DISCOVERY / Textiles & Workshops
At Penland, what a visible repair can teach.
Katrina Rodabaugh’s planned workshop begins with clothing worth keeping and makes the repair a visible design choice.
Image: Katrina RodabaughPublished 4 November 2026 · WHV
A worn patch on a garment tells you where the cloth is asked to work. Rodabaugh treats that information as a starting point. The patch can reinforce the area and change what you notice when you see or wear it again.
The instructor lists an in-person workshop at Penland School of Craft from 30 May to 4 June 2027, covering patching, stitching and darning. It is a useful subject for a concentrated class because you can compare different fabrics and repairs, then return to one piece with a better idea of what it needs.
The instructor lists registration opening on 13 January. Before making travel plans, check dates, prerequisites and materials with Penland. If you already mend at home, keep a worn item you can use to test the difference between a repair that simply closes a hole and one that strengthens the surrounding cloth.
Evidence & sources.
- Katrina Rodabaugh, forthcoming classes (opens source in a new tab)
- Penland School of Craft workshop information (opens source in a new tab)
Scope of this reading
The photograph is an example of Rodabaugh’s work. It does not depict the future workshop or guarantee a place.
Sources checked 4 November 2026.
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