Welcome to the Makerie Online: Mend by Hand, a unique three-day virtual creative retreat exploring the unique and nourishing ways we mend our beloved belongings. Join sensational artists and educators from different parts of the world ~ Arounna Khounnoraj, Hikaru Noguchi, and Heidi Parkes ~ for this special creative gathering celebrating the art of mending.

When we mend a cherished item by hand with care and consideration, it offers not only a sensible solution but provides nurture for our souls. Mending encourages us to repair rather than give away and invites our hands to weave our own stories into our belongings. A well-worn garment is a document of our actions, a bit of proof or a vestige of the past, hinting at those things that were once present and giving us a special opportunity to pay homage to those moments through stitching. We mend for financial reasons, comfort, a dependable wardrobe, decreased decision fatigue, and as an antidote to consumerism. While we mend our belongings, we’re also mending our hearts.

Each of our three days together will feature different aspects of mending denim, sweaters, and stretch fabrics. We’ll patch, applique, darn, incorporate decorative stitches, and stitch a new life into our old belongings. Students will work alongside each teacher, with options to mend for real or create a sampler, depending on the clothes available or the items that need mending. Students may also choose to practice mending on a garment that doesn’t actually need mending, just to strengthen their skills in a more authentic, fun-to-wear way. The classes will highlight live demonstrations and will show many garments being mended, revealing the external and internal secrets of each mend with real-time detail and explanations.

In addition to mending, we will share in an element of self-care by the way of a yoga session, led by certified yoga instructor Heidi Parkes.

For the last half hour on Day Three, we’ll be hosting a mending salon inviting participants to share a mending challenge with our teacher team. Solutions and ideas for how to solve the mend will be discussed in our community as a learning opportunity for all.

A Care Kit will be mailed to you with special materials for this workshop experience, and a comprehensive list of materials you’ll be asked to bring will be provided. This experience will be recorded and you will have unlimited access to the recordings for one month following the event. Five reduced-fee tickets will be offered, based on financial need using the honor system. These tickets, two for international and three for U.S. participants, are anonymous and first come first serve via our registration system. We can’t wait to gather together, from the comforts of our homes, to mend, tend, and honor the creativity found in each of us.

Dates & Times

February 3 : 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM MST

February 4 : 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM MST

February 5 : 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM MST

*for other time zones, check your local time here