Monthly Mending Bar

About this event

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Give your well-loved clothing and household textiles a little extra life.

Our Monthly Mending Bar is a community repair circle where we gather to mend, learn, and connect. Whether you have a missing button, a zipper that needs attention, a torn seam, worn knees, a hole that needs patching, or a favorite textile that’s been waiting for some care, this is a welcoming space to bring it back into use.

Bring an item you’d like to repair—we’ll provide studio sewing machines, hand-sewing tools, thread, patches, needles, and other basic mending supplies. We’ll help you choose the repair method that best suits your project, whether that’s a machine repair, hand stitching, patching, darning, visible mending, or another approach. You’ll receive guidance throughout the process, while doing the mending yourself whenever possible. No sewing experience is necessary; beginners are welcome.

This isn’t a formal sewing class. It’s a chance to slow down, learn practical skills, share ideas, and help keep textiles in use longer.

What to Bring

• One or more clothing or household textile items that need repair

• Any specialty materials you’d like to incorporate (optional), such as matching fabric, buttons, or sentimental patches

What’s INcluded

• Use of studio sewing machines, mending tools, and basic supplies

• Thread, needles, patches, and other common mending materials

• Guidance and support as you work through your repair

• A welcoming, collaborative environment where you can learn alongside others

How it works

Monthly Mending Bar is held monthly from 5:30–8:00 pm on the fourth Tuesday.

To keep the space comfortable and ensure everyone receives individual guidance, you’ll choose an arrival time when you register:

• 5:30 PM

• 6:00 PM

• 6:30 PM

Please arrive at your selected time, then stay as long as you’d like until 8:00 pm to continue working on your project.

Cost

Pay what you can $10-$40 .

The fee includes use of studio equipment, shared tools, and basic mending materials. Additional donations are always appreciated and help us continue offering accessible community programming.

Who Is This For?

Anyone who wants to extend the life of their clothing and textiles.

Whether you’ve never threaded a needle or you’ve been sewing for years, you’ll find encouragement, practical guidance, and a community of people who believe that repair is a meaningful alternative to replacement. During registration, we’ll ask about your sewing experience so we can better support you.

A Note About Repairs

This is a guided DIY experience. We will help you assess your item, choose an appropriate repair approach, and support you as you work. Some repairs may be completed during the session, while others may require additional time, specialized materials, or professional alteration.

Looking for Something Different?

If you’re interested in transforming or redesigning garments rather than repairing them, join our Upcycling Club on the second Tuesday of each month , where we explore alterations, thrift flips, and creative garment transformations.

Need more time to work on a project? Our weekly Fiber Arts Happy Hour meets Wednesdays from 4:00–6:00 pm and offers open studio time for independent work on stitching, mending, knitting, crochet, weaving, and other fiber arts projects.

Before You Reserve

A few things to know before joining us:

Mending Bar is a guided DIY experience. We provide tools, materials, and guidance, but you will participate in repairing your own item whenever possible. We’ll help you assess your project, choose an approach, and support you as you work.

Have a zipper or closure issue? You’re welcome to bring it! Because zipper repairs vary widely in complexity, we’ll help you determine the best approach. Some repairs may be completed during the session, while others may require additional time, specialized materials, or professional alteration.

Not sure if your item is a good fit? Bring it along—we’ll help you figure out the possibilities.

Full FAQ

You can view the full Fiber Arts Mending Bar FAQ here .

instructor Overview

Nao Kobayashi

Nao Kobayashi designs and fabricates puppets and costumes for TV, film and art related services.

Originally from Japan and recently at Images in Motion Inc. in Sonoma, California, she has worked on various projects with dance and theater productions, fashion and entertainment companies, museums and institutes over 15 years. She also explores interdisciplinary art projects with independent artists, musicians, improvisers and performers, with her somatic understanding through martial arts including Shintaido, butoh and improvisation. She keeps expanding ideas to cross borders and nurture culture with creative solutions.

nunozoo.com naopuppet.com

Membership Has Its Benefits

All Silver Memberships and above receive 10% off the registration cost for any class purchase over $40. Materials fees are not discounted.

Membership helps support our programs, events, and financial aid programs. Become a member today and find community, connection, and creativity.

Membership Information Join the Studio

Class FAQ

What is the process for cancelling my registration?

We ask that you notify us at least 10 days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice, we will not be able to provide refunds , due to our contractual obligations and material purchases for each class.

Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee (minus the payment processing and services fee), or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class.

All credits must be used within 1 year.

Where can I find your full class policies and guidelines?

You can view our full class policies and guidelines here .

Accessibility Needs & Commitment

The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.

What skill level is right for me?

• All Levels

• Welcomes participants from beginning through advanced. Instructor provides a balanced and flexible curriculum suitable for participants with any level of experience.

• Beginning

• Participant has little to no experience with this medium and needs or expects guidance at every step during the class. Participant wants to learn about materials, techniques, and vocabulary of the medium.

• Intermediate

• Participant is comfortable with the medium and expects both guidance and time to work alone with the medium.

• Advanced

• Participant is very confident with all aspects of the medium. Participant is self-motivated; ready to experiment and develop their artistic voice.

Is there a building map so I can find my room ahead of time?

Click Image to Expand

Click Image to Expand

Do you pro-rate late additions to classes?

Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org to request a late addition.

I am interested in teaching, where can I find more information?

We are always looking for new instructors. You can fill out the form directly here .

Schedule

Fourth Tuesday of the Month

September 2026 – March 2027

This Session Date

from

Registration Session Times

Session 1: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM Session 2: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Session 3: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

More info on how it works here .

Exceptions

No meeting in December

Location

Category

Experience Level

Ages

Pay what you can – Sliding Scale

Suggested contribution:

$20

Total Registration Cost:

Choose $10, $20, or $40 based on what feels right for you. Every registration supports our mending guides.

Register

Financial Aid