Mending

I have to admit, I was looking for something that needed repair. Surely somewhere in our home there was some item of clothing that still fit the wearer but needed some mending.  Maddie’s jeans fit the bill perfectly.

Some of the websites tell you to use a sashiko needle and thread, but since I don’t have either of them, I used a decent needle and some embroidery thread, doubled a layer of fabric to fill the holes, and I was able to take these jeans out of the “destined for rags” pile and return them to a favorite to wear.

My daughter loves the look of these jeans look now and she said she’d like to find more jeans with holes just so they can be mended.  I enjoyed the process and the simplicity of the stitches, but even more I enjoyed using the work of my hands to make something usable again.

There’s so much inspiration for mending and making do online, and even an entire slow fashion movement.  I found much of my mending inspiration here, and there is great information on slow fashion here.  I dream of the day I’ll be able to make all of our clothes, but until then I’ll continue with thrifting and mending.  Like my grandparents often said, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”.