More and more of us are becoming aware of our carbon footprint and the effect we have on the environment. Repairing rather than replacing damaged clothing where possible is not only a way to extend the lifespan of a favourite garment but also helps us do our bit to reduce waste and thereby conserve energy and resources.
Earth.org states that mending torn or worn-out clothes slows down climate change. So, here is a quick run-down on 4 ways to get more wear out of a precious sweater, get your creativity on and save the planet, all at the same time.
Traditional Darning
This is the traditional method of mending holey jumpers and socks. It involves weaving new yarn over the damaged area, thereby filling in the hole and stopping it from growing any bigger. You can use the same type and colour of yarn if you want to hide the repair, or you can go for contrast instead if you want to have some fun and make a statement.
Swiss Darning
Also known as ‘replicate stitch’, Swiss darning works well as a way to repair a worn-down elbow. The idea is to replicate the knitted stitch with yarn and a needle. It helps if you can see the stitches clearly, so this method is best used to mend a thicker sweater like a favourite fishermans sweater mens or womens style from https://shoparan.com/mens-aran-sweaters or another Aran knitwear specialist.
Embroidery
The important thing is to tidy the hole and stop it from spreading, so start by going around the hole with a blanket stitch. After that is done, you can get as decorative as you like with this method. Add stitches, explore colours and embroider a mandala or a flower or . you get the picture.
Concealment
If you’re feeling lazy, you could just cover up the hole with a brooch or a badge and pretend that if no one can see it, then it doesn’t exist. This is only a short-term solution, however, as holes in knitwear do tend to get bigger when ignored.