RESPONSE: Stitch it Fix it

Artists Michele Elliot and Katja Handt share their creative space at Five Islands Studios on Dharawal Country in Port Kembla. Michele's artwork focuses on materiality and meaning while Katja is a set and costume designer/maker with a small leather atelier. Both are participating in Sydney Craft Week 2024 with hands-on workshops focussed on sustainability, and with an Open Studio weekend, visitors welcome.

In her workshop Patch fix darn and stitch: upcycling and visible mending, Michele shows how to make an upcycled scissor pouch using fabric scraps and simple embroidery, and how to save much-loved garments with visible mending using hand stitching and easy embroidery with colourful yarns. Michele had a recent solo show of textile works at Wollongong Art Gallery, read more about it here.

Designer and leather artisan Katja Handt also leads two leathercraft workshops. Marbling shows how to transform leather into a beautiful key fob and bookmark; the Handbag Spa is about looking after leather bags including leather care, repair and a care kit to take home.

Michele is also part of MakeShift with fellow local artist Melinda Young, creative first aid pioneers who have developed creative prescriptions for better mental health. Their workshop A Slow Dose of Creative First Aid, held in Thirroul Railway Hall, is a day of slow, mindful craft and mark making.

micheleelliot.com
kattasche.com
makeshift.org.au

MICHELE ELLIOT, Five Islands Studios, Port Kembla

When did you first start stitching?
I was around 7 or 8 years old, my cousin taught me the basics and I also learnt more skills in needlework class at school.

What draws you to work with textiles and found materials?
Textiles are inextricably linked to the body, to the human, in the making and wearing of cloth. I’m particularly drawn to work with clothing and domestic textiles. They speak to the shape of our bodies, to how we are in the world, to the life lived in these garments and to memory and the passing of time. Like us, clothes fray and wear and break down around the edges.

How have you used visible mending for your own clothes?
I use visible mending on jumper repairs. No matter how much care you take, moths always find a way of making holes. I’ve also patched my jeans, mended bags and in fact, am about to start repairing my felt Birkenstocks, which hilariously have worn out in the same spot on both shoes!

Do you need sewing experience to do your workshops?
Not at all, everyone is welcome. I start with a demonstration on patching, simple running stitch and weaving/cross hatching with thread. Then I work individually with each person’s mending to make a plan and get them started. Taking time to plan and prepare is helpful. It is an easy process and so satisfying to see people’s pleasure when they’ve repaired their own garment.

What does slowing down do for the making process?
Making and slowing down are reciprocal, especially so with hand-stitching. The simple repetitive action of sewing by hand is rhythmic and calming. It brings the mind into soft focus, where one can give attention to the task and at the same time, allows thoughts to come and go freely.

How have you responded to the SCW theme RESPONSE?
Applying a creative hand to reducing textile waste is a positive response to care and sustainability for the environment. The ABC reported that last year, in NSW alone, 305,000 tonnes of textiles were discarded, and of this 240,000 tonnes went to landfill. Recycling fabric scraps and learning to mend your garments is fun and incredibly satisfying and keeps clothing out of landfill.

Sydney Craft Week workshops

Patch fix darn and stitch: upcycling and visible mending workshops Sunday 13 October, Scissor Case, 10.30am – 12.30 pm, $80; Visible Mending, 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm, $70; Open Studio Friday 11 October – Sunday 13 October.

Leathercraft workshops Marbling, Friday 11 October 2pm – 4pm, $70; The Handbag Spa, Saturday 12 October, 10.30 – 1.30pm, $70; Open Studio Friday 11 October, 4-8 pm, Saturday 12 October, 10am – 4pm, Sunday 13 October, 10am – 4pm.

A Slow Dose of Creative First Aid workshop Saturday 19 October.