Marion Haslam has been a keen quilt maker and quilt teacher for more than 20 years. She has edited a UK quilt magazine and is a published author of 4 books including ‘The Quilters’ Guide to Floral Quilts’ and ‘Retro Style’.

Marion has worked as both a textile buyer and product developer for several companies in the UK and overseas, including Habitat and IKEA of Sweden, and is a textile design graduate of Chelsea College of Art and Design (now The London Institute).

In October 2008, she decided to put all her experiences together and returned to the UK from Sweden where she had worked as global Product Developer in textiles for IKEA, to open Hometown in Rochester.

Hometown is much more than a special fabric and haberdashery store. It’s a paradise for anyone who shares Marion’s passion for patchwork and quilting. The shop not only stocks an eclectic selection of books and hands-on creative kits; but also a range of contemporary home accessories, including Pantone colour mugs, and stylish British made textile gifts and accessories, from design luminaries such as as Orla Kiely.

Hometown offers a loyalty card scheme, with each transaction of £10 or more qualifying for a stamp on the card. Customers presenting a card with ten stamps receive one complimentary metre of fabric. Gift vouchers are also available.

Marion commenced teaching local workshops and organising short courses in patchwork, quilting and knitting in 2009. In October the same year, the first exhibition of customers’ and students’ work, consisting of quilts and other textiles, took place. It is hoped to make the ‘Hometown Open’ exhibition an annual event. Crochet classes are planned in the near future, and Marion is available to visit local quilting groups by prior appointment.