Shangri-La Crafters: Getting Down to the Knitty Gritty

Let’s get down to the knitty gritty.

Shangri-La Crafters, a sewing group comprised of Bhutanese refugees, is asking for the community’s support to keep the program going, said Manju Rastogi, Shangri-La's founder.

The non-profit is in search of sewing machines in good working condition, thread, clean cotton closet fabrics (minimum of one yard), irons for pressing, cutting mats, rotary cutters, zippers, laces and so on, she said.

To learn the popular American textile trade, the refugee women have been taking weekly classes at the and have become proficient in using modern sewing machines and tools.

Once a project is completed, the students sell their handmade goods at local bazaars and craft fairs, and they keep 100 percent of the sale.

“My students have come a long way,” said Rastogi. “Their items are selling well and it’s all due to the help of the community.”

To get a firsthand look at Shangri-La’s crafts, check out their booth at the Knitted Neighborhood’s Multicultural Art Show from 12-4 p.m. at Trinity Church in Akron on Saturday, March 3.

For more information about the sewing program, email Rastogi at mrastogi@aol.com.