Mending is so accessible to everyone, and once you get the basics down you can share the skill with others, broadening this somewhat solitary activity into a social one. Mending can be simple or complex. It can be technical or creative. It saves money and preserves the favorite parts of your wardrobe. Sewing has existed long before cloth was ever woven, and along with sewing, came mending. Welcome to the practice of an ancient form of creative expression!
Kristin Roach, Mend it Better, Storey Publishing
I was honored when Kristin Roach, the creator of the website Craft Leftovers, wrote me just over a year ago, and asked if I would contribute a project to her upcoming book on creative mending - the basic techniques of fixing, upcycling and rejuvenating clothes that are getting run down and are sitting at the back of your wardrobe. In fact I think mending is not only a vitally important activity but fabulous creative fun as well, so I was thrilled to do my bit for the book, and to receive my contributor's copy the other day: Mend It Better (Kristin created a new site dedicated to her book: Mend It Better).
Mend It Better covers a fascinating range of skills and ideas for mending, upcycling, and preserving clothes, with step-by-step instructions and generous images and drawings. Among the topics covered are: basic hand-sewing skills, hemming, patching, darning, tricks for bead-work and other accents, decorative stitching, and fabric care. Mend It Better is a useful reference and inspiration to sewers, crafters and people who aspire to live greener.
Storey Publishing is offering a copy of Mend It Better to one reader of FuoriBorgo. If you'd like a chance to win, please leave a comment below - I'll announce the results on Monday.
Thanks to Storey Publishing for the giveaway, and thank you for participating and for your comments. The winner is MELISSA, please send me your address at fuoriborgo at gmail dot com!
