Mending at TATTER is a new series of workshops that encourages creative expression, environmental consciousness, cultural awareness, and gratitude for the woven and knitted items that hold meaning in our lives, all while imparting the necessary skills to extend the lives of our garments.
Mending is a universal application, and repair is a thoughtful practice. Join us to bring new life to the well-loved garments in your closet. Keep them from landfill, while adding visual narrative and interest to their stories.
Students will be guided through technical approaches to mending sweaters, denim, socks, and jersey, by practicing artists and teachers familiar with the tenderness of repair as an act of care. Stitchers of every level are welcome to participate in all, or part of this unique series.
The Series
Mending on Knit
with Arounna Khounnoraj
Everybody has a well-loved sweater they would rather never let go of, no matter how baggy, worn, or threadbare they may become. In the movement against throw-away culture and fast fashion, learn how to pick up a needle and thread and rediscover the forgotten techniques and the joy of mending. Under Arounna’s guidance, students will explore different visible mending techniques on knitwear. Students will learn multiple techniques such as weave mending, seed stitch, scotch darning, and blanket stitch, among others.
October 9th, 2024
Mending Denim with Sashiko
with Selina Ben
Sashiko means “little stab”. Although born out of necessity to improve the strength and thermal quality of textiles in Japan, Sashiko creates stunning designs with only running stitch.
In this class, you will learn how to draw, stitch and customize four traditional Hitomezashi Sashiko patterns to mend a pair of jeans. Selina will walk you through the brief history of Sashiko in Japan, explain mending materials, tools, and how to repair damages like holes and weak areas on jeans.
October 16th, 2024
Mending Socks
with Celia Pym
This workshop looks at the humble and everyday sock – and those pesky holes that strangle the toe and make our heels cold. We’ll start with slides looking at the earliest known sock, explore the odd intimacy of worn socks and some of my past projects with socks. We will then explore textile repair on socks – practicing a woven darn technique, with a variety of plain, twill and wrapped warps. At its heart the workshop considers the tenderness and care of mending. Why you might do it for yourself or some else.
October 23rd, 2024
Narrative Mending
with Karen Stevens
What does it mean to mend in a narrative way? ‘Narrative Mending’ still retains its base in function – to preserve the usability of our garments. In Narrative Mending we take our repair work one step further – as we fix the broken cloth, we add consciously to the story, by either a more literal approach, adding pictorial elements or other decorative markers, or metaphorically, adding hidden layers of meaning through fabric and stitches. Over time, the story of our garment begins to deepen. Our garment becomes something of a visual journal.
November 6th, 2024
Mending on Jersey
with Repair Shop
This workshop was designed to help you save your favorite old t-shirts from the scrap heap. We’ll introduce the craft of visible mending, rooting ourselves in key historical, cultural, and environmental considerations, and dive into techniques for mending jersey fabric—the lightweight machine-knit used for t-shirts. Students will practice darning small holes and patching larger ones, and learn how to choose the right tools, materials, and techniques for the job.
November 13th, 2024
Dates
Mending on Knit – October 9th, 2024
Mending Denim with Sashiko – October 16th, 2024
Mending Socks – October 23rd, 2024
Narrative Mending – November 6th, 2024
Mending Jersey – November 13th, 2024
Time
All classes are from 12pm – 2:30pm Eastern Time*
*These sessions will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to all those who register following each live session. The links are live for one month after the series for you to watch at your convenience.
Tuition
$65 for one class. $300 for the series.
We have two scholarships available for this experience. To be considered for a scholarship please email [email protected] requesting the scholarship application form.
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