Sew & Repair Event Hosted by Benevolent Objects
On New Year’s Day, I was invited to a cute craft party at my friend Carolin Wood’s home. We spent the afternoon sewing patches for a Rockaway community quilt—chatting and snacking. What fun!
Carolin Wood and her creative partner, Rachel Krieger-Garone, are the co-founders of Benevolent Objects, a small business creating beautifully unique aprons from vintage materials. By the end of the afternoon, there was talk of organizing something bigger—an event that could fit more community sewers and crafters. Now they’ve secured a winter location for the next sew gathering, and this one is public. All are welcome!
I asked the ladies how the inception of Benevolent Objects came together and I learned that Rachel and Carolin first met when Rachel was nannying for Carolin’s kids 9 years ago. What started as a working relationship turned into a longtime friendship. They’ve had each other’s backs through hard times, and they talk honestly about the big stuff—mental health, relationships, community, all of it.
Carolin, an artist and new mom at the time, started making and selling aprons after her kids were born (before she ever moved to Rockaway). Sewing runs in her family—skills and fabrics passed down from her mother and grandma, along with that old-school mindset of using what you’ve got to make what you need.
Rachel comes from a clothing-manufacturing family and spent years in luxury retail and the service industry, so she brings a whole other side of experience to the work.
Most of the fabric for the aprons is straight from Carolin’s family treasure chest. They also source from vintage shops and secondhand stores. And if you have cool fabrics, Carolin and Rachel also happily take fabric donations!
Rachel shares, “I think we make great partners because we come from such different backgrounds and have different skill sets. I love to bring people together, and that translates to social media as well, so I’m responsible for outreach and marketing. I have a bit of a tendency toward perfectionism, which helps in production, design, and editing. Carolin knows how to produce—the work just spills out of her. She works fast and furiously. She doesn’t hesitate. It’s truly awe-inspiring.”
“We both care deeply about this planet and the future, and with all of the chaos in the world, it feels like if we can gather people, teach them how to repair items instead of throwing them out, and create a sense of care for our environment and the community, then maybe we’re doing something good.”
And that brings us to this weekend!
This Sunday, January 18, Benevolent Objects is hosting Sew & Repair at the Arverne East Coastal Conservation Center (190 B 44th St. at the Boardwalk), overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in a beautiful new community space, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. It’s a hands-on morning of basic sewing, embroidery, and repair, plus an intro to threading and using sewing machines. Bring an item that needs fixing, or come ready to experiment with provided materials and make something new. The idea is: use your hands and hearts to make new things from old materials—and imagine a more sustainable future, as the group creates.
RSVP by messaging @benevolentobjects on Instagram. The suggested donation is $20, but it’s pay-what-you-can, and no one is turned away. No experience needed. There will be light snacks and beverages (feel free to bring your own, too). Space is limited, reserve your spot!
