Creative Visible Mending

Learn practical visible mending techniques to extend the lives of your garments and add some pizzazz to old favorites! This 2 hour class will begin with a discussion of how to assess garments for wear and determine the optimal techniques for common wear patterns, garment types, and fabric types in addition to aesthetic choices. Along the way, we also will discuss the historical and cultural importance of mending, and how the recent resurgence fits into that story.Each of these monthly classes will cover different stitches for visible mending!February, August—Denim and Saddle Repair: windowpane darning; sashiko and blanket stitch; patching and fixing worn-out jeansApril, October—Bring in the Reinforcements: patches, crow's foot stitch, gomashio, edge/sleeve repairJune, December—Add Some Flair: decorative embroidery AND mending; buttonholes, boro stitch, more blanket stitches, appliqueThis class is suitable for students who are new to hand sewing as well as more experienced folks looking to learn new skills.Age Range: 14+Materials: You will need the following materials for this class:1 sashiko needle2-4 sewing pins or safety pinsfabric for patching in a similar weight to the garment to be patchedsashiko thread4"x4" coasterthread conditionerneedle threaderpalm thimbleThere is an option to purchase a class kit which will include everything you need!Your InstructorRaised in Colorado, Ansel Le Tourneau (they/he) now calls verdant Seattle home. Ansel is a folk artist who has been fortunate mostly to learn from community resources, often free and informal, rather than traditional art pedagogy, and their work explores the interplay between “craft” and “art”. Of late, Ansel is fascinated by the idea of mending as an act of individual and community resilience, and continues to work toward understanding where the fibers in their life come from, who made them, and what will happen when they are no longer of use.Ansel’s work is often multidimensional and layered, drawing inspiration from the natural world and the origin of the fibers used, as well as their background as an engineer. Knitting, crocheting, watercolor, embroidery, sashiko, boro stitching, natural dyeing with foraged materials, and dyeing with indigo are all frequent components of Ansel’s artistic practice, and they highly value chances to collaborate and learn from others.Instagram: @stitchesByAnselWebsite: https://www.ansellet.com/