Siti Nur’ain Awari is a 37‑year‑old stay‑at‑home mum of four children. She kept her kids' first onesies, pajamas and school uniforms. One day she cut the clothes into small pieces and made stuffed bears and a quilt for her children.

In early 2024 her cousin sent her a bag with 30 pieces of baby and toddler clothes. The cousin asked Siti to sew a quilt with them, and this request sparked the idea for a new business.

Siti spent months researching and practising sewing. She learned the three‑layer construction of quilts – top layer, middle layer and backing – and how to measure different fabrics precisely.

She founded Patchwork Handmade Keepsakes. Bears start at S$85 and quilts from $120. She limits the work to 25 orders each month and now earns almost as much as she did in her former admin job.

The business also handles very emotional orders. For example, Siti made quilts from the clothes of a seriously ill child, showing how up‑cycling can keep precious memories alive.