Workshops

Friends of the Ragfinery and enthusiasts of all things fanciful – our annual Upcycle Runway Challenge is back, and bigger and better than ever at our new venue, BTC's Settlemeyer Hall. Every year brave participants of all skill levels are tasked with transforming discarded garments and textiles into runway-ready designs. This exciting event is a ...Read more >

Expand your dyepot skills into the rich indigo blue zone with this hands on workshop! Experiment with a natural fiber cloth and yarns too! The history and chemistry of indigo will be brought to class in an easy to understand system so you can take your skills home.  Impact: Items with stains and imperfections are ...Read more >

Create your very own owl to take with you before you leave Hogwarts for the holidays! In this easy needle felting class we will learn sculptural techniques. When you head home you too will feel the joy of your own new magical pet. Ages 8+ Impact: Utilizing scrap wool roving to create fun creatures to ...Read more >

Learn how to craft a beautiful no-sew braided rug from old sheets! This four strand technique eliminates the need for sewing braids together and results in a sturdy rug able to withstand the modern washer and drier.  Impact: Worn, torn, or stained fabrics are diverted from the landfill. Participant and Materials Requirements: Please bring sharp scissors, 2 old ...Read more >

Note: This class runs three consecutive Saturdays from 11/9 to 11/23, 10am-1pm. Learn to weave with Aurora Lindquist!  In a series of three Saturday morning sessions, learn to plan a weaving project and what materials to use, warp a loom, and create your own 2’ by 4′ rug. Impact: Scraps of fabric and used clothing are saved from ...Read more >

Join in the time-honored tradition of sewing toys from the scrap basket. Inspired by children’s books, make little mouse finger puppets from boiled wool and scraps to cheer the chilly days. From basic pre-sewn shapes, learn traditional toymaking techniques to finish, personalize and costume your winter mouse in upcycled fun. Think ornaments, stocking stuffers, Hanukkah ...Read more >

Create your own unique, hand embroidered wall hanging! Using a few basic stitches, each participant will make an original Pacific Northwest inspired design of mushrooms, ferns, a pinecone and a blueberry. No experience necessary. Includes stitch guide and printed instructions to complete 6″ hoop art.  Get a good start on your design, then go home ...Read more >

Sashiko mending is a Japanese style of visible mending that uses embroidery stitching to create beautiful surface designs. It’s simple to learn, but has endless style variations. In this workshop you’ll learn the basics of sashiko and various sashiko patterns and styles of mending. You will design a sashiko patch, and go home with a ...Read more >

Chop up a pair of old jeans and sew a fun and funky apron to use in the kitchen or garden. Denim makes stylish and sturdy aprons while also putting discarded jeans to good use. Impact: Discarded jeans, scrap fabric and other sewing notions are diverted from the waste stream. Participant Materials & Requirements: This class ...Read more >

This class will teach you to make sturdy baskets from almost any kind of scrap fabric! Thick strips of fabric are twisted and bound together with yarn, strong cotton string, or thin strips of more fabric. Learn this simple technique, then take your new skills home with you and continue creating to your heart’s content. ...Read more >

Have you ever found a wool sweater that felt lovely and was the perfect color, but the style was outdated or not your thing? Then this is the perfect class for you! In this class, you will learn how to take apart a sweater, identify sweaters that can be taken apart to salvage for yarn, ...Read more >

Bring in your garments, gear, and household items in need of repair or alteration and a Ragfinery staff member will walk you through mending them! This drop-in mending session will focus on machine and hand-sewing, and will not include help with darning. This workshop is made possible through grant funding and is a part of ...Read more >

Ever wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine? Then this is the class for you! Learn to use and care for sewing machines with this hands-on workshop on Ragfinery's Baby Lock sewing machines. You will receive a take-home chart of common sewing machine functions that are standard for most electronic and computerized machines, ...Read more >

Expand your dyepot skills into the rich indigo blue zone with this hands on workshop! Experiment with a natural fiber cloth and yarns too! The history and chemistry of indigo will be brought to class in an easy to understand system so you can take your skills home.  Impact: Items with stains and imperfections are ...Read more >

These adorable little creatures come together like magic! In this workshop you will sculpt wool roving into charming gnomes to give as one-of-a-kind, handmade gift or keep all for yourself. Your gnome can be turned into a magnet, pin or travel sized friend. Ages 7+ Impact: Castaway natural wool roving is transformed into an ornament ...Read more >

Bring material and sewing supplies (or shop before class for deals at Ragfinery) to sew a stocking to be donated to a child or family in need! Patterns and assistance will be provided, though familiarity with a sewing machine is necessary. Stockings will be displayed at Ragfinery and the Firehouse Cafe in Fairhaven, then filled and ...Read more >

Sashiko mending is a Japanese style of visible mending that uses embroidery stitching to create beautiful surface designs. It’s simple to learn, but has endless style variations. In this workshop you’ll learn the basics of sashiko and various sashiko patterns and styles of mending. You will design a sashiko patch, and go home with a ...Read more >

Note: This workshop is held on two consecutive Saturdays, 12/7 and 12/14. This workshop focuses on teaching you to upcycle or alter your own clothes and is taught by the patient and personable, Brigitte. Start with the basics, learning about the care and use of a sewing machine, then jump right into sewing! Students of ...Read more >

Note: This class runs three consecutive Saturdays from 12/7 to 12/21 from 10am-1pm. Just in time for the holidays, learn to weave a lovely scarf on our floor looms! Beginning weaving students welcome, intermediate students can try out more complex patterns and designs.  Impact: Ragfinery yarn is upcycled and diverted from the landfill.   Participant and Materials ...Read more >

These beautiful angels look as if ready to take flight. In this workshop you will sculpt wool roving into gorgeous angels to adorn your holiday tree or mantle, or give as one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts. Ages 7+. Needle felting classes now come with all the supplies you need to continue needle felting at home! Impact: Castaway ...Read more >

Make a one of a kind, hand embroidered patch. In this 2 hour workshop, you'll make a patch using one of the images created by local artist, Erin Eggenburg. Choose from a moth, mushroom, eye or flower (or bring your own image) to create a patch perfect for a bag or jacket. Impact: These patches ...Read more >

Stop in and make your own heirloom wool ornament out of discarded garments! Make your ornament using one of our many stencils or freestyle it! This is perfect for children, parents with their children, or anyone who is young at heart. Participants will learn how to sew the running stitch to make these stuffed wool ...Read more >

Bring in your garments, gear, and household items in need of repair or alteration and a Ragfinery staff member will walk you through mending them! This drop-in mending session will focus on machine and hand-sewing, and will not include help with darning. This workshop is made possible through grant funding and is a part of ...Read more >

Learn how to craft a beautiful no-sew braided rug from old sheets! This four strand technique eliminates the need for sewing braids together and results in a sturdy rug able to withstand the modern washer and drier.  Impact: Worn, torn, or stained fabrics are diverted from the landfill. Participant and Materials Requirements: Please bring sharp scissors, 2 old ...Read more >