Sewing: Stitching and Visible Mending, Boro and Sashiko Workshop

Course overview

Transform Your Worn Garments into Treasures!

Give your worn and well-loved garments a second life with the beautiful art of visible mending. This hands-on workshop explores the traditional Japanese techniques of Boro and Sashiko stitching, where practical repairs become striking decorative features. 

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned stitcher, this session will guide you through transforming tears, holes, and worn areas into decorative elements that tell a story of sustainability and mindful slow stitch. 

By the end of this three-hour workshop, you’ll not only have new sewing skills but also a deeper appreciation for sustainable fashion and the beauty of imperfection, and you’ll take home something unique and meaningful. 

Why join this workshop? 

Eco-friendly and Sustainable — Reduce textile waste and embrace mindful, slow fashion. 
Creative and Therapeutic — Enjoy a calming, meditative craft that’s as beautiful as it is practical. 
Practical Skills — Walk away with new techniques you can apply to future repairs. 

Book your place today and start your visible mending journey.

 

You will learn: 

  • Basic Stitching Techniques — Practise the running stitch used in classic Sashiko patterns and other simple embroidery stitches. 
  • Patch Application — Learn how to select, prepare, and apply patches that strengthen your garments while adding visual interest. 
  • Design Principles — Explore how to transform ‘wear and tear’ into deliberate design elements, creating compositions that enhance your garments. Choose to follow the provided templates or ‘go freestyle’ creating your own unique design. 
  • Sustainable Fashion Philosophy — Embrace the mindful practice of repairing rather than replacing and the beauty found in imperfection. 

The course will be hands-on, with a bit of discussion to facilitate understanding: 
 

  • Group setting — with plenty of one-to-one tuition 
  • Demonstrations and guided practice — to develop your technique 
  • Take-home resources — so you can continue your visible mending journey beyond the workshop 

You will need to bring along: 
 

  • 1-2 items of clothing or textiles in need of repair (denim, cotton, and linen work best). Don’t worry if you don’t have a project to hand right now—come along and learn the technique using denim patches which we will provide—ready for when you need it. 
  • Sharp scissors (fabric scissors if you have them) 
  • Any fabric scraps you’d like to incorporate (we’ll also provide a selection) 
Course Starts in 155 Days

Sat 18 October 2025

Enrol now

Enrol now

Alternatively enrol by phone quoting OXLLL66DA

Meet the tutors

We want our learners to feel welcome, safe and at ease when attending our classes, especially if this is your first time attending an adult education class or if you're coming back to education after a break.
If you're interested in one of courses, meet our tutors first! You'll see they have similar passions and interests and, most importantly, the right qualifications to help you make the most of your time and money.

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