Patching - Fixing Rips, Tears, and Wear

Join us for this FREE mending class series, sponsored by the District Department of Energy and Environment. 

Do you have a favorite pair of jeans that are just a *little* too worn out to wear anymore? How about holes in your socks? Stains on a favorite shirt? Or, maybe you just want to save money, reduce your environmental impact, and reject throw-away culture. Then this workshop series is for you!

This class will be taught by Tessa Coberly. Each week will cover a different type of mending, and include a free beginning mending kit for each participant. This ticket is for the third class in the series. To access the other classes, please click on their links below.

Week 3: Darning and Reweaving Socks and Other Holes

Tessa Coberly mends because it allows her to live more sustainably, while weaving more art into her day-to-day. She's always been excited by all things fiber and fabric, and is experienced with crochet, embroidery, quilting, and machine sewing. Whatever she stitches, she’s reminded of and inspired by generations of craftspeople in her own family and around the world who did the same timeless (and often unrecognized) tasks.Tessa started @tess.mends in January 2023 because she ran out of things to fix in her own closet. In addition to the fun of the craft itself, she cherishes the connections that this venture has created with her local neighborhood of Takoma and the DC community at large.

Summary

Patching is the best way to fix woven fabrics, such as your softest t-shirt, best-fitting jeans, or even a silk blouse. Learn how to prepare your garment and the patch and basic stitching strategies for a mend that makes it better than before!

Issues that cannot be fixed: Completely shattered material, anything that is dirty, most changes to clothing size, damage that requires darning (this has to be a separate workshop).  

Additional Details: 

Know how to do some mending? Please come either to work on your projects, support others and/or learn something. If you have a sewing machine or supplies to share, we would appreciate you bringing them! Please keep in mind that what works for you may not work for everyone. Please come in the spirit of solidarity and communal problem solving. 

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This event has priority registration for those who live in public housing or are low-income. IF there is space available in the workshop 48 before its scheduled time, we will release additional tickets for those who do not fall into a priority group.

Participants from Kelly Miller public housing, other public housing residences, and who are low-income receive first priority for this class series. 

This project was supported through the Donation and Reuse Program with funding provided by the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment.