JAYU Festival of the Arts: Stitch by Stitch
Stitch by Stitch: Embroidery Workshop
Discover the art of embroidery in this beginner-friendly workshop exploring the connection between creativity, craft, and wellbeing. We’ll start with a brief introduction to embroidery’s origins and how the mindful, repetitive nature of stitching can encourage focus, ease stress, and offer a welcome pause from the everyday.
Then, it’s time to get stitching! You’ll learn four foundational embroidery stitches through guided, step-by-step instruction, with no prior experience needed. Once you’ve mastered the basics, enjoy open studio time to bring your ideas to life. Personalize a piece of clothing or an item you’ve brought along, or experiment with the fabric provided. With a colourful selection of threads, beads, and sequins to play with, you can make your creation entirely your own.
What You’ll Take Away:
An introduction to embroidery and its connection to mindful creativity.
The skills to create using four foundational stitches.
Time to experiment, personalize, and make your own embroidered artwork.
A chance to slow down, focus on the present, and reconnect with your creative side.
No experience necessary. Just bring yourself, your curiosity, and a willingness to play with thread!
Meet the Artist
Vishwa Patel
Vishwa Patel is a Toronto-based interdisciplinary artist combining embroidery and painting to explore diasporic memory, and cultural and environmental continuity. She is passionate about community arts programming and sustainable creative practices.
Agenda
- 6:30 pm
Doors Open
Get comfortable, grab a snack, and explore some embroidery inspiration.
- 6:40 pm
Welcome & Introduction
Meet your facilitator and discover the art of embroidery, its history, and its connection to creativity and wellbeing.
- 6:55 pm
Embroidery Basics
Learn foundational embroidery techniques through a guided, beginner-friendly introduction.
- 7:20 pm
Open Studio & Creative Time
Put your new skills into practice, experiment with colours and textures, and create something uniquely yours with materials and support provided.
- 8:30 pm
Closing & Cleanup
FAQs
- What is JAYU?
JAYU is a registered Canadian charity that equips and platforms equity-deserving individuals dedicated to using art for change. Rooted in community and informed by human rights, we deliver transformative arts programs and mentorship for youth across the GTA, as well as education and employment opportunities for emerging arts professionals.
Our work is guided by a shared belief in the power of art to transform lives. With the support of our staff, artists, educators, and Board of Directors, we create safe creative spaces through our iAM programming, showcase opportunities like our annual poetry slams, the JAYU Festival of the Arts and by partnering with organizations across the city to bring arts into community hubs and public spaces.
- What is JAYU Festival of the Arts?
JAYU Festival of the Arts (JFA) is a 7-day celebration of creative expression rooted in human rights and social justice, featuring films, workshops, performances, an exhibition, and an artist market. We believe art can be a tool for change by sharing human rights stories, building empathy, fostering healing and community, and sparking the conversations that help push the world toward a more equitable, loving place.
- How does ticketing work?
As part of JAYU’s commitment to accessibility, we offer different types of ticketing to every event to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy the festival.
Free Admission: Creates access to our space and events for those who may not be in a position to give.
Give-What-You-Can: Builds welcoming spaces for everyone to share their stories. This option is for folks that are able to donate and wish to support JAYU Festival of the Arts and our programming.
- What is accessibility like at your venue?
401 Richmond is wheelchair accessible with gender neutral washrooms. Wheelchair entrances are located:
At the front entrance near the Roastery Café (east of Spadina Avenue)
At the north-east corner of the building, near the Spacing and Swipe retail shops (west of the corner of Richmond and Peter Streets).
Paid parking is available within the area. We recommend:
83 Peter Street (underground lot; card and online payment options available; 5 minute walk)
448 Richmond Street West (outdoor lot; physical card required; 2 minute walk)
Thank you to our sponsors and funders!
As a registered charity, JAYU’s work is made possible by the generous support of our funders and partners. We gratefully acknowledge the Government of Canada, through Canadian Heritage’s Canadian Arts Presentation Fund and Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program Events Stream, for supporting the JAYU Festival of the Arts.
We also thank our year-round supporters: TD Bank, Lead iAM Core Sponsor; Ontario Trillium Foundation; Charles H. Ivey Foundation; Canada Life; TELUS Friendly Future Foundation; The Daniels Corporation; Canada Council for the Arts; Sony Canada; and the F.K. Morrow Foundation.
Our year-round operations are supported by Toronto Arts Council, with funding from the City of Toronto, and the Ontario Arts Council.
Thank you to all our supporters for helping JAYU keep art, storytelling, and community at the heart of everything we do.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
