Intro to Embroidery: 4 Week - Workshop

Give your clothes a new life - one stitch at a time! 🪡✨

Join Keelin Maloney, The Nest’s Mending Technician and resident fiber arts lover, for a four-week introduction to the colorful, creative world of embroidery. Designed for complete beginners, this hands-on workshop will teach you the foundational skills you need to embroider directly onto clothing, create your own sew-on patches, and use stitching as a way to repair, personalize, and reimagine the pieces already in your closet.

No sewing or embroidery experience is necessary! Over four Monday evenings, you'll learn alongside a small group of just eight participants, giving you plenty of time for hands-on instruction and creative exploration. Embroidery hoops, needles, thread, fabric, beads, and other materials will be provided.

What We'll Learn:

Week 1 - Embroidery Basics
Get familiar with embroidery tools and materials, fabric types, stabilizing techniques, and transferring designs. You'll learn four foundational stitches - running stitch, back stitch, satin stitch, and seed stitch - and create your own stitched sampler. Before the next class, you'll choose a garment you'd like to repair or embellish.

Week 2 - Designing for Clothing
We'll talk about the importance of mending and extending the life of our clothes, explore how embroidery behaves on different fibers and fabrics, and begin planning your garment design.

Week 3 - Garments, Patches & Beading
Start bringing your vision to life! You'll work directly on your garment while learning how to create embroidered patches, set up hoops for patch-making, trace inspiration and designs, and incorporate beads into your work.

Week 4 -Finishing Your Project
Put the finishing touches on your garment or patch and leave with a completed project and the skills and confidence to continue embroidering on your own.

What You'll Leave With:

By the end of the series, you'll know how to use foundational embroidery stitches, embroider directly onto clothing, create a sew-on embroidered patch, and use embroidery as a tool for both mending and creative self-expression.

What should you bring?
Just yourself, your creativity, and after the first week, a garment you'd love to repair, personalize, or give a new life.

Class Dates: September 14, September 21, September 28 & October 5
Time: 6–8 PM
Location: The Nest in Providence upstairs in the workshop studio: 272 Carpenter Street, Providence, RI 02909
Class Size: 8 participants

Accessibility. Please reach out to us at [email protected] for any accessibility questions or accommodation needs for this event.

By signing up for this class you agree to grant The Nest the right to take and use photographs, video recordings, and/or audio recordings of you during the event. You understand that these materials may be used for promotional purposes, including print and digital marketing, social media, and other advertising mediums. You acknowledge that your name and identity may be associated with these images, and you waive any right to inspect or approve the finished product. Furthermore, you release, discharge, and agree to hold harmless The Nest from any claims, demands, and liabilities that may arise from the use of these photographs or recordings.

Meet Your Teacher:

Keelin Maloney (she/her) is a Providence native, textile lover, and fiber arts community educator. Keelin is the lead Mending Technician for The Nest's Mending & Repair Service. She has a background in hand knitting & sewing, machine knitting & sewing, crocheting, weaving and natural textile dyeing. Her years in fine art school have led her to create her own knit collections and participate in various local sustainable fashion projects. She also teaches knitting, crochet, embroidery & natural dye bath workshops.