Wouna le Roux

New for me in 2025 was running a kawandi workshop over eight weeks through the winter months. I applied tor funding from the Palmerston North City Council’s Creative Communities Fund and was lucky to be awarded some funds to cover costs. I have met lovely ladies, some with whom I am still keeping in touch, continuing to meet once a month to stitch together. Perhaps I will run more workshops and try to grow our group of kawandi stitchers.

Meeting some ladies from the Rose City Quilters during the workshop, inspired me to join the club and enter some of my kawandis into the Celebration of Quilts in October 2025. I don’t think I will ever be a traditional quilter in the Western sense of the word, but I do like art quilts. The element of surprise and the randomness that comes with the Siddi-style quilts is what I’m drawn to. 

I had two kawandis ready which I thought to enter, but decided to make a third with only about five or six weeks to get it done. Each quilter was allowed three entries. 

I wanted to make a kawandi for my sister and brother each, so started on a brightly coloured one for my sister. She always seems happy and joyful, and going bold in my choice of colours was appropriate. I also wanted to include a lot of tikeli (the small colourful blocks that adorn kawandis). With an already colourful kawandi, the tikelis were not as prominent as I hoped but I still liked the craziness of the overall look. 

Dopamine 2025

Halfway through the making, my mum suddenly passed away. Working all hours of the day was a good distraction, but the quilt is filled with tears. I’m sad I cannot show it to my mum. 

The other two were from a series I have started which are made from Opshop fabric from the regions. The two below are from Central Otago-Southland, and Whanganui respectively.

Central Otago-Southland 2025

Whanganui 2025

My kawandis didn’t win any awards, but I’m still pleased that they were part of the show. Perhaps next year more quilters might be inspired to try this style of work.