Are your favorite clothes getting worn out? Are you worried about fast fashion and it's effects on workers and the environment? If so, learning to mend your clothes is a must!
Heidi Parkes teaches mending around the country, but she lives right here in Milwaukee, and will be offering her first ever mending series. Each week, we will focus on a specific type of mend, and repair it together. Heidi specializes in maintaining comfort and fit, while adding beauty to your clothes with hand stitching. Best of all, mending improves your clothing 'cost-per-wear,' and is one of the most significant things you can do for the environment.
In each class, you will bring a garment than needs repair, and Heidi will guide you in fixing the garment. Some materials will be provided, but please check the materials list for each class. $45 per class, or $150 for all 4 classes, 6-9pm. We start promptly, but students may choose to leave early once their mend is complete
Week 1: Jeans: Knees and Crotch
Rub, rub, rub, the jeans crotch is one of the most common mends, closely followed by the jeans knee. We'll repair them together!
Materials list: An embroidery hoop, 4-6", a thimble; optional materials: pins, milliners needles (dritz 4-pack), a rubber needle puller, crochet cotton #10 or pearl cotton #8 in a matching or contrasting color, an old t-shirt.
Week 2: Moth Holes
Wether from actual moths, your belt buckle rubbing agains a favorite t-shirt, a cat claw, or from a completely mysterious source, these holes are a bummer! Learn to repair them invisibly. Bring a few garments, once you learn this technique, they patch up fast!
Optional materials list: A simple needle, thread that matches your garment, t-shirt material that kinda matches your garment
Week 3: Knits: Unraveled or Worn-through Knitwear or Crochet
*This class is focused on knits of worsted weight or thicker. We are not covering leggings, t-shirts, thin socks, or other fine gauge knits
*Some experience with knitting or crochet is preferred, but not required.
Just like a run in your stockings, knits with holes can quickly go from bad to worse- but most can be repaired easily if you know what to look for.
Optional materials list: Yarn in a similar gauge as your garment, in a similar or different color; a tapestry needle, an embroidery needle, a small or medium crochet hook, knitting needles in the right gauge for your garment/yarn; t-shirt material in a similar color to your knit.
Week 4: Woven fabric: dress shirts, jackets, split seams, frayed edges
Elbows, collars, and armpits are just a few of the places where these garments start to show wear. Or, sometimes there's a rip or stain right in front. Learn how to fix these items made with thin, and non-stretchy fabric.
Materials list: embroidery hoop, 4-6", a thimble; Optional materials: fabric that is a similar weight as your garment (It could also be a thinner weight, in a matching, or complimentary color); a regular needle and thread, a milliners needle (dritz 4-pack), pearl cotton size #8 or #12
Visit http://www.thewaxwing.com/classes__events/ for Class Options
Brought to you by the East Side Business Improvement District.
