Visible Mending Workshop: Darning Demo

Over the course of two hours, you and up to 7 other participants will learn the basics of darning a garment.

Class Curriculum:

The workshop will begin with an overview of darning. This introduction will include visual examples of plain weave darning. Students will learn about the tools required for darning, and receive guidance on when darning is best used for repairing a damaged garment. Students will also get an overview of weaving structure, color, tools, and yarn weight.

The second part of the workshop will focus on a hands on demonstration, with students following along as they practice darning on their own garment or on a provided piece of fabric.

Participant Outcomes: 

Participants will gain practical skills they can use at home to help extend the life of their clothes, reduce textile waste, and build a more intentional relationship with clothing. The goal of the workshop is for students to leave with the skills to repair and maintain their favorite clothing using simple darning methods, without the need for a sewing machine.

What to Bring: 

Participants are encouraged to bring their own garments with a hole smaller than one inch, knitwear encouraged, but this is not required.

This workshop is for those who are brand new to sewing, no prior experience necessary! This course aims to use the most accessible tools and has a low barrier to entry.

Meet Your Teacher:

Carlin Ash (she/her) is a hand-sewing specialist and professional mender from the Philadelphia area. She earned her BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2021, where she studied illustration with a concentration in fiber arts. Over the past four years, Carlin has apprenticed and worked as a tailor in Northern Michigan and Rhode Island. Her practice now centers on clothing repair and visible mending in an effort to combat textile waste and extend the life of garments that might otherwise end up in landfills. In addition to her studio practice, Carlin teaches sewing and mending skills to a wide range of age groups, with the intent to make stitching accessible to all and empower others to care for and maintain their clothing. Her work advocates for longevity, sustainability, and a more thoughtful relationship with clothing and labor.