For centuries, and all across the globe, people have been picking up a needle and thread to “make do and mend” and fix what is fixable. Simply using a needle and thread and your own two hands, patching, patching, darning, and mending are accessible, creative, and satisfying crafts that allow you to keep your favorite items wearable while also adding a personal creative touch. In this free workshop we will find the joy of repair together and gather around the table to learn the basics of mending and collaborate to fix some of your favorite torn clothing. Come join us and stitch your clothes back to stability!

Over the course of four weeks this spring, Elena Brotz will be biking from Burlington, Vermont, to Bar Harbor, Maine and stopping at 11 Libraries along the way to share free community workshops on Mending and Textile Repair. Brotz says, “I love to sew, to chat with strangers, and to bring creative solutions to seemingly broken items. This adventure is a chance for me to share my passion for repair, learn from communities along the way, and slow down to the speed of a bicycle to see my home states through a new lens. In each town, I will get to sit down with community members and stitch, darn, patch, and gain new stories and visions of what mending is all about. I am excited to join the Jesup Memorial Library for a workshop to see what we create together!”

Bring anything that needs mending, such as sweaters, jeans, or socks. We will provide mending materials and advice for mending, patching, and darning!

This workshop is geared towards adults, teens, and tweens of all skill levels.