Tag: sewing

A Class and A Concert


This is a quick one. We want to tell you about a class happening this weekend!! And we hope you’ll join us for an amazing concert coming up in April. Both events are at The Fábrica.

Don’t forget to stop by during our regular open hours to find supplies for your next project. We’ve gotten a lot of lovely donations recently, so there’s lots to choose from.

Events at the Fábrica:

class:

Eco Printing Workshop

Sunday, March 22th, 2026
12 pm – 3pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

RSVP

Space is limited! RSVP for a spot.

Join us for a hands-on eco-print workshop with Santa Cruz artist Hunter Wedaa.

Eco-printing is a natural dyeing technique where leaves, flowers, and plants are applied directly to fabric and processed to transfer their unique pigments and shapes, creating one-of-a-kind, lasting botanical imprints.

All materials provided. Donations encouraged. No one turned away for lack of funds (NOTAFLOF).

A concert!

Loom Music

Phoebe Vlassis

Wednesday, April 15, 2026
7 pm – 9pm

@ The Fábrica

Attention weavers, music nerds, yarn fiends, and art-lovers of all kinds! We are beyond excited to be hosting Loom Music, a concert in the courtyard with musician/weaver/artist Phoebe Vlassis, who makes music with her voice, loom, and electronics. More information coming soon.

See a video of Phoebe’s Loom Music on Instagram.

The Workshop is Open!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Miscellanea:

  • If you haven’t done so already, save this phone number in your phone: (831) 239-4289. This is who you should call if you think you’ve spotted an ICE or DHS raid in Santa Cruz County. If you want to join the network of legal observers, you can find info about YARR (Your Allied Rapid Response) trainings on their website and socials.
  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Follow us on Instagram!

March News from The Fábrica

Visitors to the Pajaro Valley Quilt Guild’s annual show admire a recent quilt made by Kelly Murry, friend & collaborator of The Fábrica.

Maybe it’s impending catastrophic climate change, but spring is in the air! The days are getting longer and warmer. You might be feeling less inspired to sit at home knitting. Perhaps the outdoors are calling you. There is new, green growth all around us. And yet, the horrors of authoritarianism and war intrude on the hope and newness of the season!

Resistance and community work feel as important as every right now. Don’t forget that art and joy can be forms of resistance too. They do not replace the hard work of resisting oppression, but they sustain us in the fight(s).

We have a bunch of art events to share with you this month, both at The Fábrica and at other locales around Santa Cruz. Also a new workshop at the end of the month and an update on our work with FashionTeens.

We have some plans in the works, so expect to hear from us soon regarding new workshops and a 16th birthday party! Until then, keep loving and keep fighting.

Events at the Fábrica:

First Friday Art Show:

“Greasy Leaves”

Hunter Wedaa

Friday, March 6, 2026
6 pm – 9pm
@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Join us for a First Friday open house at The Fábrica! This month will feature “Greasy Leaves,” a collection of mixed print media works by Hunter Wedaa. “Using natural dyes, ecoprints, lithographs, and silkscreen printing Hunter creates a dialogue centered around materials that are “good” or “bad” for the environment: the rich blacks from grease-based lithography, the natural colors from plant dyes, as well as the versatility and vibrancy of silkscreen printing.”

Not a Fábrica event… or is it?!

First Friday at Little Giant Collective

Fun-A-Day

Friday, March 6, 2026
6 pm – 9pm

@ Little Giant Collective, 115 River St South, Santa Cruz, CA

Fun-a-Day happened in January– come to Little Giant Collective this Friday to see what people made! Fábrica collective members and friends of the project are among the participants in this group show.

More info on Instagram.

And one more First Friday textile arts show!

at The Art League:

“Back and Forth: The Unintended Beauty of Textiles”

Friday, March 6, 2026
5 pm – 7:30 pm

@ Santa Cruz Art League, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA

Here’s an a little snippet about the show. More info on the First Friday website.

“Back and Forth: The Unintended Beauty of Textiles is an exploration of the both the intentional and unexpected artistry that arises through textile work, curated by local fiber artist Jody Alexander.”

Exhibiting Artists: Douglas Baulos • Zak Foster • Carole Gelker • Lotta Helleberg • Lisa Hochstein • Peter Madden • Tracie Noles Ross • Rebecca Ringquest • Steph Rue • Sheri Schumacker

Workshop:

Ecoprints w/ Hunter Wedaa

Sunday, March 22, 2026
12 pm – 3 pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Eco-printing is a natural dyeing technique where leaves, flowers, and plants are applied directly to fabric and processed to transfer their unique pigments and shapes, creating one-of-a-kind, lasting botanical imprints.

Fashion Teens

The Fábrica is thrilled to be collaborating with FashionTeens this season! FashionTeens is a program of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education which facilitates middle and high school aged youth from across the county to design, create, and model unique fashion and wearable art. The FashionTeens program promotes creative material reuse, asks participants to center social and ecological justice in their designs, and creates a platform for youth empowerment and expression.

What a great match for the work we do here at The Fábrica, right? For the past month and a half Fábrica has been helping to host a weekly youth meetup where participants can get mentorship, source materials, and work on their designs.  Save the date– this year’s runway show is coming at the Rio Theater April 24th. 

The Workshop is Open!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Miscellanea:

  • If you haven’t done so already, save this phone number in your phone: (831) 239-4289. This is who you should call if you think you’ve spotted an ICE or DHS raid in Santa Cruz County. If you want to join the network of legal observers, you can find info about YARR (Your Allied Rapid Response) trainings on their website and socials.
  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Follow us on Instagram!

The Time is Now! (A.K.A. February News)

A photo of small art print: it shows a venn diagram on a white background. One circle shows the phrase “be gentle” on a blue watercolor wash. The other circle shows the phrase “be fierce” with a hit of rosy purple color.

It may seem that too much has happened since January 1, 2026. It can’t be that only a month has passed since the New Year!

Let the chaos, heartache, and fear inspire you to take action. But also, remember that the struggle is a long and winding road…make time for rest and care for your loved ones.

Here is our news for February. As usually, we’ll see you in the streets and we’ll see you at the stitch ‘n bitch.

Local Protests against State Violence

“The Time is Now” was out on the streets of Santa Cruz last week at rallies against state violence.

There have been numerous local gatherings over the past few weeks in response to ICE raids and repression in Minnesota and elsewhere.

Some of the banners from the Protest Banner Lending Library have been out at these events. If you’re interested in borrowing a banner, check out this page and get in touch at least a few days in advance.

One such rally is planned for tomorrow at the Clock Tower in Santa Cruz. This youth-led protest against ICE will take place on January 31st from noon until 3pm.

Events at the Fábrica:

First Friday Art Show:

“Quilted Whimsy: Reflections on Environments”

Jo Troutner

Friday, February 6, 2026
6 pm – 9pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Join us for a First Friday open house at The Fábrica! This month will feature “Quilted Whimsy: Reflections on Environments”, featuring quilted works by Jo Troutner. Read the full description on the First Friday calendar.

Not a Fábrica event at all, actually!

Pajaro Valley Quilt Association’s

48th Annual Quilt Show

February 21-22 2026
Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday 10 am – 4 pm

@ The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Watsonville, CA

Several Fábrica Collective members and comrades will have quilts in the show. Stop by to see what Blaize, Ivy, Pete, Kelly, and other friends have been working on this year.

Juristac is protected at last!

Two young people hold a “Protect Juristac” banner at a march in 2019. The Fábrica made and donated this banner to the movement to support their efforts.

We are extremely happy to hear that the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Post Land Trust have secured the purchase of an important ancestral sacred site known as Juristic.

This is an excerpt from a statement by Ed Ketchum, Tribal Band Chairman: “For years, this sacred place faced the threat of a massive open‑pit sand and gravel mine that would have destroyed hundreds of acres of cultural sites, threatened the lives of plants and animals alike, and irreparably damaged the spiritual and cultural integrity of the land. The Tribe made clear that such harm could never be undone, and it would have decimated one of the last remaining undisturbed areas in Mutsun territory. Today, that threat no longer exists.”

You can read more on the Amah Mutsun Instagram. Please consider making a donation or learning more about the Land Trust at their website.

The Workshop is Open!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Miscellanea:

  • If you haven’t done so already, save this phone number in your phone: (831) 239-4289. This is who you should call if you think you’ve spotted an ICE or DHS raid in Santa Cruz County. If you want to join the network of legal observers, you can find info about YARR (Your Allied Rapid Response) trainings on their website and socials.
  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Follow us on Instagram!

This Weekend: Art Show, Market, & Workshop

By Kai Dalgleish

This is just a reminder about all the lovely events coming up this weekend at the Fábrica. We hope you’ll join us!

Also, please think of us this year as you’re shopping for gifts or making charitable contributions. We have several holiday sales in the next few weeks where you can find homemade and sustainable gifts for friends, family, and kiddos. As always, we appreciate every contribution, no matter the size. Find more information on the Donation Page.

Events at the Fábrica:

First Friday Art Show:

“Tidelines”

Kai Dalgleish

Friday, December 5, 2025
6 pm – 9pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Kai Dalgleish is an artist and engineer who recently returned home to Santa Cruz after spending time in Oakland and Southern Oregon. Their art practice revolves around finding beauty in rust and rot, and creating immersive experiences through mixed-media storytelling. They have a deep appreciation for the cast aside, the softly decaying, the long-forgotten, and the constancy of change.

Read the full description on our Events page.

Night Market:

Holiday Bazaar & Craft Sale

Friday, December 5, 2025
6 pm – 9pm

@ Subrosa, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

We’re excited to host some local makers and vendors during the Frist Friday Art Show. This part of the even will take place in Subrosa, but we’ll have the door open between the spaces for maximum festive friendliess.

Stop by to peruse locally made jewelry and art, vintage clothing, and other crafts or grab a snack and a warm drink.

Class & Mutual Aid:

Cloth Pad-Making Workshop

w/ Campesina Womb Justice & The Fábrica

Sunday, December 7, 2025
11 am – 1pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Learn to make a set of washable cloth menstrual pads and waterproof storage pouch. Optionally, you can also create a set of pads for distribution by Campesina Womb Justice, a mutual aid project dedicated to reproductive and healing justice. You can find Campesina Womb Justice on social media @campensinawombjustice and Link Tree.

Read the full description on our Events page.

Fundraiser

Holiday Art & Gift Sale

Saturday, December 13, 2025

@ Little Giant Collective

We’ll be selling all sorts of handmade and sustainable gifts, including stuffed animals, totes and tees, zipper pouches, hankies, ornaments, and vintage clothing. More info coming soon!

The Workshop is Open!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

CLOSED 12/23 /25 through 1/2/26 for Winter Holidays

Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Miscellanea:

  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Instagram!

November News

It’s getting colder and darker lately. The holiday season is upon us! It’s time for rest, sharing meals with loved ones, and finding a cozy place to knit or sew.

And yet, we are in the midst of some busy months, both at the Fábrica and in our own lives. The shop will be closed for some holidays, but we have events and classes coming up too.

Please think of us this year as you’re shopping for gifts or donating money. We have several holiday sales in the next few weeks where you can find home-made and sustainable gifts for friends, family, and kiddos. As always, we appreciate every contribution, no matter the size. Find more information on the Donation Page.

Events at the Fábrica:

First Friday Art Show:

“Tidelines”

Kai Dalgleish

Friday, December 5, 2025
6 pm – 9pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Kai Dalgleish is an artist and engineer who recently returned home to Santa Cruz after spending time in Oakland and Southern Oregon. Their art practice revolves around finding beauty in rust and rot, and creating immersive experiences through mixed-media storytelling. They have a deep appreciation for the cast aside, the softly decaying, the long-forgotten, and the constancy of change.

Read the full description on our Events page.

Fundraiser:

Holiday Night Market

Friday, December 5, 2025
6 pm – 9pm

@ Subrosa, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

We’re excited to host some local makers and vendors during the Frist Friday Art Show. This part of the even will take place in Subrosa and the courtyard, but we’ll have the door open between the spaces for maximum festive friendliess.

This will be a cozy holiday sale featuring hand-made gifts and sundries, supporting local artists and community organizations. Prints, jewelry, vintage, baked goods, herbal remedies, knit/crochet, stuffed toys, and more!

Class & Mutual Aid:

Cloth Pad-Making Workshop

w/ Campesina Womb Justice & The Fábrica

Sunday, December 7, 2025
11 am – 1pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Learn to make a set of washable cloth menstrual pads and waterproof storage pouch. Optionally, you can also create a set of pads for distribution by Campesina Womb Justice, a mutual aid project dedicated to reproductive and healing justice. You can find Campesina Womb Justice on social media @campensinawombjustice and Link Tree.

Read the full description on our Events page.

Fundraiser

Holiday Art & Gift Sale

Saturday, December 13, 2025

@ Little Giant Collective

We’ll be selling all sorts of handmade and sustainable gifts, including stuffed animals, totes and tees, zipper pouches, hankies, ornaments, and vintage clothing. More info coming soon!

The Workshop is Open!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

CLOSED Sunday 12/2 for La Peña Alegria (BIPOC event at Subrosa)
CLOSED Saturday 11/29 and Sunday 11/30
CLOSED 12/23 /25 through 1/2/26 for Winter Holidays

Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Protest Banner Lending Library

We gathered a bunch of friends and comrades on Halloween to help document some of the Protest Banners. Here’s a few of the photos.

Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Miscellanea:

  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Follow us on Instagram!

(Handmade) Spooky Season w/ The Fábrica

Hi everyone! Happy Spooky Season to all who celebrate. We’ve been very, very busy during open hours at the workshop lately. Lots of friendly new faces are showing up to look for costume-making supplies! There are a few more days to come in for supplies before the big day! Of course, big day = Halloween! Stop by this weekend: Saturday, Sunday, or Monday for costume supplies & support!

As you know, the Fábrica is a community project run by a collective of volunteers and supported logistically and financially by its users. That means you! And us! As always, thank you for subscribing and for supporting us. Please share this newsletter with anyone you know who might enjoy spending time at The Fábrica or hearing about what’s going on in the Santa Cruz fabric arts scene.

The Workshop is Open!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

CLOSED Sunday 11/2 for La Peña Alegria (BIPOC event at Subrosa)
CLOSED Saturday 11/29 and Sunday 11/30

Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Events at the Fábrica:

Halloween x Aulinta

Banner Procession

Friday, October 31, 2025

Meet at 5:15pm @ The Fábrica
Procession at 5:45pm Pacific Avenue

2023 Halloween

Join us for a spooky parade through Downtown Santa Cruz on Halloween night. The streets will be closed for trick-or-treat, so we will have a silly, small, low-key parade to show off the protest banners and mingle with the spirits. There’s more info on the Events page.

First Friday Art Show:

“Leaky Bodies, Vadose Zones”

Joy Schendledecker, Ann Altstatt, and Avi Conant

Friday, November 7, 2025
6 pm – 9pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

At the heart of the project is fluorite: a cosmic mineral refined into PFAS, the toxic “forever chemicals” now found in soil, water, fungi, plants, animals, dust, rain, snow—in everything, everywhere.

Through textiles, mixed media, collage, found objects, specimens, field stations, and visual poetics, this work invites you into an electrical ecology of tears, spores, and signals—where healing metabolizes through sympoesis, seeping, recombining, and remembering.

Read the full description on our Events page.

YARR: Documentation and Resistance in Solidarity with our Immigrant Neighbors

Last month we helped Your Area Rapid Response (YARR) to design and create an adorable, durable, and purposeful fabric banner.

Now more than ever, it’s a great time to connect with YARR to see how you can stay informed and lend support to our immigrant neighbors. You can find more info on their website.

We highly recommend saving their number in your phone so you can report an ICE raid or other incident that merits legal observers. You can also join their email list or sign up for a legal observer training.

Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Textile Arts Events Around Santa Cruz:

Socialist Stitch & Bitch w/ DSA

Every third Saturday, 2 – 4pm

@ Lúpulo
233 Cathcart St, Santa Cruz

This event is organized my our comrades at the Santa Cruz chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Miscellanea:

  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Follow us on Instagram!

Events with YARR & Redwood Records + New Hours

Greetings, friends and lovers! We’re creeping towards fall. School has started; university starts next week. The days are just a little shorter. This is a time of transition! Please read on to see what’s new and what’s changing for the Fall season.

As you know, the Fábrica is a community project run by a collective of volunteers and supported logistically and financially by its users. That means you! And us! As always, thank you for subscribing and for supporting us. Please share this newsletter with anyone you know who might enjoy spending time at The Fábrica or hearing about what’s going on in the Santa Cruz fabric arts scene.

New Sunday Hours Start Next Week!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

CLOSED Sunday 9/14 for the Really Really Free Market
CLOSED Sunday 10/4 for La Peña Alegria (BIPOC event at Subrosa)

NOTE: We make every effort to make our open hours consistent and reliable, but sometimes life does get in the way! Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Events at the Fábrica:

SEPTEMBER OPEN HOUSE:

“Last Friday”

Friday, September 26, 2025
6 pm – 9 pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

We’re really excited about this little open house! And we hope you’ll stop by to say hi or stay for some stitching and a cuppa tea.

We’re hosting our friends from YARR to create a banner for the organization. YARR, which stands for “Your Area Rapid Response,” is a hotline and community network created “to document, resist and prevent actions by ICE or other oppressive forces that would harm our fellow human beings.” You can find more info on their social media. Save their phone number to report ICE in your community: (831) 439-2389.

You can also check out new work from Ann Altstatt: quilted works Ann created during a recent residency at the Winslow House Project in Vallejo.

Join us to help with the banners, schmooze with our YARR comrades, relax in the courtyard with a friend, peruse the rack of vintage clothing and homemade gifts, and, as always, there will be tea.

STREET FAIR w/ REDWOOD RECORDS

“Cedar Street Festival”

Sunday, September 28, 2025
1 pm – 6 pm

@ the streets near Redwood Records, 320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA

Come visit us at the Cedar Street Festival, sponsored by Redwood Records. Live music, food, art and more… plus a Fábrica fundraiser sale!

First Friday Art Shows:

Bending

Clare Bathum’s Fiber Works + Matt Baldwin’s “How to Play Guitar”

Friday, October 3, 2025
7 pm – 10 pm

@ The Fábrica & Subrosa, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

In October, we’re hosting two artists in The Fábrica and Subrosa. Clare Bathum is a fiber artist and digital-physical collager. Matt Baldwin is a writer and musician.

They describe their upcoming show: “What are the correlations between bending over a stitch and bending a guitar string? Come find out at our SubRosa x Fabrica x SCUM First Friday event, October 3 from 6 – 9 pm. clare bathum’s fiber works and digital collages will be on display, along with a special reading and performance from Matt Baldwin, on tour from Los Angeles with his new book/collected zines “How to Play Guitar”. DJ leshy and friends will be spinning tunes throughout the evening. Read more about the artists below.” You can find more info on our Events Page.

November: Joy Schendeldecker

Friday, November 7, 2025
6 pm – 9 pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

In November, we’ll be hosting mixed media, quilt-adjacent works by Joy Schendeldecker. More info coming soon!

Sewing Machines For Sale:

Newly Refurbished Vintage Machines

Grey and Gold Singer $125
Rugged Greenie $50
White and Gold Singer $100

We have a few machines for sale in the shop. They are newly refurbished and ready to sew! They are reliable and durable. And, of course, we’d be happy to teach you how to use your new machine during our open hours!

Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Textile Arts Events Around Santa Cruz:

Socialist Stitch & Bitch w/ DSA

Every third Saturday, 2 – 4pm

@ Lúpulo
233 Cathcart St, Santa Cruz

This event is organized my our comrades at the Santa Cruz chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Miscellanea:

  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Follow us on Instagram!

Hand-Printed, From Mumbai

This lovely hand-made fabric spent some time in the bin labled “Handmade Fabrics from Around the World.”
The original label was still attached!
According to a language translation app, the label describes attributes of the fabric such as size, price, location, and style of printing.

There’s a lot to criticize about how technology and capitalism have affected textile arts (and every other aspect of our lives!). However, technology sometimes allows us to learn and discover things that we wouldn’t otherwise have access too.

A gorgeous handmade cloth with an intricate printed design had been living in the “Handmade Fabrics from Around the World” bin at the The Fábrica. The cloth had a crispy, old-looking paper label affixed to one corner. With the help of a language translation app, we were able to take a picture of the label and discover more about the cloth. Of course, language translation apps are not always very accurate, but this is what we think we’ve learned:

First of all, the label is written in Hindi, using the Devanagari script. The cloth comes from the Mumbai Sapanagar Village Industries Association. Applying our own understanding of fabric production (weaving, dying and printing, etc.) to the words we see on the translation, it seems this label included places for the worker to write in various characteristics of the fabric. Those included thread count, cloth length, printing method, fabric content, dye lot, and retail price. Although the worker’s beautiful script can still be read in some places (the original piece was 1.85 meters), most of it has faded or worn away.

This translated label gives us a few answers about its origins, but there’s so much more to know about the making of a textile! How many people were involved? What is the Village Industry Association? How did the fabric end up in Santa Cruz? And so much more! What questions do you have about how a piece of cloth is made?

September News

Hello, Fábrica Supporters! We hope you are enjoying the beautiful, hot (!) weather we’ve been having lately. Thank you for subscribing and for supporting us. Please share this newsletter with anyone you know who might enjoy spending time at The Fábrica or hearing about what’s going on in the Santa Cruz fabric arts scene.

We’re heading into September soon and we have a few events to tell you about. Read on!

Summer schedule:

SEPTEMBER Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 11am – 2pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

CLOSED Sunday 8/31

CLOSED Sunday 9/14 for the Really Really Free Market

NOTE: We are may be changing our hours on Sunday and/or Monday. Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Textile Arts Events Around Santa Cruz:

Freeskool Class

Fuck Fast Fashion!
Fix your ‘Fit!

Thursday, September 4, 2025
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

@ The Hub in the Courtyard, next to Subrosa & The Fábrica
703 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

NOTE: this class is not hosted by the Fábrica and the shop will not be open during this time.


This is a mending class/gathering hosted by Jae (they/them). Bring your own materials. RSVP to jaesews612@gmail.com

More info on the Free Skool site.

“Thread Bare”

Friday, September 5, 2025
6 pm – 9 pm

@ Little Giant Collective
115 River St S, Santa Cruz
#nexttomobosushi

“Thread Bare” is a group art show featuring nudes, erotica, or racy themes… as textile arts! At least two Fábrica Collective members will have work in this show.

It’s always a good time at LGC’s First Friday shows. We hope you’ll stop by to take a peep.

Events at the Fábrica:

SEPTEMBER OPEN HOUSE:

“Last Friday”

Friday, September 26, 2025
6 pm – 9 pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Stop by to say hi or stay for some stitching and a cuppa tea. This is a mellow open house with banner sewing and fresh art on the walls.

We’re working on finishing the “Abolish Ice” and “Together” banners. You can also check out new work from Ann Altstatt, quilty works Ann created during a recent residency at the Winslow House Project in Vallejo.

STREET FAIR w/ REDWOOD RECORDS

“Cedar Street Festival”

Sunday, September 28, 2025
1 pm – 6 pm

@ the streets near Redwood Records, 320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA

This festival will have food and music and we will be there too!

Sewing Machines For Sale:

Newly Refurbished Vintage Machines

Grey and Gold Singer $125
Rugged Greenie $50
White and Gold Singer $100

We have a few machines for sale in the shop. They are newly refurbished and ready to sew! They are reliable and durable. And, of course, we’d be happy to teach you how to use your new machine during our open hours!

Miscellanea:

  • The Santa Cruz County Fair is right around the corner! Besides thrilling piglet races and exquisite elote, did you know there are tons of textile arts on display?!? Go for the livestock, stay for the quilts!
  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Your Area Rapid Response or YARR is a hotline and community network created “to document, resist and prevent actions by ICE or other oppressive forces that would harm our fellow human beings.” Join their email list or follow them on social media to hear about legal observer and de-escalation trainings or to join the responder network. Save their phone number to report ICE in your community: (831) 439-2389.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Support The Fábrica !

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Instagram!

July News — Part 2

Hello, Fábrica Supporters! We hope you are enjoying this beautiful, foggy Santa Cruz Summer! Read on to learn about upcoming events at the shop, as well as a few other happenings hosted by comrade-organizations: the Renter’s Union screen printing tomorrow, shoe repair on Sunday, and Ann’s artist residency, to name a few!

“Abolish ICE” Work In Progress (Labels from around The Fábrica.)
Ooh! Lace ❤ (Labels from around The Fábrica.)
Furry + Fuzzy (Labels from around The Fábrica.)
Blatant Polyester (Labels from around The Fábrica.)
Black Liberation Everywhere (Labels from around The Fábrica.)

Summer schedule:

JuLY & August Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 11am – 2pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

CLOSED Sunday 8/10 for the Really Really Free Market

Sometimes we need to be closed unexpectedly. Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.

Upcoming Events:

See the Events page on our website for more information.

Free Skool Class:

At-Home Shoe Repair w/ Elijah Dalley

Sunday, July 20, 2025
2:30 pm – 5 pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Learn how to perform basic shoe repairs at home to keep your sneakers on your feet. Will go over gluing, painting, and stitching/patching.

July Art Show:

Practice

Friday, July 25, 2025
6 pm – 9 pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

The Fábrica’s July Art Show features drawings by Harper and Maria. Join us for a reception (and activities!) Friday, July 25th, 6-9 PM at the Fábrica. There will be art supplies and objects to draw at the big table, as well as banner sewing outside in the courtyard.

“Maria and Harper started a simple daily drawing practice using everyday household objects — one item, a couple of minutes, with any paper or writing instrument that was around. Drawing soon became a practice of slowing down and looking at things with care. They’ve found it to be a helpful reminder of the power of seeing.”

August Art show:

Louise Leong

Friday, August 8, 2025
6 pm – 9 pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Join us for an art show and reception with the artists at The Fábrica.

For the month of August we will host work by our friend Louise. More info coming soon.

A Side Note:

Ann is on a Field Trip

WHP Open House
Sunday, July 27 2025
3 pm – 7 pm

@ Winslow House Project, Vallejo, CA

One of our collective members, Ann, is currently an artist in residence at the Winslow House Project in Vallejo. Check out the WHP website or instagram for more info.

And Ann, if you’re seeing this, we miss you! But we hope you’re having the best time! 😭

Collaborations:

Santa Cruz County Renters Union

Every once in awhile, we collaborate with likeminded friends and organizations to create a banner especially for their cause. Recently we hatched a plan to create a banner with the Santa Cruz Community Renters’ Union (SCCRU). When we make a banner in collaboration with another group, we start with a planning session to brainstorm a slogan, create a design, and to pick fabrics. Then we get to work: measuring, sketching, and cutting out letters and designs. The final stage is hosting a larger group to sew all the letters on to the banner. That’s the best part: a time for people to slow down, stitch, chat, and do their part to make the banner. Anyone can participate and prior sewing experience is completely unnecessary! Last week we planned and set up the SCCRU banner with a few of their members. Later this month they will host a banner-sewing with their members to put it all together. In the end, they’ll have a beautiful and meaningful banner that they all helped create.

This coming weekend, SCCRU is hosting their “Tenant Power Zine Launch!” at Little Giant Collective. You can bring a t-shirt to print and get a zine. Bring your housemates and neighbors!

SCCRU’s “Tenant Power Zine Launch!”

Saturday, July 19, 2025
12 – 2 pm

@ Little Giant Collective, 115 River St, Santa Cruz, CA

Click for more info about SCCRU.

Miscellanea:

  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Your Area Rapid Response or YARR is a hotline and community network created “to document, resist and prevent actions by ICE or other oppressive forces that would harm our fellow human beings.” Join their email list or follow them on social media to hear about legal observer and de-escalation trainings or to join the responder network. Save their phone number to report ICE in your community: (831) 439-2389.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.
  • Our friend Joanne is teaching quilting classes through Cabrillo Extension.

Support The Fábrica !

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!

Follow us on Instagram!