Do you have holes in your clothes and don't know how to fix them? Would you prefer to learn mending from a human and not a book?
Learn how to make your clothes better than new with me, professional mender Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald, author of the book Modern Mending, in this fun, interactive course.
Mend with new friends and get motivated to bust through your mending mountain!
Features:
- Wide range of mending techniques: Learn visible and invisible mending methods – including hand stitching, patching, darning and needle felting – and how and when to combine them.
- Live format: Ask questions and have them answered right away, and chat with other students and see what they're mending. Former students say the live-session format increases motivation; by making time for mending, you're more likely to get it done.
- Hand cam: Watch my hands at work while I demonstrate mending tools and techniques.
- Magic computer: Watch me draw on students' before photos (damaged items that need mending) and illustrate specific mending solutions.
- Course textbook: Reinforce and expand on what you learn in class with the course textbook, which you can refer to at any time.
The course is suitable for ages 15 and up; no mending experience is required.
Recordings
Class sessions will be recorded and available for viewing for up to two weeks after each session.
Our textbook
Modern Mending is the course textbook (my dream come true!) and we will be referring to it often. If you don't already have a copy, you can purchase it here or from your favourite local bookseller.
Please ensure you have a copy before the course begins, either an Australian edition (ISBN 9781925972290) or UK/US edition (ISBN 9781782219606).
Class dates & times
Sunday evenings, 6-8pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC + 10), x 6 sessions.
Click here to find the local time conversion for your region.
The first five sessions are devoted to specific techniques. The last session is open, where you can work on your mending projects with my guidance.
- 18 July 2021: introduction + hand stitching
- 25 July 2021: patching
- 1 August 2021: darning part 1
- 8 August 2021: darning part 2
- 15 August 2021: needle felting
- 22 August 2021: open session
This course doesn't cover machine darning, as I can't provide sewing machines or safely supervise your use of them online. But I've written incredibly detailed machine-darning instructions in the book, should you wish to learn it.
Course kit
I've created a starter kit (optional) that I will mail to Australian students in July before the course begins.
You're welcome to purchase only the individual items you need from this shop, upgrade to fancier supplies if you wish, or get similar supplies locally if you're not in lockdown/quarantine.
Any physical items ordered at the same time as the kit (e.g. a book or additional supplies) will be shipped with the kit in July.
Kit contents (colours and fabrics will vary):
- combination pack of 50 hand-sewing needles (sewing, embroidery and darning) with needle threader
- wool mending yarn for darning x 1 colour*
- wool fleece for needle felting x 2 colours*
- foam block for needle felting
- felting needles x 2
- Steam-A-Seam 2 Lite double-stick fusible web - 12x15cm piece
- Rooftop honey 15g beeswax block*
- stranded cotton embroidery floss for stitching/darning x 2 colours
- assorted fabric scraps for patching and practising needle felting
* If you're vegan, let me know in the comments at checkout and I'll substitute the animal products for vegan ones.
Not included in the kit / please BYO (but if you are stuck in quarantine or lockdown and can't get these things, let me know):
- cup or pot of tea
- computer with a decent internet connection and webcam or a smartphone that can run Zoom teleconferencing software
- clothes or other fabric in need of mending
- sharp scissors (ideally one pair for fabric/thread only and another to cut cardboard and sticky stuff)
- safety pins or fabric pins
- tea towel or other tightly woven cotton fabric to use as a mending sampler
- small piece of thin cardboard (e.g. cereal box or business card) to use as a patch template
- clothes iron
- Modern Mending, the course textbook
Optional tools and materials:
-
darning mushroom or a small orange or other citrus fruit if you'll be darning socks
- embroidery hoop
- thimble
- fabric-marking tool (e.g. water-erasable pen or fabric chalk)
- fabric comb
- snag repair needle
Terms & conditions
If you wish to withdraw from this course, you must notify me at least 7 days before the course begins in order to obtain a refund. Refund requests may be submitted to elf@modernmending.com - a refund will be made less a $10 administration charge.
No refunds will be provided for class kits or books, and no partial refunds will be provided for missed sessions.
In the event of a course cancellation all fees will be refunded in full.
🔴 2024/2025 holiday deadlines 🔴
17 December 2024:
Last orders for Christmas delivery in Australia
HOLIDAY BREAK: 18 December 2024 to 12 January 2025
Postal orders placed during this time will ship the week of 13 January, when I'm back at work. Gift vouchers will be available for purchase 24/7 and delivered automagically by email.
🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴
Weekly dispatch
This shop dispatches orders once a week so I can do alllll the things – including running this shop and running after two tiny tots – and enjoy my life. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.
I have a new work and childcare schedule for 2024 and am still working out the best schedule for postal dispatches; please allow approximately one week from time of purchase while I figure it all out.
Shipping carrier
I ship via Australia Post. If you select Express Post at checkout, it will speed up Australia Post's delivery timeframe but won't speed up my process.
After your order has been packed, you will receive an email notification with your Australia Post tracking number, which you can use to check on the delivery status of your order.
International customers: click here for current Australia Post international delivery timeframes.
Shipping fees
Shipping is currently a flat rate of $12 within Australia ($17 Express Post); international shipping is calculated at checkout. Gift vouchers are delivered electronically and do not require shipping.
NEW: Modern Mending has partnered with Mateship to offer free shipping and cash back when you combine orders with your mates and have them sent to one location. Save money, carbon emissions and packaging waste!
Modern Mending customers have been combining orders informally for ages; Mateship makes it official and easier for me to coordinate, and rewards you for your efforts. Win win.
How it works:
- Check out as usual.
- A pop-up will appear to sign up to Mateship.
- Invite mates to your order. They have 8 hours to join your order.
Note: Mateship only works with standard shipping, not Express Post, and only in Australia at the moment.
International shipping
I ship worldwide with the exception of the UK, due to VAT regulations that came into effect on 1 January 2021. If you are in the UK you can order the UK edition of my book from your local bookshop.
Local delivery
Customers in Northcote, Thornbury and nearby suburbs (subject to capacity) can select local delivery at checkout. Local delivery is extra-slow and coincides with my pram-walking / kid-wrangling schedule, up to one week after purchase.
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I choose to reuse
When shipping orders my first priority is to reuse packaging materials whenever possible – boxes, padded mailers, cardboard, paper, tissue paper, bubble wrap and egg cartons from neighbours, second-hand shops and recycling centres. I cannot guarantee the materials used to ship your order will be plastic-free for this reason.
I buy recycled packaging
If I don’t have suitable second-hand packaging to use for your order, my next priority is packaging made from recycled materials. It's important to me to support Australian companies making good products from our recyclables, and to make sure that material gets a second life.
Tape
I use compostable, gummed kraft-paper tape to seal my parcels whenever possible. I have a second-hand tape wetter that I love, purchased from my local op shop. Gummed paper tape is available at most art-supply shops if you want to make the switch yourself!
Express Post orders will have official plastic "Express Post" tape added.
International orders with many items will have a plastic pocket taped to them, to accommodate additional paperwork required by customs.
Individual product packaging
Every item for sale on this website has its packaging components listed and in most cases photographed, so you can make an informed decision.
Upstream packaging
When I speak to my suppliers I specifically ask that my orders be supplied to me without plastic packaging, whenever possible, to avoid waste and single-use plastic. This isn’t always possible, but I’ll keep asking, forever.
Here's how one of my suppliers has my name recorded in its database:
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