Summer Stitching, Sashiko Style
Join us for a hands-on workshop that introduces the art of sashiko, a traditional Japanese hand-stitching technique rooted in both beauty and function.
Originally developed for mending and reinforcing clothing, sashiko offers a meaningful way to extend the life of your wardrobe while practicing mindfulness and intentional repair. In this beginner-friendly session, you’ll learn the fundamentals of sashiko stitching—from selecting materials and thread to learning basic patterns.
More than just technique, this workshop invites you to slow down through the meditative rhythm of needle and thread. Each stitch becomes a small act of escape; a form of rest, which is healing. Create swatches for fun, the accomplishment is in the doing. Use your stitching to repair a favourite garment, a sustainable action that rewards you and the environment.
Bring an item of clothing in need of mending or use our practice fabric as you explore how visible mending can transform wear and tear into something beautiful.
What You'll Learn:
• Introduction to a brief history and philosophy of sashiko
• Basic stitching techniques and traditional patterns
• How to apply visible mending to repair or reinforce garments
• The practice of mindful mending as a form of self-care and sustainability
Open to all skill levels.
Supply List: All materials provided, but feel free to bring a garment to mend.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
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Classes taught by local teachers can be cancelled up to 72 hours in advance of the class date for a store credit. Unfortunately, we are unable to give store credit for classes cancelled after that point.
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Classes taught by out-of-town teachers can be cancelled up to 30 days in advance for a store credit.
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If you cannot attend, sending a friend in your place is completely acceptable and encouraged.
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For classes cancelled by The Cotton Patch, a refund (or store credit if you prefer) will be issued for the class fee.
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
| Skill Details: | All skill levels welcome |
| Instructor: | Marcella Austenfeld |
| Instructor Bio: | Marcella is a maker whose work is deeply inspired by nature and the stories it holds. Born in Northern Ontario and raised throughout the Canadian provinces, her heritage and admiration of the land shape both her design sensibilities and her creative process. With degrees in Textile Manufacturing and Technology Management, Marcella draws on both left- and right-brain strengths—balancing precision and process with creativity and intuition. A strong communicator, she is passionate about sharing her love of making with others and believes deeply in the value of creative expression as a tool for connection and well-being. Marcella’s creative journey began as a teenager with a love for sewing, followed by a passionate interest in beadwork that led her to jewelry making and a deep exploration into metal smithing. Recently, while in breast cancer treatment, she returned to needle and thread, rediscovering the meditative, healing power of handwork. This act of making became an essential part of her healing process—restorative, grounding, and transformative. That experience reaffirmed what she had always known—busy hands can quiet the mind and activate the imagination. For her, sewing and jewelry making are not only creative outlets but also opportunities to be fully present in a process-driven, meaningful practice. Today, Marcella makes in her Orinda, California home studio. Her work combines cultural roots, nature, and design vision to craft useable pieces that spark sentiment story, and personal connection. Her work invites others to experience the joy and depth that comes from the hand- mind connection and the timeless act of making. With community Marcella’s desire is to share making - not just what is made, but why, and to connect, to value, and to honor the power of handmade expression. |
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