Pockets, Patches and the Politics of Keeping Things

UPDATED: Sundays, 4/26, 5/3: 5 - 8 PM

This class explores hand sewing and hand weaving as practical tools for repair, adaptation, and care. Centered on pockets, patches, and closures, students learn how to mend and augment clothing or bags they already own - extending usefulness while honoring wear, history, and necessity. Techniques include hand weaving on a small temporary cardboard loom, darning directly into garments, appliqué patches and pockets, and simple hand-worked closures such as buttonholes and handmade yarn buttons.

The class situates these skills within broader cultural traditions of thrift, reuse, and repair, drawing on global practices and “carrier-bag” philosophy - an evolutionary and literary theory affirming that survival depends on holding, maintaining, and sharing. Rather than separating theory from practice, conversations about value, labor, sustainability, and care emerge through hands-on making, storytelling, and shared problem-solving. Students leave with repaired or modified items, portable skills, and renewed confidence in keeping things.

  • Tuition: $125 per participant

  • Materials Fee: NA

  • Optional Tools to Bring: Bring remnants of fabric, yarn, twine, and buttons for your own use or to offer as shared materials as desired, or favorite sewing needles, darning needles, pins, scissors or thread snips for personal use.

  • Age / Ability Level:This class is open to all levels of experience. Minimum age 18; 13 with an adult.

  • This is a hands-on, beginner-friendly class with shared instruction and flexible outcomes. Each session includes short demonstrations, generous work time, and individualized support. All students learn the same foundational skills, then choose how to apply them - whether weaving a patch, darning a garment, adding a pocket, or finishing with closures and reinforcement. The pace is supportive and adaptable, with space for conversation and quiet focus. Students are encouraged to work with materials they already have, contribute to a shared materials pile, and learn from one another through making.

    We will be using fabric remnants, and small-moderate amounts of yarn, twine and thread, all of which will be provided at no cost. The instructor will supply cutting tools, needles and pins which will be returned at the end of the workshop series.

  • Seated work with flexibility to stand or move as needed. Instruction is offered verbally, visually, and through hands-on demonstration, with takeaway printed notes. Students are encouraged to work at their own pace and adapt techniques to suit their bodies, materials, and comfort levels. Breaks are welcomed as needed. Please reach out in advance with access needs - we’re happy to adjust.

    CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is committed to building a diverse, inclusive learning community where people of all backgrounds feel welcome and able to participate. As we launch our first workshop series, we are dedicating space in each class for reduced-tuition scholarships to support anyone facing financial barriers. As we build a more robust scholarship program, we hope this initial launch will remove barriers and expand access to hands-on learning for all.

    Anyone with financial need is encouraged to apply for a half-tuition scholarship. To be considered, please submit a brief online application. Please note that CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is operating with limited financial resources and an entirely volunteer staff. Therefore, we cannot guarantee a spot for every applicant. Each class has one scholarship slot available. Applicants who are not selected in this current round are welcome to reapply.  Apply here

  • CPC is able to provide refunds up to two weeks before the start date of the class for which the registration was submitted, though we do retain a $20 fee for return payment processing. If you need to cancel your class within the two week window, a refund is not guaranteed, but will be considered based on several factors.

    If CPC needs to cancel a class due to low enrollment, teacher illness, or other factors, you will receive a full refund. Read our full set of policies.

meet your instructor

Aja Bond is an interdisciplinary artist and educator whose work centers on repair, care, and preparedness through material practice. Their teaching draws from folk craft traditions, ecological thinking, and feminist approaches to making, with an emphasis on accessibility and skill-sharing. Aja has taught in community and academic settings and is currently completing an MFA focused on craft as future-technology. Their classes prioritize practical skills, shared knowledge, and learning through hands-on experimentation.

View their work: ajabond.com @thriftmystic