March Workshops to Get You Crafting for National Craft Month

Melissa Galbraith
12 hours ago
6 min read

February workshops- woman holding an indigo dyed tea towel, hand holding two colorfully embroidered shoes, two winter botanical embroidery hoops, two hands holding a fabric landscape, close up of a floral embroidery on yellow fabric, and three woven mends on denim.

Just on the heels of National Embroidery Month is National Craft Month. Apparently Spring is for the crafters. Personally, I'm an all year round crafty person, but I know that isn't for everyone. If you've got the crafting bug, there's quite a few options for you to get hands-on and crafty.

There's good news for those of you outside of Seattle too! The Wild Pansy Stumpwork Stitch Along is virtual and you can join anytime. I'm teaching a LIVE virtual stumpwork class at the Embroidery Extravaganza. And if you want to craft with me in person, I'm taking a quick trip to Austin, TX to teach 4 workshops with the Austin Modern Quilt Guild.

With an MCreativeJ hand embroidery or dyeing class you'll enjoy a hands-on workshop with materials provided. You'll learn new skills, techniques, and get to ask all the questions you'd like. Even if you've never tried the craft before, you'll start at the very beginning and be guided through step-by-step. I try to make every class approachable and fun as you learn something new!

Ready to craft? See all the workshop details below and let's get crafty this March!

March Embroidery Workshops and Events

Wild Pansy Stumpwork Stitch Along- Green fabric stitched with blue 3D pansy flowers

March 1-31: Virtual Wild Pansy Stumpwork Stitch Along

All March you can join us for the stitch along. We're kicking things off with a podcast episode by Handmade History Podcast all about stumpwork embroidery. Then at the beginning of each week we'll be sharing a YouTube stitch video showcasing part of the wild pansy stumpwork pattern and how to create it. Tune in every Monday to stitch along with us.

Join the stitch along.

March 4: Embroidery Extravaganza: Dimensional Stumpwork Strawberries from 12:45-1:45pm PST Virtual

Transform flat embroidery into sculptural 3D strawberries with a charming stumpwork design by Melissa Galbraith. Students discover how wire and padding create dimensional elements while learning two key stumpwork techniques: wire slips and stuffed stitching. Along the way, Melissa teaches couching, long and short satin stitch, buttonhole stitch, and corded detached buttonhole stitch to build juicy strawberries and lifted leaves, giving stitchers versatile 3D skills they can apply to future nature-inspired projects.

March 6: Bug Shoe Embroidery from 10am-12noon CST with Austin Modern Quilt Guild at Cherrywood Center

Love bugs and want to learn how to embroider your shoes? Learn how in a hands-on workshop with fiber artist and author Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ. In this 2-hour workshop you’ll learn how to prep your shoes for stitching, easily transfer an embroidery pattern, prep your thread, and what tools and stitches are helpful for embroidering on shoes. During the workshop you’ll choose your own thread colors and use the split back stitch, reverse chain stitch, and long and short satin stitches. You will need to bring a pair of canvas shoes to class to embroider. Lace up shoes are recommended. All other materials provided.

denim embroidered in sashiko patterns with black thread

March 6: Sashiko Style Visible Mending from 1-3pm CST with Austin Modern Quilt Guild at Cherrywood Center

Want to learn how to stylishly mend your clothing? Sashiko is a Japanese mending technique that uses the running stitch to patch and reinforce garments with stylish geometric stitch patterns. In this 2-hour hands-on workshop with fiber artist and author Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ you’ll learn how to get started mending your clothing with sashiko. We’ll cover how to design a pattern, reinforce a garment with a patch, prep your thread, create the running stitch, finish your thread, and care for your garment. You can bring a garment to class to mend or practice on sample cotton fabric. All other materials are provided.

March 7: Woven Mends Visible Mending from 10am-12noon CST with Austin Modern Quilt Guild at Cherrywood Center

Does your knitwear or denim have a hole in it? Learn how to patch that hole with visible mending. In this two-hour, hands-on workshop with fiber artist and author Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ, you’ll learn two types of woven mends: darning and buttonhole filling to patch a hole. During class, you’ll learn how to get started with visible mending, different threads and materials to use, and how to mend your specific garment. Mends can be made to look like decorative motifs or matched to the garment. You can bring a garment to class to mend or practice on sample fabric. Knitwear and denim are recommended for this workshop. All other materials are provided.

March 7: Fabric Landscapes - Collage Fabric and Thread from 1-3pm CST with Austin Modern Quilt Guild at Cherrywood Center

Let’s collage landscapes with fabric! Learn how to create your own fabric landscape using raw edge applique and hand embroidery with fiber artist Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ. This two-hour, hands-on workshop will cover how to pair fabrics to create your own unique landscapes, basic raw edge applique and beginner-friendly embroidery stitches. You will get to choose from a wide variety of fabrics, thread colors, and various hoop shapes to bring your landscape to life.

Bothell Art Walk text, surrounded by 3D embroidered flowers from the book 3D Botanical Embroidery & Stumpwork

March 12: Bothell Art Walk at Strikke Yarn & Supply from 5-6pm PST

See the projects from my newest book, 3D Botanical Embroidery & Stumpwork up close at the Bothell Art Walk!

Embroidery hoop embroidered with a slice of lime, watermelon, dragon fruit, lime, pineapple, papaya, as well as cherries and a strawberry. Surrounded by embroidery thread and scissors.

March 14: Kids Fruit Embroidery at Swoon City from 10-11:30am PST

Try embroidery with this beginner workshop. Kids (10+) will learn how to embroider fruits using 3 beginner embroidery stitches. This class is great for kids looking to get started with hand embroidery. They’ll learn how to place fabric in the hoop, transfer the pattern, split apart thread, and stitch the satin stitch, back stitch, and seed stitch. Each child will receive hands-on instruction as well as a full kit that includes: a wooden embroidery hoop, fruit transfer designs, an embroidery needle, full skeins of embroidery thread, cream cotton fabric, and printed instructions.

Hand holding two embroidered gingko leaf earrings

March 20: Botanical Thread Painted Earrings at Swoon City from 5:30-8:30pm PST

Have you ever wanted to color with thread? In this class we’ll do just that! With hands-on guidance you’ll enjoy a 3-hour workshop learning the basics of thread painting, stitching on tulle fabric, and stumpwork embroidery to create a pair of botanical earrings. No matter if you’re an experienced embroiderer or new to stitching, in this class we’ll practice stitches needed to thread paint and create 3D ginkgo earrings. All materials are included for class to create wearable 3D embroidery

March 21: Fabric Landscapes at Make Apothecary from 2-4pm PST

Let’s create collage landscapes with fabric! Learn how to create your own fabric landscape using applique and embroidery. This two-hour, hands-on workshop will cover how to pair fabrics to create your own unique landscapes, basic raw edge applique and beginner-friendly embroidery stitches like the running stitch, chain stitch, French Knot, and fly stitch. You will receive a full class kit that includes an embroidery hoop, cotton fabrics, full skeins of embroidery thread, embroidery needle, sewing pins, and printed instructions.

tote bag embroidered with kale, red pepper, and broccoli vegetables, surrounded by kale, carrot, broccoli, eggplant, and pepper stick and stitch patterns.

March 25: Vegetable Tote Bag Embroidery at UW Botanical Gardens from 6-8pm PST

Learn how to hand embroider a tote bag with vegetable designs perfect for summer farmers market trips. Join for a two-hour, hands-on embroidery workshop. This class will cover beginner-friendly embroidery stitches like the long and short satin stitch, reverse chain stitch, stem stitch, and French knot. All materials will be provided, and you'll be able to choose from a wide variety of thread colors and vegetable patterns to embellish your tote bag.

Embroidery hoop stitched with wildflowers in a circle. Hoop is surrounded by embroidery thread and wildflower stick and stitch patterns.

March 27: Wildflower Embroidery Basics at North Bend Art and Industry from 5-7pm PST

Learn to embroider wildflowers in this embroidery basics workshop. This two-hour, hands-on class covers a variety of beginner-friendly embroidery stitches such as the satin stitch, stem stitch, lazy daisy stitch, leaf stitch, and French knot. All materials are provided by the instructor. You will receive a full kit that includes: a wooden embroidery hoop, floral transfer designs, embroidery needle, full skeins of embroidery thread, surprise pink pattern fabric, and printed instructions.

Looking for more workshops and crafty events?

See all upcoming hand embroidery workshops and craft events.

Can't join me for an in-person workshop?

Try my Domestika course! This virtual workshop is a great way to learn at your own pace from where ever you are! My course will walk you through how to create a stained glass inspired embroidery. It's beginner-friendly and perfect for anyone who wants to get into hand embroidery.

Create a stained glass inspired embroidery with Melissa's Domestika course