Visible Mending: Artful Stitchery to Repair and Refresh Your Favorite Things

by Jenny Wilding Cardon

Rip in your jeans? Snag in a sweater? Tear in a tea towel? They all present an opportunity for one-of-a-kind creativity! With this fun introduction to unconventional mending techniques in a format that's half how-to guide, half idea book, anyone can give worn and torn items new life.Start by learning hand-mending methods, including boro, embroidery, patching, and darning. Then rev up the sewing machine for fast mends that put the pedal to the metal. Even with a limited budget and not much time to spare, you can create eye-catching repairs with visible mending--35 examples and more than 150 photos make it easy to put your unique mark on everything you mend!Video

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Sewing, Art, How To, Reference

83 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2018

Reviews

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sulky threads produces one-hour webinars with focused projects to help sell their products. They recently partnered with Jenny Wilding Cardon on a visible mending webinar. During a 24 to 48-hour period of the initial broadcast you can order a webinar kit at a reduced price. This book was part of the webinar kit from Sulky.

Visible Mending: Artful Stitchery to Repair and Refresh Your Favorite Things covers four hand-mending techniques: boro, hand embroidery, patches, and darning. The last section is mending by machine. Cardon's book is a how-to-do for the beginner with ideas for the experienced sewer to explore. Many of the techniques are not new. I did repair my denim jeans with hand embroidery and colorful patches when I was a teen many years ago. Boro mending evolved from Japan during the early Edo period (1615–1868). However, it is refreshing to see that mending does not need to be hidden and it can become part of an embellishment if you want to extend the life of your textiles.

[Phaedra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic guide to repair, with many referrals to videos on the publisher's website for further instruction. If I was just going to look online for videos, I wouldn't need the book, and in truth I learned more from Instagram and Pinterest while I waited for my library hold to come in. Disappointing for all but the most beginner sewers with limited internet skills.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visible Mending is a great place to start if you are interested in learning to mend clothing. It’s a strait forward, practical, easy to understand manual for basic to intermediate mending. As a competent sewer, and Fiber artist who uses these skills to produce art, I turned to this book for a few tips on repairing items that receive wear and tear. The instructions and photo examples are clear and easy to follow.
You won’t find any discussion of the philosophical , ecological, or conceptual theories behind the mending movement here. As valuable as that conversation is, sometimes you just want to know how to repair a garment. This book gets straight to the how-to.

[The Geeky Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

A handy guide for basic mending techniques.

[Inger-Johanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like mending and most of the sewing I do is repairing worn clothes, so I knew most of the techniques already but did pick up some useful tips, e.g. about using a palm/ring thimble. However, I get a bit suspicious or impatient when so many of the photos in the book show mending done in very visible places where my clothes don't usually wear, but where it will look good in a photo. What about showing how to apply creative mending to the inner thighs of jeans, armpits or ruffled cuffs of shirts and sweaters, toes and heels of socks, and so on? Less delicate, perhaps, but it would have been more useful.

[Rachel]

I'm on a journey to be more sustainable in our everyday life, and in the clothing we wear. I have two boys that can be rough on their clothes! I've always repurposed their ripped and hole filled pants into shorts, but lately I've been thinking about mending more.

This book is divided into Boro stitching, hand embroidery, patching, darning and mending by machine. It is filled with photos and examples over the different categories and it got my wheels turning and left me inspired. Now to follow through and just to do it!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, clear and beautiful

I love the idea of valuing something that is imperfect, repaired -- this book has a philosophy of its own. It is also very practical, showing me exactly how to save my favorite garments and give them a longer life. The results are whimsical and lovely.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the author didn't do into great detail with some of the mending techniques, this is still a great little book. There are many examples of ways to creatively mend your clothes and other cloth items I especially like the ways to mend jeans since I like to make mine look unique, but don't have the money for designer jeans.

[Joanie Whittemore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping to learn many techniques of visible mending in this book, but was let down in the end. This book is a very simple repair guide for beginners in sewing. Lots of links to videos on the publisher's site…just wish the information from those external links could have been in this book to begin with.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource for mending or covering stains by adding fabric, thread, embroidery or yarn. There's a nice variety of methods covered. Perfect timing since I have a fairly new t-shirt with a stain I haven't been able to get out. =)

[Lauren Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great sustainability title perfect for a novice like myself. I feel empowered to take on this challenge ... after buying embroidery supplies. The book both instructs and inspires. I also cheer on all who go this route and am looking forward to seeing it on display around the world.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

nonfiction (stitchery/mending)
Well done guide to different mending techniques, beautifully photographed, with instructions on boro stitching, embroidery, patches, darning, and mending by machine.

[Ceil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, the examples were great. But, I have spent my life trying to make my mending invisible and I don't know if I can change now.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great guide. It's clear and concise with easy explanations and great pics. And it covers working with fabrics in addition to or instead of denim which is very helpful.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many clever stitch ideas to visibly mend, or just decorate, items.

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! A mending book that covers knit fabrics as well as woven! I appreciate her clarity and plentiful examples that double as inspiration.

[Halfdime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Other books have better instructions on how to mend.

[Karima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mainly hand, but also machine methods.
Very creative ideas!

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the contents of this book.
There's a nice directory of stiches.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4/5 not thorough, just kind of jumps in and assumes you already have basic knowledge.

[Victoria S Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have looked at a few of these visible mending books and so far this is the best. Really enjoyed it.

[Krista]

a little repetitive and it lacked knitwear men's that would have been helpful.

[Andrea Kappes]

Useful resource.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy quick read. Personal experience of a mender! Lots of colorful pictures and designs.

[Laurla2]

-i wish the book was longer or had a LOT more examples. i loved the idea, but perhaps my tastes are just too picky for the examples given.