I tapped into my long-dormant sewing skills (honed in Brownies and Guides in the 70s!) during the pandemic and became fearless about repairing my damaged items. I hemmed a pair of pants recently and also moved a button on my Issey Miyaki jacket back to where it was supposed to be. My rule is, Don’t do it unless you’re willing to ruin it. I’ve cut shoes, moved buttons and taken in seams, and it’s mostly been successful!
Awww Brownies - you might be interested to know that I still have my Brownie uniform - my mom had kept it and sent it to me when my daughter was little and she would use it for dressup - she was a Brownie for Halloween one year 😀🤎 I also follow this rule and if I’d be upset, I bring it to professionals!
You still have your uniform?? Wow! I love that your daughter dressed up in it for Hallowe’en, ha ha! I kept all my badges…I think they are in a box somewhere. I had over 30 in Brownies (classic keener/overachiever), and close to that in my 2 years in Guides.
I rarely take things to a professional, after I had a Jean-Charles de Castelbajac jumpsuit hemmed. It was such a shitty job, and they didn’t even give me the 6 inches of fabric they’d chopped off. I wish I’d hemmed it myself, in retrospect.
I recently tried to save a duvet cover - one of the button holes had torn, and another button had ripped out completely. I solved those problems, even though I’m not a very confident sewist (although buying and slowly working on an embroidery craft kit has helped me feel more comfortable with a needle and thread). However, after doing that, I noticed that ALL the button holes had gotten baggy (which lead to duvet cover working itself fully open every night) and that was just more work than I’m willing to take on. So I bought a new one and will be using the old one as a drop cloth. I feel good that I tried, though!
I am definitely on team mend, but like you I do tend to put my mending off to the last minute. I do love seeing those social media clips of people doing beautiful decorative mending.
This is inspiring me to get to a few items in my closet! I have a sleeveless denim button up that needs a button sewn back on (truthfully, the delay is that I have never sewn a button back on before 😂). I also have a few sweaters that need de pilling and a leather bag that a candy melted in (cleaning tips welcome)!
Yay! Sewing buttons on is one of my least favorite mending activities, but once you actually do it, you'll wonder why it took you so long 😅 and sweater depilling is so satisfying. If the bag has a cloth lining, can it be pulled outwards? If so, I would pull it out and try to scrape off as much of the candy as possible, then soak the area in some warm water with detergent or dish soap for a few minutes, followed by scrubbing at the area with a cloth that has the detergent or dish soap on it, followed by rinsing. If the lining is attached, using a wet cloth with some soap on it, gently rub at the area until it comes off, this would be easier if the bag can be turned inside out. This would hopefully get the candy residue off. However, if the bag is expensive or has a high sentimental value to you, I would get it professionally cleaned.
I've been on a darning kick, as some of my favourite socks have developed quite significant holes :( Thanks for sharing your techniques...I don;t often get pulls on knits but when I do I struggle to fix them...I used to bring them to my mum like the spoilt child I was. I'm also quite tempted to put a shearing jacket in the washing machine as I've seen people do that but I haven't worked up the nerve haha. It doesn't have a smell but the shearling bit looks a bit yellowed...
Darning socks is something that I need to get better at! And if my mom lived closer, I would do the exact same thing 😅 Working up the nerve is the hardest part. I think that you just have be in a place with it where you’ll be ok of something goes wrong. But I’ve washed quite a few items made from leather and suede (handbags, clothing) and they’ve turned out fine. However, if I’d be devastated if it got ruined, I’d have it professionally cleaned.
I tapped into my long-dormant sewing skills (honed in Brownies and Guides in the 70s!) during the pandemic and became fearless about repairing my damaged items. I hemmed a pair of pants recently and also moved a button on my Issey Miyaki jacket back to where it was supposed to be. My rule is, Don’t do it unless you’re willing to ruin it. I’ve cut shoes, moved buttons and taken in seams, and it’s mostly been successful!
Great tips here, Gillian!💕
Awww Brownies - you might be interested to know that I still have my Brownie uniform - my mom had kept it and sent it to me when my daughter was little and she would use it for dressup - she was a Brownie for Halloween one year 😀🤎 I also follow this rule and if I’d be upset, I bring it to professionals!
You still have your uniform?? Wow! I love that your daughter dressed up in it for Hallowe’en, ha ha! I kept all my badges…I think they are in a box somewhere. I had over 30 in Brownies (classic keener/overachiever), and close to that in my 2 years in Guides.
I rarely take things to a professional, after I had a Jean-Charles de Castelbajac jumpsuit hemmed. It was such a shitty job, and they didn’t even give me the 6 inches of fabric they’d chopped off. I wish I’d hemmed it myself, in retrospect.
I still have the sash too but couldn't tell you how many badges there are without going and looking but I don't think it was 30!
Oof, that sucks!!
I recently tried to save a duvet cover - one of the button holes had torn, and another button had ripped out completely. I solved those problems, even though I’m not a very confident sewist (although buying and slowly working on an embroidery craft kit has helped me feel more comfortable with a needle and thread). However, after doing that, I noticed that ALL the button holes had gotten baggy (which lead to duvet cover working itself fully open every night) and that was just more work than I’m willing to take on. So I bought a new one and will be using the old one as a drop cloth. I feel good that I tried, though!
You most definitely should! And sometimes a repair is just not worth it - I hope you enjoy your new duvet cover!
I am definitely on team mend, but like you I do tend to put my mending off to the last minute. I do love seeing those social media clips of people doing beautiful decorative mending.
Me too! My mending projects could never compare 😅
This is inspiring me to get to a few items in my closet! I have a sleeveless denim button up that needs a button sewn back on (truthfully, the delay is that I have never sewn a button back on before 😂). I also have a few sweaters that need de pilling and a leather bag that a candy melted in (cleaning tips welcome)!
Yay! Sewing buttons on is one of my least favorite mending activities, but once you actually do it, you'll wonder why it took you so long 😅 and sweater depilling is so satisfying. If the bag has a cloth lining, can it be pulled outwards? If so, I would pull it out and try to scrape off as much of the candy as possible, then soak the area in some warm water with detergent or dish soap for a few minutes, followed by scrubbing at the area with a cloth that has the detergent or dish soap on it, followed by rinsing. If the lining is attached, using a wet cloth with some soap on it, gently rub at the area until it comes off, this would be easier if the bag can be turned inside out. This would hopefully get the candy residue off. However, if the bag is expensive or has a high sentimental value to you, I would get it professionally cleaned.
Oh, good tip, Gillian! Thank you! I’m going to try that. I swear the mending is on my list this week. 🤣❤️
I've been on a darning kick, as some of my favourite socks have developed quite significant holes :( Thanks for sharing your techniques...I don;t often get pulls on knits but when I do I struggle to fix them...I used to bring them to my mum like the spoilt child I was. I'm also quite tempted to put a shearing jacket in the washing machine as I've seen people do that but I haven't worked up the nerve haha. It doesn't have a smell but the shearling bit looks a bit yellowed...
Darning socks is something that I need to get better at! And if my mom lived closer, I would do the exact same thing 😅 Working up the nerve is the hardest part. I think that you just have be in a place with it where you’ll be ok of something goes wrong. But I’ve washed quite a few items made from leather and suede (handbags, clothing) and they’ve turned out fine. However, if I’d be devastated if it got ruined, I’d have it professionally cleaned.
Shoe polishing and knit shaving is my favorite closet care activity. I find them so meditative and calming 😌👌🏻
Ooo, yes! Knit shaving is one of the most satisfying things!