It was delightful that so many people turned up to May’s meeting of the Big Mend, especially considering that the weather was so sultry. This month’s session is Wednesday June 27th at the Museum of Bath at Work and (rain or shine) we’ll be making the most of the long midsummer evening light, kicking off at the slightly later time of 7.30 and wrapping up at 9.30pm. All welcome! Just drop in any time with your mending bag.
There will definitely be jeans patching this time (there’s a wonderful example of this over on Tom of Holland’s blog which I’d highly recommend perusing), and I’ve been experimenting with woven yarn patches (see below) as an applied alternative to darning knitted garments. I’ll bring those along for a bit of show-and-tell. But feel free to bring anything at all textile-related that you want to repair (popped seams, burst buttons, droopy hems) and we’ll help you to fix it. Some basic tools and materials are on hand but try to bring what you know you’ll need (patch fabric or toning thread, for example).
woven patch looking for an elbow
More details about the Big Mend over here. There’s now a Flickr group you can join and post images of your mending triumphs or disasters and find images to inspire. Do take a look.
Serious menders will probably already be aware that the UK’s first mending research symposium convenes towards the end of the month in the Lake District; Mend*rs kicks off with a call to arms, a first National Mending Day on Friday 29th June. Count me in! Alas, it looks like I won’t be able to make it to the physical conference but will certainly be mending with the assembled gathering in spirit next Friday. A big thank you to Tom for telling me about the event.
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I love this idea, did you use any particular tutorials to create the patch?
Yes, Helen, I found this wonderful Chilean designer's site via Pinterest: http://blog.karenbarbe.com/2011/07/creative-mendi…
Though you can also try a different system of a wooden frame with close-set nails (I didn't quite have the technology – a cereal packet was much easier to obtain!): http://www.flickr.com/photos/esmecat/3704511665/i… Look through her images because the little woven sock patches are delightful. Both form an interesting alternative to darning. If you try it, let me know.
Thank you! I will go and have a look now
I think I've said it before, but I love those woven patches you made. Also, I keep meaning to experiment more with my vintage speedweve. Lancashire's smallest loom, no less! You can find them frequently on auction sites. I put some instructions for use on my blog: http://tomofholland.com/2011/06/23/the-speedweve-…
Thanks, Tom. Funnily enough, I took my Speed Weve to the last Big Mend. It's a fabulous little invention, isn't it? Bought mine a very long time ago and had no idea how it worked for about a decade! It wasn't the only darning machine of the twentieth century but possibly the most popular. Thanks for the link; your mend illustrates nicely what a tidy job can be made with it.