Forever a writer.

I’ve been writing all my life: Poems, essays, tutorials, newsletters, love letters, words stitched to my clothes and more. I earned an MFA in poetry and promptly started writing craft books. I’ve published three books about art, craft and sustainability.

My books.

Join me on the journey of mending, plant-dyeing, stitching, and making life more creative and sustainable. These books are how-to craft books with step-by-step photo tutorials, original essays, contributions from international artists, and extensive resource lists. I designed these books so that my in-person workshops could come to your living room, kitchen table, or art studio. I often have signed copies in my online shop but you can also order from your local bookstore or online retailer—available anywhere books are sold.

 

Make Thrift Mend.

A fiber arts guide for sustainable fashion. This book shares over 20 step-by-step tutorials in sustainable sewing (like turning a tablecloth into a top); using natural plant dyes to transform and redesign textiles; and using visible mending to repair woven garments like denim and darning knitted garments like sweaters. A summary of my slow fashion project, Make Thrift Mend, started in 2013, this book takes the reader on a transformative personal journey. Includes heartfelt essays, quotes by artists, an extensive resource list, and over 175 color photos. Available wherever books are sold. Published with Abrams in April 2021.

 

Mending Matters.

Shares 22 how-to techniques to mend, stitch, patch, and repair your favorite denim and more. This book focuses exclusively on hand-stitching to repair woven garments like linen, cotton, silk, and denim. Includes five original essays, contributor quotes, and over 200 color photographs. An instant bestseller, Mending Matters, is now in its ninth printing—thank you to everyone who has supported this book and this mending journey. Also available in a German edition. Published by Abrams Books in October 2018. Available wherever books are sold.

 

The Paper Playhouse.

My first book includes 20+ tutorials for making sustainable art projects for, and with, children. Focused on upcycled paper crafts, the projects are organized into four categories: Paper, books, boxes, and performance & public art. Also available in French and German editions. Published by Quarry Books in January 2015.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

Photos by Karen Pearson for Make, Thrift, Mend published by Abrams Books, 2021.

“Katrina's philosophy is masterfully distilled in Make Thrift Mend. She has a gift for making sustainable living into a spiritual practice, while at the same time grounding it in accessible practices. Treading lightly upon the earth does not require a hefty paycheck; anyone can learn how to clothe themselves in alignment with their values with the skills taught in these pages.”

— MEG MCELWEE, Sew Liberated

NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.