Visible Mending and Creative Garment Repair

Keep your clothing in rotation longer and connect more deeply with what you wear through the craft of visible mending. Visible mending is an approach to garment repair that prioritizes artistry and originality over invisibility. During this workshop, participants will learn how to repair and rework their favorite garments using patching, darning, and embroidery to repair holes, hide stains, and add embellishment. We’ll also talk about the impact of the overconsumption of clothing on our planet, and the mental and environmental benefits of mending.

In the first part of class, students will learn about various mending tools and materials, and have the opportunity to create a practice sampler of techniques. Later, we’ll discuss how to assess damage to clothing to determine the best method of repair, and students will be able to work on one or more garments brought with them from home. Ideal garments for visible mending include knits like sweaters, tshirts, and wool socks; and wovens like jeans, button up shirts, skirts and dresses. Garments made of natural fibers like cotton, wool, and linen are best, but synthetics or blends work too. Activewear and clothing made of performance fabrics are not good candidates for visible mending (think waterproof coats and spandex or lycra leggings). If you have a question about whether or not a garment is suitable for this workshop, please contact the instructor prior to class.

This workshop is appropriate for all experience levels, including beginners. Instruction will focus on stitching by hand, though there will be a couple of sewing machines available for students with machine stitching experience to use if they wish.

Skills and Techniques:

• Familiarity with tools and materials used for visible mending
• Hand sewing techniques for applying fabric patches
• Methods for creating hand woven darns to repair holes
• Basic hand embroidery stitches
• Ability to assess clothing to determine the most appropriate repair method and materials
• How to make color and design choices
• Resources for continuing to practice and explore visible mending and garment repair outside of class

Materials Fee: $20 paid directly to the instructor

Special Tools or Equipment to bring: Please bring at least one garment in need of repair to work on during class. All other materials will be provided, including needles, fabric scraps, and embroidery floss. Embroidery hoops, darning eggs, fabric marking tools, scissors and pins will be available to use during class. If you have your own tools or materials that you’d like to use, feel free to bring them. Some people find that a neck light, head lamp, or small magnifying light can be helpful for working on intricate mends or mends on dark fabrics.

Workshop and Cancellation Policies: Please be sure to read our 2026 policies before you register for a workshop. https://www.sanbornmills.org/workshop-policies/