Explore Stitching Circles—A Road to Repurposing

By Kathryn Gibson and Shelley Swenson

Last summer we offered a three-day workshop for 10 girls between the ages of 7 and 13 to explore the ancient craft of refashioning used or discarded clothing into useable items, contemporary and necessary. Do you remember Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind” where draperies were “refashioned” into a formal dress? This was the concept we wanted the participants to consider.

At our youth event, each participant brought something from her closet or from the closet of a family member to refashion or repurpose. They shared delightful stories about the previous life of the item and their hope and plans for its future use. We heard about a mother’s lovely brown long-cherished skirt and her daughter’s plan to turn it into a contemporary dress. Worn and outgrown jeans became handbags. Outdated skirts were cut, pieced and embellished as the girls made new friends. The excitement of creation nurtured an environment of mutual respect and appreciation. The participants shared their dreams, aspirations and successes as they sometimes struggled with the new tools and techniques of sewing.

Both of us remember our grandmothers and mothers cutting and piecing together remnants of fabric that had been accumulating. Some were well worn articles of clothing no longer capable of repair or small pieces that remained following the stitching of a new frock. Each tumble from a horse or imprecise measurement of caustic chemicals could be read in the stain or rip that led to its move to the sewing basket. Many remnants were pieces that had been traded or gifted from neighbors or relatives. Every useable scrap was fodder for another project and another story.

For generations, creation was a part of every woman’s life. Domestic arts are seldom a part of what we teach our children now. These living arts had been passed down by oral histories through generations of forbearers connecting us to our roots and our community.

Today often our delight in what we adorn ourselves and our surroundings comes from how little we paid or a trend that might have inspired it, rather than from any personal connection. We often don’t expect much from what we buy, because the item will not be with us long. But attitudes are changing.

We received wonderful, positive feedback from the participants and their parents. Other adults expressed interest in a similar experience and Explore Stitching Circles—A Road to Repurposing resulted. The workshop will be offered from 1 to 2:45 p.m. at this year’s Green Living Expo. Join the group of like-minded persons in activities to unleash and nurture your creativity. Through the utilization of re-cycled fabric and by learning embellishment techniques, participants will be encouraged to creatively express themselves while making a stylish market bag to replace the plastics and paper bags that clog our landfills. Consider this an opportunity for sharing the ancient tradition of sewing circles between family members, friends and close neighbors.

These are the details of which you must be aware:

Participants must be 13 years or older.
Parents and their children are welcome!
Each participant is encouraged to bring example of refashion clothing, quilts and/or household items, a sewing scissors and any embellishments you would like to share with the group.
The class is limited to 15 people.
There is a $5.00 charge for the event.
Enrollment in the event will be handled as a first come, first serve basis.
Indicate your interest in being a part of the workshop and pay your registration fee at the Green Living Expo Registration Desk.

By reconstructing clothing we reduce the demand for new items. Manufacturers can direct their energies toward producing quality rather than quantity. Reusing materials is different from recycling in that it does not involve reprocessing and its associated cost and waste created from reprocessing.

We can learn to be more self-sufficient and to be inspired into repurposing more. We can do our part in helping to nurture and save the planet.

Please consider joining us at the Green Living Expo in the workshop entitled Explore Stitching Circles—A Road to Repurposing