Naka-Kon 2025 Mending Clothes with Boro Embroidery

Make your clothes last longer and fix pesky holes by learning traditional Japanese Boro embroidery! In this workshop, we’ll learn a little bit about the history of mending and repairing clothes in Japan, and will complete a basic patch using scraps of traditional Japanese fabric. Students will then learn basic hand sewing techniques and how to apply them to attach their patch to create a beautiful & functional repair that can be applied to damaged clothes of any kind. Each student will leave with a sample of repaired fabric that they can then take home and apply to worn clothing using the techniques learned in class.

This class is open to participants 16 years of age or older. Participants under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian. A liability waiver will also need to be signed. 

In this workshop you'll learn:

• Basic hand sewing, including how to thread a needle
• How to perform a “running stitch”
• How to mend holes and create patches in the Boro technique
• A brief history of Japanese mending
• Participating students will be entered into a drawing to win one of the Bernette sewing machines used in the class, as well as two free digital patterns from CUT/SEW! The machine and patterns will be given away to a student attending closing ceremonies on Sunday at-Kon. 

Class Length: 1.5 hours

Class Cost: $40

Prerequisite Skills: None, beginner-friendly

General Naka-Kon policies and behavioral expectations apply.

Racism, sexism, body shaming, and harassment of any kind are grounds for removal from the event, and if necessary, from the convention. If you have questions or concerns, please contact access control or a nearby staff person.

Expectations and Etiquette:

Students who attend the workshop agree to listen and follow all instructions from the instructor and Naka-Kon staff. Students will also agree to follow health and safety guidelines provided by the instructor and Naka-Kon staff. If a student damages the equipment, instruction space or other items utilized by Naka-Kon and the workshop, they may be held financially liable. Students may be removed from the workshop at the discretion of the instructor and Naka-Kon, and will not be given a refund. Students should engage and have fun, but should not cause distractions for the instructor or the rest of the class or disrupt learning.

For questions regarding the event, please email [email protected].

A Naka-Kon 2025 convention membership badge is required to attend all ticketed events.

Need a badge? Visit our website at

You can exit the Overland Park Convention Center (OPCC) by the double doors at the front, near registration. From there it is a 5-10 minute walk, with a sidewalk that goes along the building. You may also use the complimentary shuttle service that picks up riders in the circle drive right in front of the Sheraton Hotel.

Host or Publisher Naka-Kon Japanese Cultural Education Association