Decorative Darning

Give your favourite knit garments a second life while learning beautiful decorative repair techniques.

In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will explore decorative darning methods used to repair holes and worn areas in knitwear and stretchy fabrics. Learn several darning techniques, including basket stitches, honeycomb stitches, tambour stitching, and other thread-based repair methods that transform damage into unique decorative details.

These techniques work especially well for socks, sweaters, knitwear, T-shirts, and other soft textiles. Through simple stitching and creative thread layering, you'll learn how to strengthen worn areas while adding texture, color, and personality to your garments.

This quiet and satisfying workshop offers an introduction to visible mending through thread, texture, and thoughtful repair, helping extend the life of your clothing in a creative and sustainable way.

Ages: 16+

Skill Level: Beginner

Skill Details:
No previous sewing, embroidery, or mending experience is required. This workshop is suitable for anyone interested in learning decorative repair techniques, visible mending, and sustainable textile practices.

Requirements:
Participants should bring at least one knit or stretch-fabric item with a hole, worn area, or damage they would like to repair during class.

What You Will Learn:

• The fundamentals of decorative darning
• Basket stitch darning techniques
• Honeycomb stitch darning techniques
• Basic tambour stitching methods
• How to repair holes and worn areas in knit fabrics
• Thread layering techniques for decorative effects
• Ways to strengthen and reinforce damaged textiles
• Visible mending techniques for knitwear and stretch fabrics
• Sustainable approaches to clothing repair and textile care

We Supply:

Most materials and tools are provided, including:

• Darning and embroidery threads
• Practice materials and sample fabrics
• Darning tools and support equipment 
• Needles, scissors, and basic hand-sewing tools
• Reference samples and instructional materials

Students are welcome to bring their own materials if they would like to incorporate them into their projects.

*PLEASE CONTACT US WHETHER OR NO YOU WILL BE BRINGING A DARNING MUSHROOM. THIS WAY WE KNOW HOW MANY WE NEED TO HAVE ON HAND. 

You Bring:

• One or more items you would like to repair, such as:

  • Socks

  • Sweaters

  • Knitwear

  • T-shirts

  • Other knit or stretch-fabric garments

• Optional: Specialty yarns, embroidery floss, or threads from home

• Optional: Hand-sewing or embroidery needles that you prefer to use