YE Gurl Says: Craft Raccoon Is Where Creativity (and Second Chances) Meet
Back in January 2026, I remember flipping through 614 Magazine and seeing their "Treasure in the Trash" article featuring Rachel Wallis, the owner of Craft Raccoon. At the time, I had no idea a few months later I'd actually be sitting inside the shop with a needle and thread.
Funny how things circle back.
After taking a sewing class through the Fashion Institute, I ended up connecting with a group of cool women who were equally interested in learning how to make and mend our own clothes. Our instructor suggested we check out a mending class at Craft Raccoon -- and that's how we ended up there.
The shop itself is nicely sized and packed with craft supplies -- and here's the twist: much of it is donated and either free or very low cost. It immediately reminded me of creative reuse spaces I've seen in Chicago, which makes sense because Rachel visited a similar concept there and brought the idea back to Columbus.
That kind of cross-pollination of ideas seems to happen a lot here in Columbus -- people bringing inspiration from other cities or countries and building something new locally. Honestly? For some ideas, that's a trend worth keeping.
Our class was intimate and hands-on. One of the instructors helped my friend finish a reversible bag project while I got practical help fixing a few wardrobe mishaps.
First up: a cardigan I had just bought from the now-closed Pivot Boutique. Turns out it had a loose button and three small holes that no one noticed before I purchased it. The instructor showed me exactly how to mend them properly.
Next up: hemming a pair of faux leather cargo pants from Naked Wardrobe. Their pieces are typically cut for someone around 5'9", which... is not my situation. Problem solved with a quick hem lesson.
By the end of the session we walked away with:
* new mending skills
* a few good laughs
* great conversation with the instructor
* and a deeper appreciation for the mission behind Craft Raccoon
The shop itself is still fairly new but already offers a wide range of classes -- things like:
* circle skirts
* aprons
* quilted jackets
* pajama pants
* quilting projects
YE Gurl Says: Craft Raccoon is part creative studio, part sustainability hub, and part community classroom. If you've ever wanted to learn how to mend, sew, or simply be less wasteful with your clothes, this is a great place to start. Sometimes the best fashion upgrade isn't buying something new -- it's learning how to fix what you already have. read more