Beginner's Guide to Visible Clothes Mending

Online Classes

•

Craft

•

Textiles

•

Sewing and Embroidery

Beginner's Guide to Visible Clothes Mending

With DIY craft kit delivered to you

Personalise your favourite garments by learning how to turn simple repairs into a decorative feature!

Hobbycraft Artisan

4.8 (42,453)

ClassBento donates with every booking to

1 hour

1 to 10 (public dates), 10 to 50 (private) (private events)

£28

Online Classes

•

Craft

•

Textiles

•

Sewing and Embroidery

What you'll do

Transform your personal style by turning garment repairs into an excuse to create a decorative feature! This sewing tutorial breaks down simple techniques that will allow you to use any holes in the fabric for eye-catching, embroidered customisation.

Led by an expert Hobbycraft Artisan, this workshop will introduce six stitches: the porthole stitch, the lazy daisy stitch, a French knot, the star stitch, the eyelet stitch and the porthole mending stitch. You’ll have an embroidery hoop included to practice each one, ready to be used on your own clothing after you’ve mastered each of them.

The techniques demonstrated are designed to inspire more creative clothes mending projects. For example, if you’ve got a hole in your jeans, why not create a visible decorative feature of it? You can turn the hole into the centre of a flower or simply add a colourful border.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have had the opportunity to practice each of the stitch types on your embroidery hoop and you’ll be ready to transfer those skills to mend your clothes in style!

*Price includes £3 delivery.

See available dates, Request a private class or Gift

See booking options

Knowledge required

What you'll get in your craft kit

Embroidery hoop
4 x stranded threads
5 x fat quarters
Template

16 x embroidery/crewel needles

What you'll need

Your teacher

Hobbycraft Artisan

4.8 (42,453)

Our expert Hobbycraft Artisans deliver our online workshops, each Artisan has their craft expertise and will be perfectly placed to help you start a completely new craft or advance your skills.

Gift this artisan experience

With our gift card, they can book this class at a time that suits them

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Verified reviews

We only show reviews from customers who have paid for and attended this class

Anonymised ClassBento student • Nov 2023

A fun and informative class. It has taught me some really pretty and useful stitches I look forward to trying on some of my favourite clothes requiring a bit of TLC. Rachel was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and skillful in her craft and very patient with my slow progress along the way, especially doing a French knot. Highly recommend this class.

Nafisa Muhtadi • Oct 2023

It was a great introduction to sewing techniques for mending. Easy to follow and well paced.

Fiona Quine • Oct 2023

Very enjoyable and informative. Paula was friendly, demonstrated and talked through the stitches clearly and at the right speed for us all. We were encouraged to ask questions which she answered fully.

Anonymised ClassBento student • Oct 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended

It was good to learn some new techniques in embroidery. The instructor was very patient and handled the different level of abilities in the class well as well as checking that everyone was following along. The kit provided contained more that enough material to practice on.

Loretta Spyers Ashby • Oct 2023

Really enjoyed this course, remembered doing French knots at school so bit of a trip down memory lane. Paula very patient if you got a little behind. Would recommend. More practice needed!

Beginner's Guide to Visible Clothes Mending review by Loretta Spyers Ashby

Georgina Corden • Oct 2023

I really enjoyed this workshop. Irene was lovely and very patient, and I feel I learnt a lot. I’m looking forward to putting my new skills into practice.

Tara Robins • Sep 2023

Really loved this class. Learned some new skills that I plan to take forward. Liked that I was fully able to have my camera muted and off and still take part and learn! Thank you

Heidi de Wolf • Sep 2023

4 ClassBento workshops attended

Really helpful and clearly explained by the instructor. Being online, very generous materials arrived in good time. Thank you!

Steph • Sep 2023

I really enjoyed the class on Saturday. The teacher was clear in explaining what to do and very patient.

Georgina Parsons • Aug 2023

5 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews

This was a fantastic workshop. Our teacher was really clear and it was well paced. I learnt alot. Thank you.

Vicky • Aug 2023

Great workshop - Thank you Paula.
Would make a great gift idea.
Looking forward to my next.

Jilly • Aug 2023

Brilliant workshop hosted by Paula. Delivered with patience and with a wealth of expertise. Lots of guidance and tips. Generous pack of materials delivered in plenty of time. Would highly recommend and will be looking to join in on other workshops.

Elizabeth New • Aug 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Brilliant
Artisan Paula went at our pace
Really recommend to complete beginners wanting to learn

Clare Bassett • Aug 2023

13 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Paula was fantastic, so patient and knowledgeable. Everything was explained so clearly and was easy to keep up with. Looking forward to doing more courses.

Kate Annette • Aug 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Paula was excellent and very patient. It was very informative and I learnt a lot. Thank you.

Leslye Slater • Aug 2023

4 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews

Paula’s instructions clear, and easy to follow. For me - a revision lesson except for one stitch - after tips for adapting for visible repair, as my limited thinking (not embroidery experience) only stretched to cross stitch and herring bone, it was helpful and very enjoyable. Thank you.

Kathryn Martin • Jul 2023

19 ClassBento workshops attended • 18 reviews

Irene was fabulous and a great class. Thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing. Great fun, thank you

Sioned Wilkinson • Jul 2023

Loved this course and learn much. Paula put us at ease by not needing us to be on camera or talk. Thanks so much

Anne Cole • Jul 2023

Excellent class . Exactly what I needed to help with visible mending when I volunteer at my local repair cafe.
Paula has done embroidery on clothes, and her experience was very helpful.

When you look at embroidery books, they are usually for samplers.
Clothes are different because you need to wash and wear with confidence
Thank you
Would be great if you have other online workshops for visible mending. I am also interested in visible darning and Sashiko

Caroline Sams • Jul 2023

15 ClassBento workshops attended • 12 reviews

Lovely session. Never tried anything like this before. Was so easy to follow. Not made to feel rushed but the hour flew by
Many thanks

Anne Hoad • Jul 2023

Amazing course very well explained. Cost included all materials so was very good value. I can’t wait to get going doing some visible mending on clothes.

Beginner's Guide to Visible Clothes Mending review by Anne Hoad

Richard Spencer • Jul 2023

The class and teacher ( Irene) was excellent and I learnt to do all the stitches.

Not 5 stars because equipment sent was broken, had to be replaced, and as I found out on the course there was a massive mismatch between needle size and the thread thickness that Iwas sent.

Beginner's Guide to Visible Clothes Mending review by Richard Spencer

Jane Timberlake • Jul 2023

Very useful for a beginner like me. Just make sure you have a threader! Although the technique explained to me to help with threading was a life saver, otherwise I’d still be trying to thread. Looking forward to some practice, and then fixing a favourite top.

Cheryl Bailey • Jul 2023

Clear instructions at just the right pace. Love the Porthole stitch - it will be really useful and it is fun to do.

Quratulain Malik • Jul 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

My daughter had great time.Rachel was very polite and the way she taught was spot on

Ru Paul • Jul 2023

8 ClassBento workshops attended • 5 reviews

Paula was lovely very warm and friendly. She gave clear instructions and I was so happy with the results! There is plenty of extra material in the pack to make lots of things. Great value for money

Susan O'Neill • Jul 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews

a complicated lesson to be done in an hour if with complete beginnersPaula managed to add a little extra time for us which is appreciated. Possibly emailing some video to me to allow me to catch up.

Selina Hogarth • Jul 2023

9 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews

Such and enjoyable hour. Paula was clear and patient and regularly checked that we were all getting along ok. Looking forward to fixing all the clothing items sitting in the mending pile now! Thank you.

Beginner's Guide to Visible Clothes Mending review by Selina Hogarth

Eve Moriarty • Jun 2023

Paula was lovely and made me feel completely at ease with the steps. Would definitely recommend this class to anyone wanting to start embroidery.

Lorna Edwards • Jun 2023

I would love to be able to sew neatly and always muddle through but never feel confident. This class was great for helping me understand and boost my confidence. I would recommend this class and will be looking to take some more!

Alison Wrenn • May 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended

Brilliant workshop, holly was fab. Can’t wait to get going on repairing some holes!

Joanne Blunt • May 2023

Excellent intro workshop. Great starting point for newcomers. Rachel, the workshop leader was great! Very glad I did it.

Karen Anderson • May 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Great workshop. Rachel explained each stitch and the pitfalls. It was well paced and now know how to do 4 embroidery stitches that I never knew before.

Julie Nolan • May 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

I enjoyed this workshop, Rachel's intructions were clear to follow and there was time to learn the stitches and practise them. I finished the project the next day and repaired my first item. Highly recommend

Mrs Miller • May 2023

5 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews

Total novice for needlecraft which I stated at the beginning of the class.
Irene was /is a very patient lady as I'm not very good at threading a needle!
Unfortunately there was only me who was booked in, so in my favour a true 1 to 1.
I managed to do all 3 stitches. I enjoyed this very much, didn't feel rushed. My kitten had to make an appearance, then my older big cat just to make it atad difficult for me to see, but they were put out the way. Even though I only accomplished 3 different stitches they are all I needed to know for future repairs. Irene also suggested a different way to use lazy daisy one, which I think I will be using. The kit which came in plenty of time was of high quality items in a canvas carry bag. The kit & the tutorial for beginners I believe to be well worth the cost.
This is the 2nd class (different subjects) both of them quality items to use plenty of quantity already looking at the crochet class.

Rea Lowe • May 2023

Rachel was great - very clear, friendly and engaging - can’t believe how much I learned in 1 hour!

Mary Joint • Apr 2023

7 ClassBento workshops attended • 6 reviews

This is a brilliant workshop. The very knowledgeable tutor taught me five stitches in a clear manner and I was able to replicate them easily. I was fascinated by the bolt stitch she showed me. An excellent lesson. Had lots of fun!

Gillian Stephenson • Apr 2023

4 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Thoroughly enjoyed the embroidery mending course. The tutor, Rachel, gave really clear explanations and I was very surprised at how much I learned in just an hour! Thank you!

Virginia • Apr 2023

Very informative and helpful tutor, clear explanations.
Bring small sharp scissors and maybe a needle threader, if your eyesight is not great, as we used all six strands of embroidery thread rather than 2 or 3.
Four different stitches, tips for mending woollen knits as well as fabric, as the technique is a bit different. Very enjoyable.

Pam Searle • Apr 2023

Excellent tuition and a really friendly instructor.
So useful to know the right stitches for various tasks.

Tamara Wilson • Apr 2023

8 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews

I learnt a lot from a beginner's session and i was curious of how to embroide things.

Trudi Cameron • Mar 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews

Really easy to follow. Nice pace and very approachable instructor. Some really good tips. Brilliant introduction thank you

Paula Macleod • Mar 2023

It was fun and informative. Irene set everything out in such an easy way to understand. Each stitch was well demonstrated and explained. I really enjoyed workshop.

Mary Hawyes • Mar 2023

9 ClassBento workshops attended • 9 reviews

Rachel is excellant at what she teaches. I have learnt some really good stitches today, which has inspired me to work on several other items as well as my jumper.
I gave 5 stars because she is also very patient while she is teaching. Lovely workshop from beginning to end. Here's to the next one.

Olwyn Mitchell • Mar 2023

Rachel was very clear, friendly and non-intimidating. Had some really helpful tips on how to vary the appearance of the stitches to get different effects, and I came away with confidence that with some practice I can put the new stitches I learned into good effect :)

Carolyn Parkinson • Mar 2023

4 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews

Rachel was lovely, she gave very clear instruction. I really enjoyed the session, although I’m not sure that it entirely lived up to its title. As it was a visible mending workshop I would have liked some more actual visible mending stitches and maybe not so many decorative ones.

Kim Horrocks • Mar 2023

24 ClassBento workshops attended • 7 reviews

The class was good. Thd tutor was very meticulous and careful. I would highly recommend this class.

Geraldine Quinn • Mar 2023

6 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews

really enjoyed getting back into embroidery, Rachel made it so easy to follow practicing the stitches. it was a great session! thanks
Geraldine x

Cliodhna Walsh • Mar 2023

5 ClassBento workshops attended • 5 reviews

Wonderful teacher who made it seem easy, very enjoyable and would recommend to beginners thanks!

Kim Walker • Mar 2023

Great class, Rachel explained things clearly and patiently. I can't believe i learnt 5 stiches in an hour! Really enjoyable.

Linda King • Mar 2023

12 ClassBento workshops attended • 15 reviews

Rachel is an excellent tutor. I really enjoyed this workshop, it's so much easier to learn when someone demonstrates at the same time as describing. This is a good value workshop as I now have some clever ideas to repair clothes in a pretty way plus I can use the embroidery stitches leant today for embroidery projects .

Jasmine Wells-Dean • Mar 2023

The workshop was really great. We got the opportunity to learn 4 different stitches in a short time and the instructor was very good at explaining things and working with us from our different starting points.