This workshop is a part of Fibershed’s 2022 Mending Challenge Series. (Haven’t signed up for our challenge? Signup here!)

In this workshop you will explore Visible Mending with Arounna Khounnoraj of Bookhou. We all have that favorite pair of jeans or a well-loved sweater — no matter how baggy or worn they might become. In the movement against throw-away culture and fast fashion, learn how to pick up a needle and rediscover the forgotten techniques and the joy of mending. We will cover the technique of weave mending and duplicate stitch, which is also known as swiss darning. The workshop will also cover patching a garment from the front and back. No previous experience is required.

When: Saturday, October 15, 11a PDT/ 2p ET

Length: 2 hours

Where: Zoom

Cost: Sliding Scale, recommended offering of $45-95

Max. Number of Participants: 50-75

REGISTER HERE!

This class, and the activity of mending in general, encourages us to use what we have around the house and in our stashes already. With that in mind, here is a list of useful items that would be good to have on hand to follow Arounna’s demonstrations and try some mending techniques during the class.

Items needed:

– A darning needle suitable to the size of yarn or thread you are using

– A sharp needle about 2 inches long for doing sashiko stitch

– Mending yarn (should be no bigger than worsted weight. Using leftovers and remnants is strongly encouraged! DMC tapestry wool is also a good option, as it is sold in small skeins in a variety of colors)

– Sashiko thread (in either indigo or white, or embroidery cotton floss will work fine too)

– Scissors and a surface to mend on like a darning mushroom but items found in your home such as a light bulb, tennis ball, or wood ladle would work

– Scrap fabric for patches

– Items to mend (like a sweater, cotton shirt, denim/cotton pants)

More About Arounna Khounnoraj:

Arounna Khounnoraj is a Canadian artist and maker working in Toronto where she immigrated with her family from Laos at the age of four. While her education includes a master’s degree in fine arts in sculpture and ceramics, it was through subsequent residencies that she found her current focus in fibre arts. In 2002 she started bookhou, a multi-disciplinary studio with her husband John Booth, where Arounna explores screen printing and a variety of textile techniques such as embroidery and punch needle. She creates objects such as bags, home goods and textile art. In 2020 she released her second book on Visible Mending and in June 2022 she will be releasing her third book on Embroidery.

REGISTER HERE!