Fashion Revolution 2016 - I Mend My Clothes

Flashback Summer - Fashion Revolution 2016: I Mend My Clothes

Mending one of those things that I have fallen into by necessity through wearing vintage.  If you've worn true vintage, I'm sure you have had the experience of a popped seam, fallen hem, or loose button that needed to be fixed.  (I've even had those happen while I was wearing them... which is why I recommend all vintage wearers carry a tiny sewing kit in their purse at all times, ha!)

Not many people know how to mend nowadays!  While people of yesteryear always mended their clothing ("make do and mend" was a real thing!), I can honestly say I never thought to mend clothing until I wore vintage.  If a shirt got a hole in it when I was younger, I figured it was ruined and usually threw it out.  No longer!

Flashback Summer - Fashion Revolution 2016: I Mend My Clothes

Fixing garments, I've found, is a unique skill.  It's not exactly the same as sewing a garment.  It takes some ingenuity and creativity!

The 1930s and 40s were especially good at clever mending fixes due to poverty and war shortages.  They used mending tape embellishments to fix torn buttonholes and cover other flaws.  They embroidered over flaws and dyed garments to cover stains.  If you'd like some vintage mending inspiration, here are a few of my favorite examples and resources:

1940s Darning from Colette
"How to Mend After Moth"
"How to Patch an Overall" by Mrs. Sew and Sew

Flashback Summer - Fashion Revolution 2016: I Mend My Clothes

So, here are my action steps for today:

Flashback Summer - Fashion Revolution 2016: I Mend My Clothes


How do you guys feel about mending?  Have you learned any useful tips or have any favorite mending resources?

6 comments

  1. Great posting! Mending is very important to me because I make all of my clothing. For all the heart, soul and effort I put into my togs...they're gettin' mended!
    I never can wait patiently for your next post!

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    1. Haha, well thanks so much, Krystie! I make a lot of my clothing, too, so I TOTALLY understand! ("That took me WEEKS to make! Fix it!!!")

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  2. So here's my thing about mending: if I can't make it invisible, I really have a hard time making myself wear it with a visible mend. I mend my kids clothes, my husband's clothes, darn my stockings, (either with a proper darning stitch or with zig-zag on the machine, depending on how lazy I feel), wear shoes until they fall apart, so I know how, but there are certain types of mends that are really difficult to do these days and not have it visible (torn holes in clothing being one). I find that t-shirt material has gotten so cheap and thin in almost every retailer (from "heritage" brands down to the fast fashion ones) that it is hard to mend the holes that appear almost from the start. I try to buy t-shirts and other knits second hand as older versions seem to hold up better.

    I've just noticed there are some fabric recycling places starting to pop up around me, where you send your worn out stuff and they weigh it and you can get paid by the pound. I understand H&M has also started a textile recycling program, which helps me feel better about throwing out my boys' pants when I can't mend the knees any more and they really don't need another pair of shorts made from them.

    It is a hard thing, figuring out how to be responsible with textiles, wherever you enter the stream. I'm finding this series quite interesting--thanks for sharing your thoughts!!

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    1. That's very true, I have trouble sometimes when the mend can't be invisible. I don't really go for the patchy, hobo look (although some people rock it), so I like things more subtle when I'm mending. But you're right, there are lots of other ways to reuse the clothes! I've made pillows out of old t-shirts, used old clothes to make quilts, potholders, all sorts of things! Even "icky", cheap fabric often gets turned into a muslin test run for some other garment.

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  3. Lovely post on the time honoured art of mending, Emileigh. So true about the importance of carrying a wee sewing kit with you. I have one of those itty-bitty hotel style ones in my wallet and will usually take a slightly bigger/better version with me when I travel for any length of time. I've sewn buttons back on while I wear still wearing a blouse, tacked up a fallen hem in a ladies room, and used a safety pin to temporary hold up a broken zipper all thanks to having such with me. :)

    Big hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Yes! It's a very real, necessary skill when wearing vintage. Like... learn or be embarrassed, haha!

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