Workshops

Wear Your Flaws On Your Sleeve. Join Seattle’s Eileen Fisher Renew and Ragfinery for Bellingham’s Not-Quite Perfect Sale! Shop gently worn, slightly flawed Eileen Fisher pieces at $10 and up! Every purchase of a Not-Quite Perfect item extends the life of the clothes we love, and helps to reduce fashion’s footprint, one garment at a ...Read more >

Learn the art of needle felting and beautify your favorite wool sweater while doing it. This class will have you wishing you had more garments in your closet with frayed cuffs and holey sleeves, just so you can revitalize them with a felted appliqué. Choose a small project that you can tackle in this 3 hour ...Read more >

Learn to sew an easy, stylish and comfortable top!  Based on the timeless design of Daisy Braid (@_diydaisy), this rectangle top comes together easily without a pattern and can be customized in endless ways.  Experience the freedom and satisfaction of making your own clothing. Impact: Sewing garments from unwanted fabric is a sustainable and ethical way ...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 workshop is held on two consecutive Saturdays, 10/5 and 10/12. Fondly called Sewing Bootcamp in the past, this popular workshop now features increased instruction time and a new name! It focuses on teaching you to upcycle or alter your own clothes and is taught by the patient and personable, Brigitte. Start with the basics, ...Read more >

In this class, you’ll not only learn the basics of knitting, but you’ll come home with your very own garter stitch banner - perfect for bringing whimsy and brightness to any part of your house! This class will teach you all you need to know to start knitting: how to cast onto the needles, how ...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 class runs three consecutive Saturdays from 10/12 to 1o/26.  This Intro to Weaving class will be quite experimental and fun! Students will learn the basics of tapestry weaving, experiment with new techniques, and will take home a small wall hanging of their own creation. We will be weaving on pre-warped looms – just come in ...Read more >

Spend an afternoon reclaiming the tradition of sewing toys from the scrap basket. Make a little black crow from discarded fabric with a primitive tattered look. From machine-sewn basic shapes, use classic toymaking techniques to finish and add character to your basic crow. Keep it simple or dig through the stash of provided fabrics and ...Read more >

Do you have some pants that need hemming, a hole that needs patching, socks that want darning? Are you itching for some stitching, but not sure where to start? In this class, we’ll cover the basics of mending by hand.  Impact: Garments in need of mending are fixed, extending their life and diverting them from ...Read more >

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 >

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 >

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 >