Guelph Tool Library's Stitch Together: A community mending project

Holes or rips shouldn't ruin an otherwise wearable pairs of jeans.

On Saturday, The Guelph Tool Library will launch a new program, Stitch Together: A Community Mending Project, which offers a safe and social environment to work on clothing repair alongside skilled volunteers.

“As a society, we throw away vast amounts of stuff, even things with almost nothing wrong that could get more use from a simple repair,” said Guelph Tool Library communications and outreach coordinator Stephanie Clarke.

“We felt it was a natural extension of our repair café program that we offer once every other month. A number of volunteers from that initiative were interested in starting something that was a little more frequent and a little more social, focused just on clothing repair.”

Since 2016, the Guelph Tool Library provides sustainability-savvy individuals and groups with low-cost, space-saving access to a variety of equipment. The volunteer driven, membership-based rental library includes tools and resources for an array of do-it-yourself activities including gardening, construction and home renovations or repairs, and crafting.  

“Our volunteer fixers don’t just help fix items like small electronics, appliances, computers, clothing,  jewelry, clocks and bikes, they also teach you how to do it, so you leave with a new skill as well as repaired goods,” Clarke said.

The Stitch Together launch will take place at an open house and Repair Café on Saturday downtown during 'Doors Open Guelph' at the Old Quebec Street Shoppes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’re taking advantage of people being downtown to host a repair café and show off the amazing selection of tools and supplies available in our library,” Clarke said.

Clarke said volunteer fixers will be at the ready to help people fix broken household goods, and teach them how it’s done, saving more waste from landfills and building community repair skills. These events are presented in collaboration with the City of Guelph, and are supported by donations. 

“Bring your broken household goods to take advantage of the repair café, give your bike a spring tune-up, or get some help with mending your clothing,” Clarke said.

“If you are interested in learning more about clothing repair, or you need a little bit more guidance, our volunteers can help as well as with all of the supplies.”

The goal, Clarke said, is to have the Stitch Together program run on the first and third Monday of each month

The next event after the launch is set for May 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on May 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 'Repurpose Fest' event inside the Tool Library.

Clarke said volunteer menders have a variety of different sewing styles to share.

“Some will do a very visible hand-sewn mend and then others could show you how to mend something by machine in a way that’s much less noticeable. It all depends on the look you would like to achieve with your mending as well,” Clarke said.

"I think a lot of folks are intimidated by clothing repair, but here they have a setting that is very safe and social, and in an environment that is very encouraging.”