Repair and Renew: A Visible Mending Workshop with Deepika Prakash
March 17 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Tuesday, March 17, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Repair and Renew is a hands-on, slow-making workshop that invites participants to explore visible mending and meditative hand-sewing as both a practical skill and a reflective creative practice. Through simple stitches and intentional repair, participants will learn how caring for textiles can deepen our relationship with materials, reduce waste, and encourage a more mindful approach to consumption.
Set within the inspiring environment of the exhibition A Sentient Land, this workshop draws parallels between attention to materials and mending—both acts of care, patience, observation, and renewal. Participants will leave not only with a repaired garment, but with foundational hand-sewing skills and a renewed appreciation for sustainability, imperfection, and craft.
What to bring:
- Small scissors
- Jeans which need repair
We will provide:
- Hand sewing needles and thread
- Some sewing supplies to share
About the Instructor: Deepika Prakash is a textile educator, community organizer, and founder of PatternReview.com, an international sewing community with over half a million members worldwide. She has taught Repair & Renew workshops for libraries and community organizations across Massachusetts for the past two years, covering topics such as visible and invisible mending, meditative hand-sewing, repairing sweaters and socks, hemming pants, and upcycling through hand embroidery.
Deepika is deeply passionate about sustainability and teaching practical life skills that empower people to extend the life of their belongings and reduce their environmental footprint. Her community work spans over a decade in Acton and Boxborough, including organizing cultural events, mentoring youth programs, and leading inclusive educational initiatives.
She has delivered keynote addresses at national sewing conferences, contributed to sewing publications and podcasts, and is the co-author of 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts & Tips, with all royalties donated to charity. In 2021, she was honored as a Commonwealth Heroine by the State of Massachusetts for her work promoting equality and community engagement.
