Battle Jacket: Fabric Block Printing w/ Salvation Artists Collective @ RCLC

Carve it, print it, wear it! Design images on carved foam blocks to create fabric prints. Materials provided. Preparation required.
About this Event

Learn the basics of relief printing using carved foam blocks. Students will design a simple symbol, image, or motif and print it onto fabric to create custom patches and decorative elements for future projects. Topics include image design, positive and negative space, carving techniques, fabric inks, and printing on cloth.

Students should bring: Sketches, symbols, images for inspiration, and an apron or old shirt if desired.

This class is part of an optional five-part series, titled "". Attendance at each class is recommended, but it is not required.

Series Description: This five-part series explores a variety of low-cost textile arts and creative repair techniques that can be combined to create a unique, personalized battle jacket. Participants will learn practical skills while developing a wearable piece of art that reflects their interests, values, experiences, and imagination. No prior sewing or artistic experience is required.

Basic workshop supplies will be provided, including needles, thread, fabric markers, paints, brushes, white cotton fabric for patch-making, reclaimed fabric suitable for patching and visible mending, and shared block-printing materials. Students are encouraged to bring their own garments, fabric scraps, inspiration images, and any patches or embellishments they would like to incorporate into their work.

List of classes in :

• on Saturday, July 25, from 1:30–3:30pm at Reuse Commons Lake City: Carve it. Print it. Wear it. Design images on carved foam blocks to create fabric prints. Materials provided. Preparation required.
• on Saturday, August 8 from 1:30–3:30pm at Reuse Commons Lake City: Build meaning from fabric. Create a unique appliqué that can be added to a garment. Materials provided. Preparation required.
• on Saturday, August 15 from 1:30–3:30pm at Reuse Commons Lake City: Make repairs part of the story. Use visible mending and decorating patching to repair garments with wear and tear. Some materials required.
• on Saturday, August 22 from 1:30–3:30pm at Reuse Commons Lake City: Paint your symbols. Create durable painted designs that can be transferred onto fabric. Materials provided. Preparation required.
• on Saturday, August 29 from 1:30–3:30pm at Reuse Commons Lake City: Put it all together. Decorate your desired garment with patches from previous classes and personal embellishments. Materials required.

About the instructor, Katie McFarland: I came to upcycling the old-fashioned way: because I had to. A punk since 1983, I've spent a lifetime rescuing, repairing, remixing, and reimagining discarded materials. I've made clothes from thrift-store finds, patched garments until they became works of art, block-printed fabric, and turned scraps into something worth keeping. When my kids were young, I dumpster-dived for food and useful materials, learning firsthand that "waste" is often just value waiting for a second chance.

Today, I describe myself as a fabric-pattern DJ, sampling, layering, and remixing textiles into new forms. My favorite technique is visible mending, because it refuses to hide damage. Instead, it transforms wear, loss, and breakage into part of the story. A visible mend is a declaration of hope: proof that what is torn can be strengthened, what is worn can be made useful again, and what bears scars can still be beautiful. For me, upcycling isn't a trend; it's a way of seeing the world.

Our sliding scale for classes helps to reduce barriers for participation while retaining sufficient income for Seattle REconomy, which operates the NE Seattle and Shoreline Tool Libraries and Reuse Commons Lake City. Please choose the level that best fits your household’s income. If cost is a concern, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] to discuss options. This class is supported by the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU).

ACCESSIBILITY:

• Much of the venue is wheelchair accessible. Some classes may utilize the balcony space which only has standard-width door access. The facility has an ADA compliant all-gender restroom.
• Non-English and ASL interpreters are not provided at our classes and events, however attendees are welcome to bring their own interpreters.
• Please contact us with any accessibility notes or requests.

GETTING THERE:

• By transit: Served by bus route 522 from Roosevelt Station, or route 61 from Northgate Station
• By bike: There are multiple bicycle route options available to the Reuse Commons, and you are welcome to stow your bicycle inside during your visit.
• Car parking: There is a shared asphalt parking lot that fits up to 10 cars. There is additional street parking along Lake City Way NE.

Children are welcome at some classes with their parent or guardian on a case-by-case basis, either as a student or as an observer. If you would like your child to attend a class with you, please email [email protected] with their age and experience. Let us know if they will be a student or an observer, the name and date of the class, and we will determine if it is appropriate.