilts started to look intentional.
● Week 4: I announced that the top three quilts would win cash prizes.

That’s when the real magic happened—creativity, personality, and passion came alive in every stitch. I saw something I had never seen before. In our day-to-day sewing work, everything follows a design. But here, with no visual guidance, just a sack of scraps and their imagination, my team showed me who they really are. Each quilt became a reflection of its maker’s personality.

The workshop was noisy yet focused, chaotic yet deeply meditative. Some rushed to copy their friends—something very typical of our Nepali mindset—but many surprised me with their originality.

Selection of completed quilts ready for judging.

At the end of the month, we celebrated with a small party. Everyone shared their experience, and we announced the winners. We handed over cash prizes and also gave something to those who didn’t win.

Narbada receiving Certificate of Quilt Making and her husband's proud post to Facebook.

Then came the real surprise: I told them each quilt would be listed on our Kokroma webshop under their own name—and if their quilt sells, they will receive 25% commission.

The joy, pride, and confidence that moment brought to the room was priceless.

This one month was rejuvenating, not just for our workspace but also for our hearts. Even now, as we return to regular sewing, I see my team looking at walls, pavements, and street corners for patterns that could inspire their next quilt.
This experiment taught me so much about my team, their hidden talents, their struggles, and their unique personalities. Most importantly, it reminded me that creativity can turn waste into beauty and work into joy.

So now, I want to ask you-
● Do you think we should continue making one-of-a-kind quilts in the future?
● Would you love to own a quilt stitched with love and imagination by our Kokroma team?
Visit our webshop to see these first creations—and maybe bring one home.