Learn the basics of mending woven fabrics like denim jeans, cotton button-up shirts, or canvas tote bags. These techniques can be applied to a wide range of clothing items and home textiles constructed of woven fabrics. We’ll cover useful knots, stitches, and basic design elements to make thoughtful repairs with patches and hand-stitching. This is a great foundation class for mending woven fabrics like favorite jeans and will provide resources for mending beyond the classroom. Please bring one clean textile to mend that’s made from woven fabric like denim, cotton, linen, flannel, or canvas—no sweaters or knits, please, we’ll cover those techniques in darning classes.

This Maker-In-Residence program is made possible with funding from the Boulder Library Foundation. The Foundation organizes local philanthropic support for innovation, capital improvements, creativity, and expanded outreach and literacy for Boulder's Libraries. 

Join award-winning artist and best-selling author, Katrina Rodabaugh, for in-person mending workshops with the Boulder Public Library. Katrina is the author of Mending Matters (Abrams, 2018) and Make Thrift Mend (Abrams, 2021)—joyful and practical guides to mending and slow fashion. Visible mending is a series of hand-sewing techniques that combine patches, stitches, weavings, and design elements to make beautiful, long-lasting repairs. The classes will consider the creative opportunity in mending woven and knit fabrics through careful consideration of materials, design, and stitching techniques. All mending will focus on hand-sewing woven fabrics like denim, linen, cotton, and silk or knit fabrics like sweaters, socks, gloves, hats, etc. Mending is a wonderful way to practice hand-stitching and sustainability by extending the life of our textiles. Simple stitches transform torn or distressed garments and homewares through thoughtful repairs.