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Upcycle and Embroider Clothing

With DIY craft kit delivered to you

Breathe new life into your old clothing with this virtual upcycling and embroidery workshop.

Dora Xu
(Snailblazer)

5.0 (49)

ClassBento donates with every booking to

1 hour

1 to 50 guests

$55 - $85 ($55 for Class only, no box; $85 for Class and box)

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Overview

Reviews

Teacher

How it works

Book or Request your preferred time

We'll send a ClassBento Box to you (a craft kit with what you'll need). Shipping in the US is free, and you'll get your box delivered in time for your class. We ship nationwide.

Enjoy the online class - after booking, you'll get a link to join the interactive class.

What you'll do

Give your old or torn clothing a second chance with this virtual upcycling and embroidery workshop. Whether you’re hoping to make a handmade gift for your loved ones, explore new crafting technique, or enjoy the mindful practice of working with your hands, this class blends creativity and sustainability.

You’ll learn how to repair holes or worn areas in your garments using simple, decorative embroidery techniques, or you can choose to embellish items like canvas bags, scarves, or clothing you already love. With guidance from an expert, you’ll practice charming embroidery stitches that instantly add artistry and personality to any fabric.

The patterns you will learn depend on the seasonal workshop calendar

January | Penguin

Cute little penguin with straight stitch+ satin stitch + backstitch

February | Star

Twinkling stars with the 6-spoke woven star stitch.

March | Cat

Playful cats with backstitch + satin stitch + French knots.

April | Daisy

Cheerful spring flowers with lazy daisy + French knots.

May | Rose

Beautiful blooms with woven wheel stitch + leaf stitch.

June | Lemon

Sunny citrus with satin stitch + stem stitch + fishbone stitch.

July | Lavender

Little lavender sprigs with fly stitch + stem stitch.

️ August | Sunshine

Bright sun motifs with satin stitch + backstitch.

September | Mushrooms

Cute woodland mushrooms with satin stitch + French knots + stem stitch.

October | Halloween

Spooky motifs such as a bat, a little ghost, or a pumpkin. It'd be a surprise!

November | Acorns

Cozy autumn acorns with satin stitch + stem stitch

December | Christmas-themed

Festive holly or delicate snowflakes

This hands-on embroidery workshop is perfect for those into sustainable fashion or seeking embroidery and upcycling as a new hobby. By the end of class, you’ll head home with a one-of-a-kind embroidered piece, new creative skills, and the uplifting feeling that comes from transforming textile waste into something beautiful and useful.

Photo credit: Masato Sezawa, Seunghye Lee, Asia jackowska, and Dora Xu

Upcoming dates for Upcycle and Embroider Clothing

Times are New York time. Dates and prices as of 14 Nov 2026, 6:52pm; availability and price are confirmed live when booking on this page.

300 upcoming dates between 5 Feb 2027 and 15 May 2027.

Fri, Feb 5 2027, 8am-9am
Fri, Feb 5 2027, 8pm-9pm
Fri, Feb 5 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sat, Feb 6 2027, 8am-9am
Sat, Feb 6 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sat, Feb 6 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sun, Feb 7 2027, 8am-9am
Sun, Feb 7 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sun, Feb 7 2027, 9pm-10pm
Mon, Feb 8 2027, 8am-9am
Mon, Feb 8 2027, 8pm-9pm
Mon, Feb 8 2027, 9pm-10pm
Tue, Feb 9 2027, 8am-9am
Tue, Feb 9 2027, 8pm-9pm
Tue, Feb 9 2027, 9pm-10pm
Wed, Feb 10 2027, 8am-9am
Wed, Feb 10 2027, 8pm-9pm
Wed, Feb 10 2027, 9pm-10pm
Thu, Feb 11 2027, 8am-9am
Thu, Feb 11 2027, 8pm-9pm
Thu, Feb 11 2027, 9pm-10pm
Fri, Feb 12 2027, 8am-9am
Fri, Feb 12 2027, 8pm-9pm
Fri, Feb 12 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sat, Feb 13 2027, 8am-9am
Sat, Feb 13 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sat, Feb 13 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sun, Feb 14 2027, 8am-9am
Sun, Feb 14 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sun, Feb 14 2027, 9pm-10pm
Mon, Feb 15 2027, 8am-9am
Mon, Feb 15 2027, 8pm-9pm
Mon, Feb 15 2027, 9pm-10pm
Tue, Feb 16 2027, 8am-9am
Tue, Feb 16 2027, 8pm-9pm
Tue, Feb 16 2027, 9pm-10pm
Wed, Feb 17 2027, 8am-9am
Wed, Feb 17 2027, 8pm-9pm
Wed, Feb 17 2027, 9pm-10pm
Thu, Feb 18 2027, 8am-9am
Thu, Feb 18 2027, 8pm-9pm
Thu, Feb 18 2027, 9pm-10pm
Fri, Feb 19 2027, 8am-9am
Fri, Feb 19 2027, 8pm-9pm
Fri, Feb 19 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sat, Feb 20 2027, 8am-9am
Sat, Feb 20 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sat, Feb 20 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sun, Feb 21 2027, 8am-9am
Sun, Feb 21 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sun, Feb 21 2027, 9pm-10pm
Mon, Feb 22 2027, 8am-9am
Mon, Feb 22 2027, 8pm-9pm
Mon, Feb 22 2027, 9pm-10pm
Tue, Feb 23 2027, 8am-9am
Tue, Feb 23 2027, 8pm-9pm
Tue, Feb 23 2027, 9pm-10pm
Wed, Feb 24 2027, 8am-9am
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Wed, Feb 24 2027, 9pm-10pm
Thu, Feb 25 2027, 8am-9am
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Wed, Mar 10 2027, 8am-9am
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Thu, Mar 11 2027, 8am-9am
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Tue, Mar 16 2027, 8am-9am
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Tue, Mar 23 2027, 8am-9am
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Tue, Mar 30 2027, 8am-9am
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Wed, Mar 31 2027, 8am-9am
Wed, Mar 31 2027, 8pm-9pm
Wed, Mar 31 2027, 9pm-10pm
Thu, Apr 1 2027, 8am-9am
Thu, Apr 1 2027, 8pm-9pm
Thu, Apr 1 2027, 9pm-10pm
Fri, Apr 2 2027, 8am-9am
Fri, Apr 2 2027, 8pm-9pm
Fri, Apr 2 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sat, Apr 3 2027, 8am-9am
Sat, Apr 3 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sat, Apr 3 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sun, Apr 4 2027, 8am-9am
Sun, Apr 4 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sun, Apr 4 2027, 9pm-10pm
Mon, Apr 5 2027, 8am-9am
Mon, Apr 5 2027, 8pm-9pm
Mon, Apr 5 2027, 9pm-10pm
Tue, Apr 6 2027, 8am-9am
Tue, Apr 6 2027, 8pm-9pm
Tue, Apr 6 2027, 9pm-10pm
Wed, Apr 7 2027, 8am-9am
Wed, Apr 7 2027, 8pm-9pm
Wed, Apr 7 2027, 9pm-10pm
Thu, Apr 8 2027, 8am-9am
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Fri, Apr 9 2027, 8am-9am
Fri, Apr 9 2027, 8pm-9pm
Fri, Apr 9 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sat, Apr 10 2027, 8am-9am
Sat, Apr 10 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sat, Apr 10 2027, 9pm-10pm
Sun, Apr 11 2027, 8am-9am
Sun, Apr 11 2027, 8pm-9pm
Sun, Apr 11 2027, 9pm-10pm
Mon, Apr 12 2027, 8am-9am
Mon, Apr 12 2027, 8pm-9pm

Plus 100 more dates after these. See and book every date at https://classbento.com/upcycle-and-embroider-clothing

April 2027: 55 more dates
May 2027: 45 more dates

What you'll get in your craft kit

linen cloth in 6 different colors, embroidery thread in 50 colors, erasable fabric markers in 4 colors, embroidery needles in 3 sizes, embroidery hoops in 4 sizes, 1 scissor

*Free craft kit shipping in the U.S. and the Netherlands. Shipping to other countries may incur a small fee, please inquire for details.

Note: The craft kit is optional if you already have embroidery needles and threads. You could also be creative and substitute an embroidery hoop with a picture frame and some clothing pegs or tapes, anything that stretches and holds your fabric in place would work. It's easier to practice on a piece of scrap fabric, or an old T shirt, or canvas bag (non-stretchy fabric is the most beginner-friendly).

See available dates, Request a class or Gift

See booking options

Knowledge required

Beginner friendly, no skills needed!

Suitable for

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 6 years old).

An adult must be present whilst kid(s) engage with the box.

This experience would also be a fun gift for her, gift for mom, Xmas gift or gift for couples.

Verified reviews

Recent reviews of Upcycle and Embroider Clothing

5/5 from Bing Hu, attended Oct 2026: I really love this Halloween-themed embroidery. When I'm focused on the needle, time just flies by. After finishing it, I felt such a sense of accomplishment—I never thought I could create something so cute myself! I want to thank my teacher Dora for her guidance. She's very gentle and incredibly patient, and I think she's a wonderful mentor.
5/5 from Qianyu Luo, attended Oct 2026: Today I attended a workshop event—it was really fun and I was very happy. Dora was especially patient; whenever I didn’t know how to do something, she would demonstrate it again and again. She’s really a great teacher! I tried embroidering a little Halloween ghost for the first time, and I also used a pumpkin to cover a stain on my husband’s shirt. My child loved it and asked me to find a picture to embroider a mouse, so now it’s a one-of-a-kind piece of clothing. What a delightful activity!
5/5 from Yu Nancy, attended Oct 2026: Dora is wonderful and she is patient to answer my questions during the class. I am fresh new on embroidery skills but after the class I can complete the Halloween pumpkim ghost and really enjoyed the whole process - mind and hands work together. Really enjoyed the class!
5/5 from Yunan Xie, attended Oct 2026: Very fun class! Dora is a very patient instructor. I sewed this cute little ghost on my Trader Joe’s halloween tote
5/5 from Chenyang Lyu, attended Oct 2026: Loved it, it’s absolutely so much fun! Dora was such a patient, encouraging teacher, and I came away with a lavender sprig on my shirt that I’m genuinely proud of.
5/5 from Wang Xiao Miao, attended Oct 2026: This was my first embroidery workshop. As a total beginner, I loved it! I was worried it would be hard, but it’s beginner-friendly. Dora is patient and always ready to help. I enjoyed stitching and finished my first piece. It was so rewarding. Highly recommend! Thank you, Dora.
5/5 from Keira Howe, attended Oct 2026: Jumped right into the content and the class moved at a good pace as a beginner.
5/5 from C Tang, attended Oct 2026: This is an awesome class for a beginner/someone like me who has just been embroidering and winging it! Dora has really bright, warm energy and clearly walks through each technique, explaining its purpose and potential uses. It’s helpful that she has a two-camera view so you can see her and a close up of the stitches as she’s making them. I also appreciate that you get right to working with your hands and it’s a pace that allows everyone to move through each step together. The part I struggle with on my own is how to properly start and finish without being afraid of the threads unraveling and she demonstrated a technique for the embroidery to survive washing. After an hour, you come away with a finished piece of embroidery, two colors used, a handful of stitches and techniques to continue on your own projects! Thank you Dora!
5/5 from Megan Lighty, attended Oct 2026: Dora’s instruction was straightforward and at the perfect pace for me to follow! I enjoyed her sharing her embroidery tips that will be helpful for me as I continue :)
5/5 from Dani Newkirk, attended Oct 2026: Dora is such a great teacher. She's so patient and her instructions are really clear. Her creativity is contagious!
5/5 from Seunghye Lee, attended Sep 2026: Dora taught me how to do embroidery to cover up some small stains on my shirt. It was quite fun to do and easier than I thought thanks to Dora’s explanations and the patience. Thanks!
5/5 from Bing Hu, attended Sep 2026: Dora’s teaching was incredibly clear. Her step-by-step instructions on embroidery were very beginner-friendly. While we were stitching, she also shared some eco-friendly concepts backed by specific data, which really made a lasting impression on me. The atmosphere during the class was wonderful and full of joy. Focusing on the handwork allowed my mind to completely settle down. It was such a great experience!
5/5 from Xinan D, attended Sep 2026: The host was very outgoing and friendly, and the whole atmosphere was comfortable. She's also a very caring person who focuses on environmental causes. I learned that clothing production wastes a lot of resources, like water, which really opened my eyes and made me more aware of how to plan my shopping and daily consumption to reduce waste and be more eco-friendly. The flower she taught was simple and easy to follow. I learned three embroidery stitches and how to finish off, and I made a small piece in the end. Overall, it was a happy and rewarding experience.
5/5 from Chen Shan, attended Sep 2026: The whole event was such a pleasant surprise. It was my first time joining an online handicraft workshop. I was worried I might not keep up at first, but the teacher was incredibly patient! I really enjoyed exchanging ideas with all the participants during the workshop.
5/5 from V Yuki, attended Sep 2026: Dora is such a warm and easygoing workshop host. In just one hour, I learned how to embroider on clothes. It was so much fun! The workshop also showed me how fun upcycling can be. Now I want to give some of my old clothes a new life. And a special thank you to Dora for sharing her thoughts on sustainability!
5/5 from Ceci Ocean, attended Sep 2026: The workshop experience was wonderful. Dora gave detailed explanations, and the embroidery projects were very approachable. I especially loved Dora’s easy‑going and cheerful energy, which made everyone feel relaxed. She also shared eye‑opening insights into sustainable fashion that we knew little about. It has inspired me to do more embroidery on my own clothes. Thank you, Dora! I would love to join your workshop again.
5/5 from Jasper Steen Voorden, attended Sep 2026: I participated in one of Dora's workshops on repairing holes in clothing using darning. It never occurred to me to repair my clothing myself, thinking I did not have the skillset. However, Dora showed that this process can be as easy as it is beautiful, teaching the technique to repair holes both functionally, as well as using contrasting colours and sashiko techniques. Dora is sweet, patient, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and that made the process very enjoyable. It was an inspiring experience that taught me repairing clothing does not have to be hard, and I am keen to learn more about it, with or without Dora's help :)
5/5 from Julie van Achter, attended Sep 2026: Dora is a wonderfull teacher with a lot of patience! My boyfriend and I learned how to repair our socks (so no more holes in them, yay!). It was very cosy and wholesome, she explained it very well and had answers to all of our questions. You can see she is very passionate and knowledgeable about repairing, sustainability and materials, and she also thinks creatively about how you can make things even more beautiful and fun. This way, you don't only repair your clothes, but it also feels like you have something new to wear! We would highly recommend Dora's workshops!
5/5 from Sharlo Liu, attended Sep 2026: I used to think handcrafting was really hard, so I subconsciously stayed away from it. I remember watching my grandma sew clothes when I was little, and I even mended socks myself, but that was over 20 years ago. Then yesterday, I joined an online workshop. I realized it’s actually not that tough at all — it’s pretty fun too. The whole process was calming; I got into a flow state. I didn’t finish the piece for various reasons, but I was still happy just seeing what I’d made. This workshop gave me more courage to explore handcrafts and so many other things ahead. Handcrafting is really similar to writing and other creative work. The only downside was that time flew by too fast. Thanks, Dora.
5/5 from Masato Sezawa, attended Feb 2026: I joined Dora's embroidery workshop as a complete beginner and was thrilled with how well my work turned out by the end! Dora's energy and positivity set the tone from the start - even in a remote setting, she made sure everyone felt connected through warm introductions. Her teaching was clear and easy to follow, using a phone to zoom in on her hands so no stitch was left to guesswork. What made this workshop truly special was the sense of community. Dora shared her story behind the repair café movement, participants opened up about their own motivations, and plenty of laughter was shared along the way. If you're curious about embroidery or repair culture, don't hesitate - this workshop is as enjoyable as it is rewarding.
5/5 from Paula Aaronson, attended Feb 2026: Very introductory class. The teacher was great. She knew what she was doing and was very patient. She explained each step in clear instructions and gave us alternatives if there were any. She showed us options for more advanced work and indicated other future classes. A pleasant way to spend an hour.
5/5 from Carla Scholten, attended Jan 2026: Dora is an enthusiastic instructor who explains everything in a calm and clear way. Even though the workshop was online, it felt very personal and was easy to follow thanks to the clear view of her hands while demonstrating. I really enjoyed taking part, learned a lot, and now feel inspired to create more beautiful embroidery. I would happily recommend it to anyone interested in embroidery.

Your teacher

Dora Xu
(Snailblazer)

5.0 (49)

Women-owned

I’ve loved making things with my hands for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I’d transform my grandma’s scrap fabric into runway-ready Barbie outfits or patched up my little cousin’s torn trousers with an embroidered elephant patch. Growing up in Asia, where care, repair, and mending is common practice, I came to appreciate the deep heritage of traditional craftsmanship and sustainability passed down through generations. A broken piece that’s lovingly repaired and embellished carries more story, personality, and resilience; it’s the imperfection that makes it more beautiful.

After learning about the devastating impact of the fashion industry on the planet and human health, I dedicated my study and work to sustainability. After an MA in Environmental Management from Yale, couture training in Argentina, and 8 years of sustainability consulting across the U.S. and the Netherlands, I realized that people rarely change their mindset because of a corporate strategy deck or sustainability campaign. They change because they feel something. When someone experiences the joy of turning “waste” into something wonderful with their own hands, imagination opens far faster than logic ever could.

That insight become crystal clear through my work as co-founder of Repair Café Oud-Noord Amsterdam, where I’ve been teaching local residents to repair damaged textiles since 2022. Our work was featured in the Japanese documentary "The Repair Café" by Masato Sezawa, which went on to inspire the repair movement across Japan—demonstrating how a grassroots, hands-on approach to sustainability can ripple outward and spark meaningful change at a global scale.

That realization led me to start SnailBlazer, a sustainability and cross-cultural education organization. Like a trailblazer—but at a slower and more intentional pace—SnailBlazer invites people into a world where sustainability feels playful, cultural exchange feels natural, and creativity brings people together. Through workshops in textile upcycling, embroidery, crochet, macramé, and origami, I create spaces where people can take a pause, reconnect with their hands, their hearts, and each other. If you’re excited to play like a kid again, I’d love to welcome you into the SnailBlazer community —one mindful stitch at a time.

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5.0 (49 reviews)

$55 - $85

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(49 reviews)

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