Mending & Repair as a Radical Practice

What can the practice of mending teach us about repairing our social fabric? In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn basic stitching and mending techniques while reflecting on repair as a practice of care. Bring a piece of clothing, textile, or another item you’d like to mend, and learn how to give it new life. As we stitch and repair together, we’ll make space for conversation and reflection on how small acts of care can strengthen our relationships and communities.

November 4: On The Mend: The Basics | RSVP

"On the Mend" is an invitation to slow down and gather. We will learn basic hand sewing  techniques (running, back and whip stitch) and begin to imagine repair as a practice in our lives.

December 2: Let It Go: Visible Mending | RSVP

In this workshop, participants will learn appliqué and hand-sewing techniques for visible mending. We’ll practice repairing and decorating worn items, while turning leftover materials into patches that can be used again. Together, we’ll consider how mending can be a creative practice for both individuals and communities.

This is a part of our School for Uncommon Practice: 2026–27 Workshop Series! Explore the rest of our 2027 classes. Registration for 2027 sessions opens in January.

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Facilitator Bio: 

Tanya Nixon-Silberg (she/her) is a Black mother, artist, educator, and a radical optimist from Boston, MA. Her methods of creation have taken the shape of fiber art, collage, sculpture, puppetry, storytelling and conscious narrative shifting through workshops and facilitation. Unapologetically, Tanya makes art for and in community with Boston's BIPOC community to craft our own narratives that center truth, remembrance, and healing. A huge fan of the mission and the people that Ujima Boston brings together, she is happy to exchange gifts with the community in the form of sewing and repair.