Learn the basics of Swiss darning on knit textiles like sweaters, socks, hats, and scarves. This beautiful repair technique uses the duplicate stitch instead of the basic weaving warp and weft—we’ll cover this in class! This mending technique can be applied to a wide range of clothing items and home textiles constructed of knit fabrics. It’s particularly useful for beginner mending to reinforce knits that have not yet gained holes—bring that sweater with the thinning elbows! We’ll cover useful stitches, weaves, and basic design elements to make thoughtful repairs with yarn and thread. This is a more advanced darning technique that is still useful for new menders, and great for knitters. Please bring one clean textile to darn that’s made from knit fabric like most sweaters, socks, hats, scarves, blankets, etc.—no woven fabrics like jeans, please, we’ll cover those techniques in patching 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.