July 24, 2025
PETALING JAYA – Yap Fong Mei is still sewing handicraft at the age of 88, her passion in sewing has never faded with time.
She loves to give recycled items a new lease of life with creativity and her gifted hands—a living proof that craftmanship is a way to enjoy life with ease and contentment.
Treading needle and fabric has brought her deeper joy and allowed her to fully enjoy a fulfilling and graceful golden age.
For Yap, crafting is the best therapy for both body and soul.
“To reach this age and still enjoy such a free and comfortable retirement—doing what I love—I truly enjoy every moment.
“I’m already 88, but I’ve never given up on my passion.
A selection of miniature “desserts” made from scrap fabrics, shoulder straps, and small accessories offers a delightful visual treat for a leisurely afternoon. PHOTO: SIN CHEW DAILY
“Sewing and crafting engage both my hands and mind—it’s my way of staying healthy,” she said.
Yap cherishes every item she owns. By choosing handmade over those bought from stores, she has created thousands of sewn and crafted works over the years.
She openly shared that her love for crafting stems mainly from her upbringing, especially her mother’s passion for sewing.
“My mother was from a farm village. She often asked others how to tailor clothes and would sew using paper patterns.
“She even bought clothes just to take them apart and study the seams.
Despite her weakening eyesight, lap Fong Mei continues her sewing journey, using tools like magnifiers to thread needles. PHOTO: SIN CHEW DAILY
“After many attempts, she mastered the skills through practice,” said Yap.
Yap recalled a great teacher she had in Standard Six who taught her and a few other classmates how to sew clothes.
“But I think the greatest blessing was having a hands-on mother.
“She valued frugality and disliked waste. Many things can be fixed or made with your own hands—no need to buy new ones.”
Yap has always believed that everything can be done by hand and done well.
For example, if a pair of pants has a hole, she’ll find a piece of patterned fabric to patch it.
The pants not only become wearable again but also look great.
“Influenced by my mom, I now hope to pass that on to the next generation—my nephews and grandnephews.”
This hands-on, mind-engaging hobby keeps her mentally alert.
Sewing encourages her to think flexibly and adapt her methods, benefiting both her brain and overall health.
Even items that seem useless can become valuable pieces of art.
Over the decades, Yap has created thousands of handcrafted works, reflecting her zest for life and positive attitude.
Over a decade ago, a magazine invited Yap to run a column called “Treasure Items, Treasure Connections,” where she taught readers how to make handicrafts.
Writing a piece each month pushed her creativity to the limit—and she continued the column for five years.
“Now, I sew whenever I have time. I make a batch and keep them. If there’s a charity bazaar, I’ll bring them out to sell for a good cause,” she said.
She once made a patchwork of three generations’ clothing—from babies, parents, to grandparents.
Stitched together, it became a heartwarming childhood memory gifted from elders to younger ones.
Over the years, Yap Fong Mei has created and sewn thousands of handmade crafts from seemingly useless items (L); this patchwork using clothing from three generations of a family stitched together into a heartwarming tapestry filled with memories of childhood, love, and warmth from the elders. PHOTOS: SIN CHEW DAILY
When asked where her inspiration comes from, Yap said she draws it from everyday life.
Sometimes she also refers to creations by other crafters on YouTube, then modifies and adds her own twist.
Ideas often come spontaneously. She once showed a rooster-shaped ornament and explained how she made it.
The main structure was the shell of a wild almond fruit, which she stuffed with cotton to form a “belly,” patched it up with fabric as its “clothes,” added a “red hat,” and voilà—the rooster’s comb was complete.
Yap, who loves “dressing up” old items, hopes more seniors will join in on handicrafts and find joy in the process.
Cupcakes, a slice of Swiss roll, a full spread of afternoon tea desserts—they look so real, but up close you’ll see they’re actually sewn from old shoulder straps!
An old helmet, too good to throw away but with no obvious use— until Yap Fong Mei transformed it into a turtle, giving the discarded item a new life. PHOTO: SIN CHEW DAILY
Yap’s friends all know how much she loves crafts, so whenever they have unwanted items, they think of giving them to her.
Recently, a friend gave her a bundle of shoulder straps. Inspired and imaginative, Yap decided to turn them into small fabric desserts.
After some skillful handiwork, her “dessert set” was complete.
“I really like them. I’m very satisfied,” she said.
Yap admits that with age, her eyesight has deteriorated. So, she now relies on needle threaders and magnifying glasses to help her continue sewing.
“At my age, I go to bed very early. But I often wake up in the middle of the night.
“When I can’t sleep, I’ll get up and sew for about three hours, and then go back to bed,” she said.