Sonia Beaded Scarf: Virtual Workshop with Natalie Chanin

Date:  Friday January 23, 2026 

Time: Noon-3:00 p.m. Eastern time

Location: Zoom—this is a virtual event, and it will be recorded to watch and re-watch for as long as you like.

This class includes a beautiful materials kit from The School of Making that will be shipped early January. 

Kay and Ann have had wonderful opportunities to sit and and sew with Natalie Chanin over the years, and it has changed our lives—and our wardrobes—in deep, lasting ways. 

The clothes and accessories we’ve made from Natalie’s kits are the definition of sustainable fashion. As the saying goes, “loved clothes last.” It’s a privilege to be able to make such distinctive, bespoke pieces, and to know that by doing so, we’re part of the slow fashion movement.

In this class, we’ll be making the Sonia Scarf, a bead-embellished design that Natalie developed especially for MDK, using The School of Making’s newest stencil, which was inspired by the 20th-century textile artist Sonia Delaunay.

What We’ll Learn

In this three-hour virtual workshop on Zoom, we will be making a foray into beaded embellishments, a signature of Natalie Chanin’s designs for Alabama Chanin and The School of Making. Everybody wants to learn the beads—so we’re doing the beads! 

Our hands-on project will be an approachable and exquisite accessory: the Sonia Scarf, designed by Natalie exclusively for this workshop.

The Sonia Scarf is tailor-made to teach fundamental beading techniques used by Alabama Chanin artisans. You will learn how to do Natalie’s style of beading, and apply your new skills to create an accessory that will instantly lift your spirits and any outfit.

In addition, we’ll learn the ins and outs of  backstitch reverse appliqué, the embroidery technique used for Sonia Scarf and a defining element of Natalie’s clothing designs. We’ll learn the zero-waste version of this technique,  in which individual stencil motifs are backed with small cuts of fabric. After backstitching around the motif, the top layer is cut away, revealing the color beneath. This technique not only spares materials—it gives lightness and drape to the finished scarf.

This workshop is meant for sewists who are comfortable with hand-stitching in the Alabama Chanin style. Although fundamentals will undoubtedly come up as we go, Natalie will not cover in detail beginner lessons such as needle-threading, loving the thread, etc. We recommend practicing and pre-threading your needles before class, so that you can focus on the techniques.

If you’re just beginning your hand-sewing journey, we suggest starting with Natalie Chanin’s book Alabama Studio Sewing + Design or The School of Making’s Intro to Hand-Sewing workshop to build a foundation before joining this more advanced session live or watching the recording.

 

What’s in the Box

Your made-to-order kit from The School of Making includes these essentials for the workshop:

• Sonia Scarf precut from hand-painted and stenciled organic cotton jersey
• Cuts of organic cotton jersey in Peacock, Verdant, and Wax for reverse appliqué
• 1 Spool of Embroidery Floss in Navy
• 2 Spools of  Button Craft Thread in Navy and Dogwood
• The fabulous new MDK Disco Ball bead mix
• Needle Sampler (Sewing, Embroidery, and Beading Needles)
• A label from The School of Making plus a practice swatch of stenciled jersey

The only thing you need to bring: a pair of small, sharp scissors and a pincushion or thimble if desired.

Our Workshop Leader

Natalie Chanin is the founder and creative director of Alabama Chanin. External Link. Opens in new window., a clothing company based in her home town of Florence, Alabama, along with its related companies, The School of Making and Project Threadways. In a move that astonished the fashion design world, Natalie open-sourced the company’s handmade couture in a series of landmark books: Alabama Stitch Book. External Link. Opens in new window., Alabama Studio Style. External Link. Opens in new window., Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. External Link. Opens in new window., and Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns.. External Link. Opens in new window. When paired with The School of Making’s DIY kits or your own materials, these books enable home stitchers to create a stunning, sturdy, and sustainable wardrobe—every stitch by hand.

At the company’s Factory in Florence, Alabama, and around the world, Natalie leads workshops where she teaches techniques, tells stories, and makes people fall in love with hand sewing. Natalie’s latest beautiful book is Embroidery: Threads and Stories.

To hear Natalie’s story in her own words, we recommend this beautiful video portrait by Gael Towey.. External Link. Opens in new window..

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Is this class suitable for beginning stitchers?  While the skills taught are approachable to those with the basics in hand, this workshop is not for absolute beginners. It’s perfect for those who have taken one of our previous School of Making workshops with Natalie, or other introductory School of Making classes. If you have some embroidery or hand-sewing experience, this workshop will be fine for you.

How is this workshop different from the introductory class Natalie taught for MDK last year? While we’ll review a few basics as we go, this class will  focus on beading and reverse appliqué embroidery, in the specific context of making a Sonia Scarf.

Can I take the class without the kit? No. Whenever we can, we offer a class-only option for MDK virtual workshops, but in this instance, everyone having the specific materials we’ll be using is essential to a satisfying experience for all.

How do I get the Zoom link?  Your order confirmation email will include a link to a PDF with the Zoom meeting link. We’ll also send reminder emails.

How should I get ready for the workshop? Gather the things you’ll need: your kit and scissors. Any small, sharp scissors will work fine. Go crazy and pre-thread your needles if you like!

What’s the format? With Natalie’s instruction and an overhead camera focused on her hands, we’ll learn the techniques used on the Sonia Scarf. Participant mics will be muted for instructional time, but the chat box will be monitored for questions from participants. If time permits, the end of the class will be open for discussion time with Natalie.

I can’t make it to the live Zoom class. May I still participate? Yes! Everyone enrolled in the workshop will receive a link to the recording for the workshop and all resources we share. The recording will be emailed after the class concludes and will be available to you indefinitely. You can also find it in your class PDF after the live class has concluded.