This fall, kids and teens can learn mending skills at the library with expert sewists. More than an instruction in practical skills, this program is a chance for young people to express themselves, create something of their own, and engage with ideas of sustainability.
At first glance, a hole in your favorite jeans or a rip in your well-loved stuffed animal might feel like a loss of value. Instead of throwing it away, mend it! Mended denim becomes a fun expression of self, and the torn stuffie’s recovery creates a story of resilience.
It’s not just about fixing what’s broken, though. At our last program, teacher Kate showed one family how she took a men’s cashmere sweater and made it into a design that reflected her own personality. The line between fixing and fashion can be blurred to revive a favorite piece.
Mend-It Café is meant to be fun, but beneath the creativity and play there’s a chance to scratch at something deeper. What does it mean to be a steward of our environment? How can we take responsibility for what we use, consume, and often discard? Do these upcycled jeans make me look cool?
If you’d like a chance to mend, make, or meet with other creative sewists, join us at our next Mend-It Café workshop for kids ages 10-18:
Wednesday, November 1 from 4-5 p.m. at Indian Trail
Thursday, November 2 from 5-6 p.m. at South Hill
Tuesday, November 7 from 4-5 p.m. at Liberty Park
