Made by You: Japanese Boro Textile Stitching

Made by You: Japanese Boro Textile Stitching is a hands-on introduction to the Japanese art of visible mending, transforming fabric scraps into a one-of-a-kind stitched textile.

This workshop introduces participants to boro, a centuries-old Japanese textile tradition where worn or mended fabric is patched and stitched together. Participants will look at boro’s history and the philosophy behind it, including the idea of wabi-sabi, finding beauty in imperfection and visible signs of use. Then, the workshop will teach foundational hand-stitching techniques, including running stitch and simple patch attachment, before designing their own layout using a mix of provided fabric scraps. Everyone will leave with a stitched textile piece of their own and a working knowledge of a technique they can keep building on at home.

This class is for beginners of all skill levels, ages 10+, all supplies provided. However, participants are welcome to bring fabric scraps from home with personal meaning (an old shirt, a worn pair of jeans, fabric with sentimental value) to incorporate into their piece.

This workshop will take place outdoors at the Hub RTP stage. In the event of unfavorable weather, we do have an indoor backup plan. Due to the small-scale format of this project, each participant needs to purchase their own ticket in advance.