Slow Stitching on Denim: Three Free Workshops
Learn at your own pace. Discover visible mending.
Join Mend & Remake for a special afternoon of slow stitching and creative denim repair. Designed by textile artist and repair educator Ryder Spankie, the program will be led by Ryder and their team.
Whether you’re picking up a needle for the first time or already love sewing, choose from three small-group workshops designed for different experience levels.
🧵 Choose your workshop
1. Slow Stitching Basics: Make a Needle Pouch
Complete beginners — no experience needed
Learn four essential hand stitches, get familiar with needles and threads, and create your own needle pouch to take home. All materials and learning resources are provided.
2. Create a Sashiko Patch
Beginners with some sewing experience (recommended but not required)
Explore the running stitch and sashiko-inspired decorative patterns while creating your own stitched fabric patch. Materials, guidance and a take-home stitch reference sheet are provided.
3. Visible Mend Your Jeans
Experienced sewers — knowledge of four basic stitches required
Bring your own denim jeans with a small hole, tear or worn area and learn to repair them with decorative stitching. Needles, embroidery threads, prepared patches and sewing equipment will be available.
Please note: This is a guided stitching workshop, not a general alterations or tailoring service. Complex repairs, zip replacements and clothing alterations are outside the scope of this session.
📅 Event details
- When: Sunday 8 November 2026, 2–4pm
- Where: Waverley School of Arts, 138 Bondi Road, Bondi NSW 2026
- Cost: Free or pay what you can
- Places: Just 7 participants per workshop
- Materials: Provided for all workshops
- What to bring: Your jeans if attending Workshop 3
For Workshops 1 and 2, all activity materials are provided. For Workshop 3, please bring denim jeans with a small hole, tear or worn area you’d like to visibly mend.
You may not finish your project during the two-hour session, but you’ll learn skills and techniques to continue at home.
💚 Free or Pay What You Can
At Mend & Remake, we believe everyone should have access to practical repair skills, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our workshops are free, but if you’d like to support us, you can choose to pay what you can.
Simply enter $0 for a free ticket, or contribute any amount you’re comfortable with. Your contribution helps cover workshop materials, equipment and facilitator costs, and supports future free community events.
Every contribution, big or small, helps us keep mending accessible, creative and welcoming for everyone!
🪡 Meet Ryder
Ryder Spankie is a Sydney-based textile artist and creative repair educator. Through Repairs with Ryder, they explore creative ways to repair, rework and extend the life of clothing and textiles.
🧵 About Mend & Remake
Mend & Remake is a volunteer-run community program that brings people together to learn practical mending skills, share knowledge and give clothing and textiles a longer life.
Through our workshops and community events, we encourage creativity, connection and a more sustainable approach to fashion. Whether you’re completely new to sewing or an experienced mender, everyone is welcome!
Mend & Remake is a program hosted by Transition Bondi and supported by the Waverley Community Fund.
Ready to join us?
Choose the workshop that best matches your sewing experience and book your place. If your preferred workshop is fully booked, please join the waitlist so we can contact you if a place becomes available.
