Making Mends:
A Visible Mending Workshop

During the icebreaker, each participant is given a leaf and instructed to "mend" it. This activity utilizes the natural silhouettes of the leaves to create a connection to the idea of mending, while allowing participants to be creative and contemplate the broader meanings of mending. The icebreaker encourages participants to use their intuition and purely react to what is in their hands, thereby aiming to lower the threshold for hands-on making before any formal instructions are given.

After the icebreaker it is time for the practice portion of the workshop. The focus of the practice session, like the overall attitude of the workshop, is on learning by doing. During this part, participants learn more about the concept of visible mending, and practice various visible mending techniques that could be used to mend holes, as well as cover stains. 

Once participants feel comfortable with the practice, they can proceed to the next phase and start mending their personal item. This step enables individuals to interact with their item and showcases the wide range of possibilities for 'mending', which includes fixing signs of wear and tear, altering or personalizing a piece of clothing.

The workbook is an essential tool for the participants and serves as the backbone of the workshop. Each individual receives a workbook at the start of the workshop to document their thoughts and plans of mending their item, as well as communicate their ideas to others. After the workshop session, every participant receives their workbook as a keepsake of their mending experience and as a resource to inspire future mending projects.