Class Overview
Mending is a wonderful way to practice hand-stitching and sustainability by extending the life of our textiles. Simple stitches transform torn or distressed garments and homewares through thoughtful repairs. Visible mending is a hand stitching technique that combines patches, stitches, and design elements. The class will consider the creative opportunity in mending through careful consideration of materials, design, and stitching techniques. All mending will focus on hand-sewing, particularly woven fabrics. This workshop will lead participants through an overview of basic stitches and patching before turning to a garment that needs mending. Katrina will discuss how best to repair garments considering fabric, thread, utility, beauty, and more. Students will leave the workshop with various resources, a mended garment (in-progress), and a class booklet.
Basic sewing and stitching skills are required. Please note: We will focus on woven fabrics like denim, linen, cotton, silk, hemp, etc. We will not cover mending stretchy fabrics like leggings. We will discuss basic darning on knits like sweaters, socks, hats, etc. though most of the class will focus on mending woven fabrics like denim.
Materials to Bring to Class
Textile to mend—Garments made of denim, linen, or cotton are great choices. Household textiles like quilts, tea towels, and tablecloths are good too.
Patches of the same fiber and weight as the textile to be mended—midweight denim is best patched with a midweight denim patch; light linen is best patched. with light linen patches; and quilts with quilting cotton, etc.
Note on darning: We will cover basic darning stitches on knit garments like sweaters and hats though most of our time will focus on wovens. If you want to bring a knitted garment please bring similar weight yarn and a tapestry needle.
Materials Provided
100% cotton thread, metal needles, rulers, and class handout.
Tools to share in class: Fabric scissors, fabric pencils, straight pins, safety pins, thimbles, and pinking shears.
Teacher Bio
Katrina Rodabaugh is an artist, writer, and teacher working across disciplines to explore environmental and social issues through craft techniques. Mostly, she rethinks the relationship between fiber art, sustainability, and fashion. She’s the author of three books including Make Thrift Mend (2021) and Mending Matters (2018). Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Martha Stewart Living, Selvedge Magazine, Sunset magazine, Taproot magazine, and more. She earned a BA in Environmental Studies and an MFA in Creative Writing though her fiber arts training started in childhood. She teaches, writes, and designs products for her online shop. She lives with her husband, two sons, chickens, cats, honeybees, and many dye plants in the Hudson Valley of NY. www.katrinarodabaugh.com
Cancellation/refund policy: No refunds will be offered within 1 week of class. Cancellations prior to one week before class are eligible for store credit. Cancellations are subject to a $10 processing fee and your store credit will be the balance of your class fee. Your credit is not eligible for refund. Classes do not include individual Make-up sessions. If your teacher has offered to schedule a make-up class and you have scheduled to be there and do not show up, then your make-up class is forfeited and will not be re-scheduled. Visiting teachers' classes are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. We run these classes based on enrollment...paying in advance for visiting teachers to travel and hold workshops and can not offer any credit for any reason. Please be sure of your schedule before registering for any class. Thank you!
