Mending clothes is a great way to give a beloved item a new lease of life, whilst helping the environment by reducing waste and saving money. It also allows the mender to get creative and foster a sense of individuality.
According to The Students Union, “The fashion industry is the second highest for water consumption and makes up approximately 8-10% of global carbon emissions”. By doing your bit, you can help the environment. Our guide gives four creative ways on how to get started.
1. Collecting items
You really don’t need much to get started. An old shoe box can be used to store the items you will need, such as a darning needle with a sharp point and large eye. A sharp pair of scissors will come in handy, as well as embroidery threads. Some menders like to collect scraps of fabric to use as patches.
2. Using patchwork
Patchwork techniques such as sashiko use visible stitches and contrasting fabrics to create striking patterns, allowing holes in knees to be quickly covered. The same technique can also be applied to jackets and tops, allowing the mender to use contrasting colours.
3. Darning knitwear
Darning is a traditional method for fixing holes in knitwear like socks, sweaters, or even blankets. It involves interweaving new threads through the damaged area to rebuild the fabric.
For example, if you have holes in your womens Irish sweaters, why not experiment with different coloured threads? Use the Swiss darning method to pick up the loops around the edge of the hole. Then, fill in with new stitches. This is a sure-fire way to add a new lease of life to your favourite womens irish sweaters.
4. Stain cover-ups
Fabric paints and stencils are a great way to cover stains on clothing. Use stencils as a way of achieving precision in your designs or to add repeated patterns and shapes. Fabric paints are available in a range of colours, so the possibilities are endless when it comes to turning old, stained clothes into new wearable items.
