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Looking After Your Clothes: i. Basic Mending Techniques

Writer's picture: JoannaJoanna

For your clothes to last longer and be worn more often, it's beneficial to know a few easy mending tricks and have a basic sewing kit on hand. Minor damages like small holes can occur unexpectedly, whether from fabric snags or poorly sewn seams, even in high-quality garments.


For travel, consider preparing a practical BASIC KIT with the following items:


  • Include cotton/polyester REELS in a shade that matches or is slightly darker than your most frequently worn everyday clothes.

  • Pack small, sharp sewing SCISSORS.

  • Have a BAG with the spare BUTTONS that are usually found on the inside of shirts/cardigans/coats/jackets, when purchased.

  • Include a variety of NEEDLES in different sizes, ranging from fine for silk/cashmere to thick for bulkier woollens.

  • Don't forget a small box or cushion of PINS for securing seams.


Coloured Thread on Reels - How to mend Clothes

BUTTON SEWING:

  • Ensure the thread colour matches the button fastenings.

  • Select the appropriate needle size.

  • Double the thread, knot and start from under the button, from the inner side of the garment.

  • For a sew-through button with four holes, sew from one hole to the opposite side five times, then criss-cross over five times through the other two holes (creating a criss-cross pattern on top of the button).

  • Wrap the thread around the existing thread, between the button and the garment, a few times.

  • Secure the thread underneath the garment to finish.


SOCK OR WOOLLEN GARMENT DARNING:

  • Match the thread colour to the fabric (slightly darker if an exact match isn't available).

  • Weave a mesh by using a loose running stitch back and forth across the hole area, sewing at right angles.

  • Loosely fasten on and off to prevent fabric pulling.


HEM MENDING:

  • Begin by ironing the hem to create a clear line where the hem should be.

  • Sew down any loose ends of the existing thread, where it has unravelled.

  • Match the mending thread colour to the existing thread, as closely as possible.

  • Start the thread from the underside, overlapping the unravelled stitching.

  • Use an 'invisible' stitch by picking up a few threads on the outside of the hem and longer stitches on the inside.

  • Secure the thread when you have created an overlap with the existing stitching.





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