Introduction

Mending clothes and other fabrics is often a chore that gets neglected and put aside for the "right time". This class helps those of us who want to tend to our fabrics but don't know where to start, how to do it, or how to make mending beautiful, fun and functional, or simply need that right time and inspiration to get to it.

Why visible mending? Why adorn and customize our mending using hand-stitching and embroidery techniques? To keep much loved pieces in rotation, to keep clothes out of the landfill, to be more intentional about what we purchase and how we utilize it, and to highlight our creativity and inspiration in a wearable way.

This class focuses on mending woven fibers, like denims, cottons, linens, etc.

Students can expect to:

~ learn how to assess a garment that needs repair
~ practice types of stitches commonly used for mending, like running stitch, backstitch, and whipstitch
~ learn about patching- what to use for patches, how to apply them (underside or over the top?)
~ see how to attach a patch
~ discover how to make a simple patch something special (thread color choice, decorative topstitching, Sashinko stitches, etc.)
~ explore basic embroidery stitches like chain stitch, satin stitch, and running stitch, which can be used to cover small stains or holes, or decorate a simple garment.