The Art of Repair

by Molly Martin

For Molly Martin, it all started with a pair of socks. Her favourite pair. When the heels became threadbare, her mother got out her darning mushroom and showed her how to reinforce the thinning stitches and bring them back to life. She has been stitching and darning ever since.

In The Art of Repair, Molly explores the humble origins of repair and how the act of mending a cherished item carefully by hand offers not just a practical solution but nourishment for the soul. Using her own beautiful illustrations, she guides us through the basics of the craft - from piecing and patching to the ancient Japanese art of Sashiko.

This book will stay with you long after you put down your needle and thread. It offers an antidote to our increasingly disposable lifestyle, encouraging us to reconnect not just with the everyday objects in our environment but also with ourselves.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference, Sewing, Art, Sustainability, Fashion

144 pages, Hardcover

Published March 4, 2021

Reviews

[Cecile · Rating 5 out of 5]

“To repair something (anything) in the modern world is a defiant act”

The sweetest lil book that believes in caring for the things we love with a big, tender heart (and some good needle and thread)

[Saffron Garey · Rating 2 out of 5]

More Art than Repair. Pretty but short on info.

[Sophy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really lovely book extolling the virtues of repairing and mending, instead of constantly consuming in our throw-away society.

This will interest anyone who is interested in crafting, whether it be knitting, crochet, sewing.

Molly delivers good written instruction (with accompanying illustrations) on how to repair clothing using different stitching methods. The origins of these methods are global, from India to Japan to Native America.

There are some lovely stories in here as well from crafters on how they have restored clothing, linen, blankets etc, and what the original item means to their owner.

A really wholesome book. I loved it.

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. Beautifully illustrated by Martin, this is as much of a work of art as the repair work she is writing about. Martin makes the case for repairing things for historical, emotional and practical reasons. She illustrates her argument with case studies from her own work, from other artists who work in similar ways, from textile historians and from items that are in museums and art collections. She intersperses these stories with how to guides demonstrating different mending techniques. There is so much to love about this book.

[Breezy Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy short reminder of the life cycle a garment or piece of fabric can and should have. The author does an nice job of introducing different methods from around the world to mend clothes in order to increase the sentimental value of a garment while also highlighting the detrimental effects of the fast fashion industry.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle but forceful book focused as much on WHY to mend things more than how. But she also provides straightforward techniques to accomplish repairs. Beautiful illustrations. A book to read more than once.

[Susanna Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/4
a lovely book on why to repair clothes but not as much instruction as I was expecting, by the title

[Karina Geddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

read it in 10 hours ... after an embroidery burnout I'm inspired again

[Lou Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only problem with this book was I just didn't want it to end! For me, Molly hit just the right note: a fine balance of history, practical tips and illuminating anecdotes.
Now to tackle that old summer dress that has been tucked away because I couldn't bear to throw it out!

[Sarah Rudkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s beautifully written, but the author references a lot of other work and others writings and examples without photos so I ended up googling a lot of images. I bought it as a resource so I was a little bummed it wasn’t more explanatory with step by step photos. But that wasn’t the purpose of the book so my fault I guess. Still I b just found it a bit lacking.

[Philippa Foxx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book! She illustrated it too and it is just so full of love. As well as that it is full of fascinating history and human stories. Such an amazing gift!

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently attended a Zoom class with the author, and was so charmed by the way she talks about textiles and mending as both a meditation and anti-consumption.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Less about the how to of mending things than I was hoping for, but some interesting textiles history.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely more art than repair. The illustrations and anecdotes are lovely and inspiring, but the instructions are sparse at best.

[Asavari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read other books on the same topic which do a better job and are more practical, but I like the examples you can tell from her writing that Martin really does care and mean what she says.

[kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are things I enjoyed and disliked about this book. I went into it expecting it to be a guide on how to mend, but it is more so about the stories of mended items with a little bit of help at the end. I didn't know that going into it, but the more I read the more I enjoyed it. The other thing I disliked was that there was no citations. There was a part that talked about the origin on needles, specifically ones that were y shaped with no eye hole yet and I can't find anything about that when I tried searching. I just wish I knew where the author got some of their information from, especially when it comes to the history portion. I really liked that I got introduced to some new forms of mending though, especially kantha! There were a couple of mending/upcycling techniques that I had never heard about from different parts of the world, and that was super cool to learn about. I also ended up really enjoying learning about the stories behind mended pieces (even thought it wasn't what I was expecting going into it which is most likely my fault). I am the only person I know that mends and feels so strongly about mending, so it was nice to feel the same energy from someone else. Sometimes I feel lonely in the fact that I spend so much time repairing my clothes and that a lot of people would just give up on them. It is nice to know that I am not alone and that there are others like me :)

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

To avoid feeding online stores, and knowing that I find great pleasure in "hunting" down books out of print or second-hand editions, my husband commissioned me to get a copy of The Art of Repair by Molly Martin. Therefore, I knew exactly what was in the mail yesterday.

A little unfortunate for my husband, though, for I started reading right away. By now I have darned five holes in an old towel, one of them twice to make up for my impatient work on the third attempt, and expanded my mindset of how easily you can break out of fast-fashion and re-unite with your clothing, blankets, cushions and bedding.

The book reads like a collection of short stories, and technically that's what it is. Many patches of personal experience and exhibitions of work stitch together something that is part life-style, part meditation technique, part sewing. As such, the "manuals" are sparing in technicalities, but throughout this book I was so encouraged to find my own way of mending; to regard it more an art than a chore. Therefore, it's really been enough to get an idea of what needs to be done and how to execute it.

I won't pretend that this opened me to a new hobby (yet). But it certainly taught me something to do when I need to disconnect from the world at large, send my mind on vacation and reward myself with a little piece of handiwork well done afterwards.

[Ape · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been slow reading this book over the last few weeks. It was and wasn't what I was expecting, but it has been very interesting and inspirational. There weren't as many examples/projects/guides on how to do different types of fixes or different ways on tackling the same repair. But there's some advice. There's also pieces on different types of repair styles from across the world, historical pieces in museums, projects and items Martin has worked on in the past and so on. Also a lot of reflection on why we should repair, why it's not always a bad thing for the repair work to show, and environmentally, we really need to be doing more of this. Fast, disposable fashion is so bad in so many ways.

I repair somethings - basically fabric that I can go at with the sewing machine. With anything knitted I feel a bit clueless to be honest, but having read this, I am wondering about having a go at a favourite cardi where the elbows are getting very thin. There are some examples in here I could work off.

Wondering if you dare fix something? Will it look rubbish? Maybe you won't bother? Well, ask yourself this: are you going to throw it in the bin/fabric recycling? Why not give that repair a go first. You might surprise yourself.

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent little book. Simple yet eloquent. Informative and emotive at once.

This concise, well-written text beautifully conveys the emotive resonance of textiles, the role they play in our lives and the psychological and environmental value found in repairing them. Guides for simple repair methods are provided alongside shared stories about individual garments and examples of practices of repair in different cultures. All this is supported by photographs as well as lovely illustrations by the author-artist.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the history of sewing and mending provided as well as the inclusion of many cultures. I wish the example pictures were better though. The idea of tears and worn fabrics having a story to tell is cool, and I love the idea of saving my clothes instead of the “fast fashion” way of getting rid of them. The explanations on mending techniques were pretty good; I can’t wait to use them on some mending I’ve saved to practice on.

[Sydney Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cool book! A short read that I really enjoyed and I especially liked the environmental message in it as well. I was given this book as a gift and it’s sat on my shelf for over a year, wish I had picked it up sooner! I’m hoping to get into mending and repair this year so this was both useful and inspiring. It’s not really a guide so I’ll have to look elsewhere for actual instructions but it was a nice summary of different ideas.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a mending geek so I ate this book up. I like that it was a bit like a coffee table book, short writing segments and images. I like the pictures they put for you to familiarize yourself with different stitches. I also enjoyed hearing about the different mending techniques. Now I will have to google videos on how they execute these stitches.

[Irene Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful - it is as much a collection of stories about mending though history and around the world as it is a book of techniques.

Not only will it teach you the basics of mending, it will make you want to pick up needle and thread.

[Lisa Citron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book, and fascinating- I especially loved reading about textile repair throughout history. It's also relaxing to just read about the thoughtful act of repair, as so much seems to need mending these days.

[Roben]

Bravo! Could not appreciate or love more than this ancient resource brought into our modern world. The book itself as well as the text and illustrations are elegant and inspiring. I now am enjoying the pile of mending that my grandmother took time for. The act itself is pure joy.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel-good book with a lot of references and practical tips, which are indeed very useful. This book is the type of books which makes you feel good and gives motivation to start repairing stuff in the house.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Love the way the author wove (get it??) basic mending instructions and technique through a history of mending, and display of artifacts through her own mending drawings and artwork. I borrowed this from the library but I may have to buy it!

[María José · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it was not what I was expecting, it was exactly what I needed at this point in my life. The stories and reflections are as important as the techniques. The art is amazing as well. I'm glad I got this book.

[Rebecca Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely stories of historical repairs from different cultures, which is what i really wanted from this book. Also, some practical application of mending the author has done, great for inspiration.

not really an instructional book, but a "this is why it's important, and how it's changed over time"

[Laurie Cybulski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book out of the library as a “How To” guide. It is Not that.

It’s a series of short essays about different techniques of mending and their histories. It wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t what I wanted.