What you need to know before mending your clothing.
Make Do and Mend (1943) I heard of "Make do and mend" years ago - as a concept. More recently, I was exploring my mending resources and I realized I did not have a copy of any British pamphlets from the World War II era when "Make Do and Mend" was a thing. Obviously I googled away, but it was not available anywhere I could find. Then it dawned on me I could just buy it, because such pamphlets were widely distributed. Reproduction prints are available but it's not worth it, because the real thing is available for less. So I bought a 1943 copy from ebay.co.uk, then I scanned it and cleaned it up for you. For YOU, dear reader. (If you're wondering, copyright has expired.) That's right: free, downloadable, and printable! Read or download the free MAKE DO AND MEND now! Make Do and Mend Crown copyright, 1943 Prepared for the Board of Trade by the Ministry of Information Context This pamphlet "Make Do and Mend" was published while the UK was fighting the Nazis in WWII. Many everyday products that were imported to the country, like food, became scarce due to submarine attacks on cargo ships. At the same time, local production was focused on supplying the soldiers on the front line. Everything from wool for uniforms, silk for parachutes and maps, leather for boots, metal for munitions, rubber for tires, even soap and paper -- everything you could think of -- became hard to find, expensive, and even rationed. As a result of the war, householders had to "make do" with things they already had. Decorative gardens were plowed under to become vegetable gardens, new fashions a thing of the past, and everyone had to get good at repairing things or making do without. The booklet I have uploaded is focused on mending clothing. Lots of different things are covered, from repairing holes and wear in everything from stockings to overalls to towels; repurposing larger clothes into smaller clothes; modifying too-small or worn-out clothes to extend their life; and unpicking knitted items to reuse the woolen yarn in something else. There are a few things to keep in mind. For starters, all clothes at the time were made of natural fibers or rayon (a semi-synthetic fiber made of wood). So all those great indestructible polyester fabrics you see in disco suits at the thrift store were not around during the war. Also, women were "traditionally" expected to do all the household labor and had to know how to: sew items from scratch and make repairs; knit; crochet; and make or at least embellish other items like hats. Not to mention do all the laundry for the household along with all the ironing (this helped extend the life of garments) and you know... all the other chores. Cooking, gardening, tidying, shopping, keeping up the utilities, organzing repair specialists (for machines, carpentry, etc)... All of it. So there's your context! I find the topic of wartime making-do to be pretty interesting, so if you have any questions please, the comment area is open!
Learn how to darn a sweater easily, all you need is a needle, yarn and an embroidery hoop! Darning a sweater is a slow relaxing process, not a chore to be rushed! Imagine the joy
Subtle Mends for Unmentionable Areas I teach workshops on visible mending regularly, and by far, the most requested mend is the dreaded crotch repair. Luckily, it's a pretty simple repair. If you are like me, jeans are my favorite article of clothing to wear. And a well fitting pair of jeans is magic, and also tragic
Subtle Mends for Unmentionable Areas I teach workshops on visible mending regularly, and by far, the most requested mend is the dreaded crotch repair. Luckily, it's a pretty simple repair. If you are like me, jeans are my favorite article of clothing to wear. And a well fitting pair of jeans is magic, and also tragic
Learn how to fix your clothes in a unique and fun way with our visible mending tutorial. Start upcycling your wardrobe with Gathered.
Learn the basics of visible mending, a creative way to combine repairs with style for a totally personalized look for favorite clothing and textiles.
A detailed step by step mending jeans by hand tutorial with photos. Use hand embroidery running stitch for mending denim.
Check out this curated list of creative ways to mend a hole! Lots of visible mending ideas for saving clothes from the landfill.
ARGH! Those blasted moths! If you just discovered that your closet has been Golden Corral All-You-Can-Eat Buffet destination for the clothing moths in your neighborhood, then you need this post.
"Check out my fishy floors. It was either this or thousands of dollars to replace the whole floor because they don't make tile like that anymore. I don't know about you, but like this solution better!"
ARGH! Those blasted moths! If you just discovered that your closet has been Golden Corral All-You-Can-Eat Buffet destination for the clothing moths in your neighborhood, then you need this post.
There are numerous ways to protect the environment, and it's up to us to choose the most suitable methods to contribute and help our planet. This is especially crucial now, given the many factors contributing to climate change and the degradation of our beloved Mother Earth.
Learn how to mend clothing with these creative sewing techniques. Here, we cover how to sew a hole, mend a seam, and more with visible mending.
Environmental and ethical reasons to extend the life of old clothing.
Marquoir anglais de points de reprise par Judith Jannings (11 ans en 1806) d'autres marquoirs sur le blog de Margot Ex, antiquaire textile Home and School Sewing de Frances Patton, New York, Newson and Company, 1901 (admirons les ombres faites par...
4 easy ways to up your sewing game.
Learn how to fix your clothes in a unique and fun way with our visible mending tutorial. Start upcycling your wardrobe with Gathered.
Mending engages us with our clothing. You will learn so much about quality, fiber, drape, structure, and sustainability by mending your garments by patching them!
The environment and the impact that people have on it is one of the most important topics in today’s world. So it’s no surprise for a lot of people that the fashion industry is known as one of the most polluting industries. Having this in mind, a lot of brands, companies, and organizations have started initiatives and programs to make a positive change towards a better tomorrow.
Learn How to repair clothes by sewing holes and mending them rightly
Make Do and Mend: Darning OMG DIAGONAL!!! To keep it S–T–R–E–T–C–H–Y–! Why hasn’t anyone told me this?
Katie Treggiden speaks to Emily Mae Martin of TOAST who is leading in bringing repair culture into clothing, homewares, and accessories.
Sashiko is a Japanese hand-sewing style that was originally used by working class people as a means to mend used clothing and household items. But it is so much more than that! The even, geometric patterns of sashiko create a beautiful decorative effect, so that they go beyond being purely practical
Sustainably Chic is a sustainable fashion blog and online resource. We are sharing a beginner's guide to mending clothes with a focus on the visible mending trend. Find out why you should mend your own clothing, how it's sustainable and the difference between visible mending and invisible mending. L
How to patch a hole with sashiko stitching - a tutorial for a creative way to fix knee holes in little boy's pants.
Patch it, mend it, or darn it—visible mending is hot! Transforming a worn piece of clothing with vibrant stitchwork offers a great way to show off your handspun yarn.
What a difference being healthy can make.... A week in bed can really warp your world view. March in Maine is a pretty hard time to begin with, grey and brown, cold, interminable. And the one time of the year I come down with colds.... I had the good company o
