Duluth Sewing Project

08/14/2026

The first one is off the cutting table!

Granite Gear has finished digitizing our Community Winter Mitten pattern, and we're officially into the next stage of the project.

Our goal from the beginning was simple: design a mitten that's durable and functional enough for a Minnesota winter, but straightforward enough that community volunteers can help make them.

This is our first Granite Gear-cut prototype, and we'll be testing and refining it before community production begins.

We're getting closer.

07/31/2026

Big week for Dorothy the Juki: she got her name badges and she hit a new landmark of completing over 200 repairs!

07/22/2026

Thanks to Renee Passal and WDIO for stopping by the repair clinic on Monday!

And thanks again to Loll Designs for sponsoring our July repair clinics!

The Duluth Sewing Project is helping repair gear like tents, backpacks, and clothing at the Damiano Center three times a week.

07/17/2026

Dorothy the Juki moved into her new storage space in th conference room Damiano Center today! Lots of secure storage for her and the repair supplies!
Happy Friday!

07/07/2026

We're excited to recognize Loll Designs as the July sponsor of the Duluth Sewing Project's Community Repair Clinics.

Their support helps us provide free outdoor gear repairs for members of Duluth's unhoused community while keeping quality gear in use and out of the landfill.

Partnerships like this show what can happen when local businesses invest in their community. Thank you, Loll Designs, for helping us Repair. Reuse. Educate. Empower.

06/24/2026

Busy morning for Dorothy the Juki today! 6 repairs waiting and more to come.

06/23/2026

🧤 Introducing the Community Winter Mitten Initiative 🧤

Winter in Northern Minnesota can be unforgiving, and access to quality winter gear can make a meaningful difference for our neighbors facing hardship.

The Duluth Sewing Project is proud to announce the launch of the Community Winter Mitten Initiative — a community effort to create durable winter mittens using donated materials, volunteer craftsmanship, and local partnerships.

We are excited to launch this initiative with Granite Gear as our Founding Partner. With decades of outdoor gear experience, is providing material support and technical expertise to help bring this program to life.

Together, we’ll transform donated outdoor fabrics and surplus materials into durable, warm, practical mittens that will be distributed free of charge through the to community organizations serving individuals and families throughout the Duluth area.

This initiative represents what the Duluth Sewing Project is all about:

♻️ Repair.
🧵 Reuse.
📚 Educate.
💪 Empower.

Over the coming months, we’ll share updates as materials arrive, volunteers get involved, and the first mittens come together.

Interested in supporting the Community Winter Mitten Initiative?

Visit:
www.duluthsewingproject.org

Together, we can create a lasting impact — one pair of mittens at a time.

06/17/2026

06/12/2026

Dorothy the Juki getting ready to fix some gear at the damiano_center this morning. And yes, that’s the lift bridge in the background. Happy Friday everyone!

06/03/2026