At MamaOwl, we believe in clothing made to last. Pieces to be worn, cared for, repaired, and then eventually passed down. Rather than replacing the things we love, we believe in finding ways to keep them in use for years to come.

With this philosophy in mind, we hosted our first Autumn Wool Mending Workshop in East London, inviting our community to come together for an evening dedicated to the art of repair. 

Guiding us through the evening was Nadien Klages, whose work centres around slow living, traditional mending techniques and the importance of caring for what we already own. Through her workshops, Nadien encourages a more considered approach to clothing, sharing practical skills that help extend the life of our garments.

Around the Table

We gathered around one large table, laid out with an assortment of mending tools and yarns including lambswool, alpaca, silk and cotton. All that sat alongside darning mushrooms, needles, and other tools of the trade.

Nadien began by introducing the different materials and tools, explaining their properties and how each could be used for different types of repair.

Everyone had brought along a well-loved woollen piece in need of attention. One by one, we shared our garments and the repairs they needed, from small holes, moth bites, and loose cuffs.

Learning the Art of Darning

Nadien introduced us to two traditional techniques: Woven Darning and Scotch Darning.

She showed us how to do each of the techniques and told us about which would work best for the type of damage and the wool of our garments. With this knowledge, we each set about deciding on the best method to mend our garments. Some set about working on practice squares, to get used to the movement of the technique, or began working on our own garments, with some beginning on the challenging task of mending the garments we brought with us.

An Evening Well Spent

With warm cups of peppermint tea, delicious orange cake and plenty of conversation, the evening unfolded at a gentle pace. Around the table, everyone worked on their own repairs, sharing stories about the garments they had brought and learning from one another. Nadien moved between us, offering advice, demonstrating techniques, and helping each person find their way through the process.

By the end of the evening, holes had been darned, worn edges mended and cuffs reattached to garments, with each getting a little extra love and attention to prolong their lifespan.

More than the garments however, we all left with a wealth of knowledge on how to mend our woollens at home, and the realisation that it is these little things that can make all the difference, and that our much loved items are worth mending and not being thrown away.

A Few Words with Nadien

At the end of the workshop, we caught up with Nadien to reflect on the evening, the joy of the collective repair and the importance to keep our beloved clothes in circulation for as long as possible.

What did you enjoy most about bringing everyone together for an evening of mending?

"I’m always fascinated by how empowering it is to bring people together through mending. There’s something special about sitting around a table, each person working on a much-loved garment, discovering how a simple needle and thread can give something a new lease of life. Whether people know each other already or are complete strangers, the most beautiful conversations often happen when our hands are busy and our minds are free from the usual to-do lists.

We come together with a common intention and shared values, learning skills that help us feel less helpless and more confident in repairing the garments we own.

For me, it’s also about slowing down, connecting in person and experiencing that wonderful sense of belonging that comes from being part of a community."

Was there a particular garment or repair from the evening that stood out to you?

"I loved seeing the variety of woollens people brought along, each with its own story. From a favourite cashmere jumper and well-worn MamaOwl socks to a little child's boiled wool winter jacket with moth holes, every piece was worth caring for. I particularly love how different repairs call for different approaches, whether it’s woven darning to rebuild weakened fabric or choosing complementary colours to strengthen a torn elbow with Scotch darning. There’s something really satisfying about finding the right technique for each garment and helping it become part of someone’s everyday life again."

Why do you think it's important to make time for traditional skills like darning and mending?

"I think these skills are more important than ever in a world where we’re encouraged to consume and replace things so easily. Learning to mend helps us reconnect with the clothes we own and understand the value of the materials, time and resources that have gone into making them. It gives us the confidence to care for our clothes rather than feeling that a hole or a worn patch means the end of their life."

What’s one tip, technique or piece of knowledge you hope everyone took away from the workshop?

"I hope everyone left feeling that a hole in a favourite woollen isn’t something to be afraid of! There are so many ways to approach a repair, and it doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile. With woven darning, for example, we rebuild the fabric by creating new threads across the hole that allow the garment to move naturally.

Most of all, I hope everyone realised that mending is a skill they can develop with practice. You don’t need to be an expert to begin; you just need a little patience, needle and thread and the willingness to give it a go."