Upcycling and Sustainable Sewing Classes

Classes

Sewing on a button seems such a trivial thing, but knowing how to do it can reduce the amount of textile waste from landfill or incineration.

Textile waste is a growing component of the waste landscape. It’s found strewn across the Atacama desert in Chile, it’s shipped around the globe on cargo ships, and it’s taking up space in landfills everywhere. The problem grows exponentially when considering that 60% of clothing made over the last decade is petroleum based synthetics. When washed and dried in machines these textiles shed loads of microplastics into the air, water and soil.

We’re teaching sewing and upcycling skills to youth and adults as a way to keep these textiles out of the waste stream. We teach the care of clothing to minimize microplastics and how to identify quality fabrics that will last a lifetime with some repair skills.

See our events calendar for an overall view of all our Mend-it cafes and classes, you can also check out our classes below.

UPCYCLING CLASSES

  • Natural Dye Series: Fresh Indigo on Silk

    Natural Dye Series: Fresh Indigo on Silk


    SUN Aug 24th
    12:00 -3:00pm

    Spokane Art Supply
    1303 N Monroe St
    Spokane, WA

    The indigo pigment has a long and storied history. Incredibly, across the globe, only certain plant species hold the magic that becomes indigo, many from completely different plant families. The color, once reserved only for royalty and the aristocracy, became a staple for workers in fields and at sea. Eventually indigo became the iconic color of denim around the world and once synthesized, the economy of plant-based indigo crops collapsed.

    The art of natural dyeing with indigo however, has held fast over time and Japanese indigo, in particular, is easy to grow in our area.

    In this dye class,Beth Mort of Snapdragon Flower Farm, will share several different varieties of Japanese indigo, Persicaria tinctoria, grown at her farm. Starting in late winter, the indigo is started from seed, planted in late March and tended in the field for months. Leaves are harvested just before class to ensure the best preservation of the molecule held in the leaves that transforms into indigo. She will guide you through the salt dyeing technique using the fresh leaves on pre-scoured and mordanted silk. In addition to learning the salt method, you will learn binding techniques to create patterns on silk and other easily grown dye flowers to incorporate into your dye work.
    Dress comfortably in clothing you are comfortable with possibly getting stained and bring an apron if you have one.
    Last day to register Aug 18
    Cost is $ 85

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