Mending, Mending, Mending...
You know those times when you seem to be constantly doing things, but feeling like nothing gets done? That's what sewing had been a bit like lately. I've got no interesting projects and finished items to show, but I seem to be constantly sewing!
Much of it has been mending…what am I saying, its all been mending! Why is it that the seams seem to go on new clothes after just a few wears these days? I've been stitching up knickers, bras and socks every other day, it feels like. Don't worry, I'll spare you photos of my handiwork.
A really long winded project was fixing my husband's carp fishing, landing net after rats had chewed holes in it. I didn't time it, but I'm guessing it was easily 10 hours of work over several days...weeks... The first attempts were a bit messy, but I figured out my approach after the first couple of holes.
Now I'm back doing sashiko on a pair of jeans I'd thought finished for a while. The thing with jeans when they start to wear through and get holes, is that it's really not just that one area wearing through. More and more holes start to appear and they'll just tear straight across if left. So I've decided to extend the pattern right up to the top of the leg and because I know I won't have enough of the same colour to reach all that way, I may as well blend and move it into different colours.
It started out in yellows, so I'm taking it through orange towards red, with a gradual change over. I've been using three threads for the stitching, so the first few circles I replaced one yellow thread with an orange. Now I'm onto two orange threads with one yellow and nearly ready to go full orange. I should have enough of the red embroidery thread to do a slow merge to red before using some red thread salvaged from the feed bags.
I've not decided whether to carry the embroidery on down the lower leg yet, as that part isn't as worn as the upper leg. If I do, I might go into green that way and make it a rainbow. It could fit with the camo patch I have on one leg. Alternatively, I could take the yellow through the patch and then merge to orange again.
Then there's two more pairs of jeans back on the mending pile for the same reason as these, a dressing gown I want to extend the life of and a growing pile of other jeans I haven't even started on yet...
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I like the circular patterning on the jeans. Looks cute and fun.
If you tear a new hole in a net, it has fewer holes.
That's a new way to solve a problem. If you make one big hole, then that must mean you have less to sew up...
I am now inspired to take on some mending that has been waiting in my sewing pile.
Inspired sounds good. As long as it wasn't just reminding you that you have a sewing pile to get through! 🤣
You mean my all the time? :D
Those worn out jeans are going to look epic when you've finished rejuvenating it XD
I really should actually start working on my mending pile, I no longer have the excuse of not being able to find the sewing stuff as not only did we go out and buy a gigantic sewing box that is nearly impossible to misplace, it also has supplies in it
You're not supposed to undermine your excuses! 🤣 Our spare room has become the dreaded dumping ground where nothing can be found without an expedition being mounted. I think I'm doing great getting through repairs to get them out of there and back in use, then I realise I'm hoarding every piece of old clothing, including those second hands ones given to us, in case I can use them to make new things. I have so many ideas and not enough time to work on them. 😩
Oh my god, that sashiko looks freaking awesome!!!!!! So impressed. I didn't know that that was what it was called - is it the name of the stitch or the circling or what?
Sashiko is the embroidery style. Basically it's a running stitch, so good for doing large areas quicker than fancier embroidery, while still looking decorative. I think it was originally a mending technique for worn fabrics, but I've seen it used for patterning on newer clothes too.
It looks great. You see that stitch on throws made out of old saris...
Interesting that you mention saris. I recently saw a project where they make skirts for resale from old saris. All that beautiful fabric to work with sounds amazing too! 😁
Yes, gorgeous - the silk ones would be tough to work with!
I've never worked with silk. Anything like chiffon, organza and satin do you think?
What are you doing, Mini? Asking me sewing questions? I was only pretending to know what I was talking about - jeez, don't make me make actual conversation including fabric types - eeek!!!! 😀😀😀
Gosh, you really sounded like you knew the biz! I bet you're great at interviews! 🤣
Mending things seems pretty much to be part of life. I love what you are doing here; reminds me of the Japanese artform of Kintsugi; where the mending of something is actually an honoring of a treasured item.
Bright Blessings!
Sashiko seems to be the clothing version of Kintsugi. It's lovely that these visible forms of mending are coming back into the limelight.
I love all the designs they look spectacular and out of the ordinary! Greetings!
Thank you. I do enjoy creating the patterns.