Still asking your mum to sew up a hem or fix a snag in your favourite jumper? Those days are over. Our editorial team has found three workshops where you can get to grips with needles, thread and the sewing machine – even if you’ve never sewn on a button in your life. On the agenda: making a toiletry bag from scratch using upcycled fabric, hand-embroidering a T-shirt, and learning how to repair your knitwear in style. Ready to thread your needle?
The most technical
A workshop to help you master the sewing machine with confidence! At Esther’s studio, the Senegalese-born fashion designer trained at ESMOD, things start with the fun part: choosing your fabric from a selection of upcycled offcuts in gingham, floral and polka-dot prints. Esther prepares the pieces for your toiletry bag, then guides you through the assembly process: sewing, putting the pieces together and learning to handle needles and scissors like a pro. The workshop takes place in a very small group of just two to four people, ensuring almost tailor-made guidance. The result? A one-of-a-kind toiletry bag, ready to come along on your next weekend getaway.
The most delicate
What if your next T-shirt had a personality all of its own? In the 11th arrondissement, Marie introduces you to the art of hand embroidery, a skill she taught herself before turning it into her profession. First, choose the size of your organic cotton T-shirt, then pick a design from Marie’s collection – or come up with your own, even if it’s just a simple word. With needle in hand, you’ll learn the essential techniques step by step until you can embroider independently. An added bonus: Marie will send you a PDF packed with her best tips so you can keep stitching at home. You’ll leave proudly wearing your very own embroidered T-shirt, with a brand-new hobby to enjoy on rainy days!
The most useful
A hole in your favourite jumper? Don’t panic – turn it into a work of art! With Laurence, who discovered the sheer scale of clothing waste while working at a reuse centre, you’ll learn how to extend the life of your clothes instead of throwing them away. Her speciality is reknitting and visible mending, techniques that transform snags and holes into striking, characterful details. The workshop begins with a hands-on session using fabric samples, where you’ll try out darning in a checkerboard pattern. Choose your thread colours, then stitch by alternating over-and-under movements. It’s a technique you can go on to use across your entire wardrobe. No waste, just style!
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