We’ll combine two favorite techniques—quilting and mending—to add beauty, utility, and value to existing textiles. We’ll cover the particular requirements of mending classic, three-layer quilts and why this offers such a unique possibility for repairs. We’ll also explore how quilt squares, new or antique, create beautiful opportunities for patchwork mending. Quilts can be mended with low contrast to keep the focus on the original textile or quilt squares can feature prominently as patches on other textiles—garments or homewares—though we’ll cover options for visible and less-visible mending.

Bring your favorite quilt which needs to be repaired or a beautiful quilt square you want to use as patching, applique, and/or embellishment. We will cover favorite stitches, knots, fabrics, and important design elements for working with quilts and mending. If you want to use a quilt square as a patch, bring a textile to use as the base—the back of a denim jacket, knee on cotton pants, or a favorite pillow cover are all great choices though the opportunities are limitless. (Try to match the fiber content and weight of your textile to your patches or quilt squares—denim jeans
should be patched with denim, thick cotton, or canvas quilt squares while soft, cotton vintage quilts will benefit from soft quilting cottons or similar weight cotton patches.) If you don’t have a quilt square but want to use one as inspiration, check out Tatter’s quilt square kits or look for vintage squares online or in local shops. Let’s mend quilts and quilt our mending!

Date
Thursday, October 8th, 2026

Time
6:00-8:30 pm ET

Location
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants the day before class

Cost
$75

Recording

All Mending Series sessions will be recorded. A link to each recording will be emailed to all registrants following the live session. Each link is live for three months after the live session.

Class Materials

• Textile to mend
• Quilt square or patches that correspond to fiber content and weight of textile
• 100% cotton thread (Sashiko thread is great for hand-stitching repairs though
• embroidery thread, quilting thread, or any hand-stitching thread will work too)
• Sharp stitching needles that match your thread
• Straight pins and/or safety pins
• Ruler or tape measure
• Fabric pencil or marking tool
• Fabric scissors or snips
• Optional: Iron, ironing board, thimble, pinking shears

About the Mending Series

This series explores mending as both a practical skill and a thoughtful act of care, encouraging creative expression, environmental consciousness, and gratitude for the garments that hold meaning in our lives. Students will learn technical approaches to repairing a wide range of textiles from practicing artists and teachers, while exploring increasingly specialized mending techniques. Stitchers of all experience levels are welcome to join for part or all of the series.

Scholarships

We have one scholarship seat available for this workshop. To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out this scholarship application form.