4 Videos Show You How to Mend and Make Do
If you are anything like me you probably didn’t pay too much attention in home economics class. Cooking comes naturally to me because I had to help prepare meals at home – and I eat every day of my life. But sewing? That’s always been something I’ve outsourced or avoided.
Now that I’m supposedly all grown up, I admit to feeling a little envious of friends who are handy with a needle. However, since every skilled dressmaker I know started out making dolls’ clothes when they were children, I don’t think I’m ever going to catch up. I’m also not prepared to wear years of second-rate clothes while I learn my craft, when there are so many gorgeous ready-made fashions.
Instead, I am making a conscious effort to learn how to maintain and mend my clothes. In the old days I would either take my clothes to a shop – a costly habit – or they would sit in a basket gathering dust. In the mean time, I would forget them and buy more clothes. So I’m planning to give a new lease of life to my wardrobe just by mending my existing clothes. Why don’t you join me?
How to sew on a button by hand or by machine.
Frankly, if you just have one button to sew on then it’s faster and easier to do it by hand – nothing simpler.
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Here’s how to darn a sock.
I avoid synthetic materials because they’re made from unsustainable petrochemicals and don’t let my feet ‘breathe’. Sadly socks made from natural fibers such as cotton or wool are prone to getting holes around the toes or heels. Instead of discarding them, the frugal and eco-friendly option is to repair them. (It takes about 10 minutes, judging from this video – but they’re working on quite a big hole, and I expect a small toe hole would take less time).
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How to repair a tear with a machine (part 2 here). Or repair the tear by hand.
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How to mend a hem by hand.
Image: wakalani
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3 Comments
February 20th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Thanks for these tips! I love mending clothes…it’s just a sort of Ecotopian habit I picked up somewhere in my life travels. It always feels satisfying to me to keep my favorite articles of clothing going and going and going. You know once you find stuff you really like, they’re impossible to replace — might as well just make them last!!
February 25th, 2009 at 2:59 am
Darn! I write this post, it gets reprinted on HuffPo, all’s right with the world. Then days later I get a hole in the heel of my woolen sock and now I’m actually going to have to put my money where my mouth is and darn it! Poetic justice.
Caitlin’s last blog post..Best Job in the World – end of round one
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