Basics of hand sewing and mending - 3rd session in series - embroidery

Basics of hand sewing and mending SESSION THREE

Join us for all, or any combination, of these workshops in a fun series of four, where you’ll learn the essentials of hand sewing and mending your textile items! This is an in-person event perfect for beginners eager to pick up new skills and get hands-on experience and advice. Bring your enthusiasm and discover how satisfying it is to fix and create with just a needle and thread.

Please read the individual workshop outlines and dates below, and buy separate tickets for all that you wish to attend. Contact Marianne if you have any questions on marianne@forminfabric.com

Week one 10th Feb - the basics of handsewing - THIS HAS PASSED BUT WILL BE REPEATED IN THE APRIL

We’ll explore the tools and basic techniques of handsewing so you can make basic repairs to your textiles. These will include:

• What you need in your basic sewing kit
• Where to buy the basics
• Kinds of needles and when to use them
• Types of thread and when to use them
• How to assess the damage on the textile item and decide what fix it needs

In week one you will have a go at:

• How to handsew a split on a seam using ladder stitch
• How to handsew a hem with slip stitch
• How to sew on a button

Week two 24th Feb - mending holes in woven fabrics with patches THIS SESSION HAS PASSED BUT WILL BE REPEATED IN APRIL

We’ll look at the different ways you can use patches to visibly mend medium to large holes or weakened areas in a woven textile like denim or cotton. Some of these methods can be used on knitted/crocheted textiles but there’ll be a separate workshop looking specifically at woollen textiles so please join that workshop too if you want to learn those techniques. This workshop will cover:

• Assessing the textile damage and choosing an appropriate mending method
• Suitable needles, threads and textiles for patching holes
• Where to buy the basics
• Iron-on patches and webbing, and why Marianne prefers a handsewn fix!

In week two you will have a go at:

• Handsewing a patch over the top of a hole and securing the edge of the patch
• Reverse applique, where the patch is underneath the hole
• Japanese sashiko and boro techniques for patching and strengthening textiles

Week three 10th March - using decorative embroidery and embellishments to disguise damage THIS IS THE SESSION YOU WILL BE BOOKING

We’ll discover the ways you can hide stains and small holes using decorative embroidery, beads, buttons or trim. You can incorporate that coffee stain or oil splash and make it look like it was meant to be! This workshop will cover:

• Assessing the textile damage and choosing a suitable visible mending technique
• Suitable needles and threads for embroidery and beadwork
• Where to buy the basics
• Embroidery hoops

In week three you will have a go at:

• How to use an embroidery hoop
• Hand embroidering a few basic stitches and motifs like flowers, stars and hearts
• How to securely attach sequins and beads
• How to blanket stitch the edge of a small hole to make a feature of it

Week four 24th March - simple darning for woollen textiles

We’ll look at how you can stabilise damage and mend holes in woollen textiles using a basic basket weave darning technique. Darning can be used on woven textiles like cotton or denim, but it is especially useful for woollen textiles which can quickly unravel if the damage is left. This style of darning is visible and can be made into an attractive feature of your textile, especially if you use contrasting thread/wool for the fix. In this workshop we will look at:

• Assessing the textile damage and choosing an appropriate mending method
• Suitable needles, hooks, threads, and woollen yarn
• Where to buy the basics
• Darning mushrooms and Speedweve Looms

In week four you will have a go at:

• How to use a darning mushroom or Speedweve Loom
• How to stabilise a hole in a woollen textile
• Darning a small hole