2023 Sustainable mend and maintain-along ♻️

[Annchen (Ann)]

New year, new thread! What do you want to mend this year?

In this craft along we try to take care of what we have by mending and caring for garments and other belongings. After spending all that time crafting, it’s nice to take care of and make them last. Plus, it’s like a bonus round of crafting! While we’re at it we might learn new skills, and hopefully have fun with it!

It might seem like overkill to spend time and effort mending storebought items that are easy and cheap to replace. However, while fast fashion is cheap it is not sustainable.

No matter your level of skill or ambition you are welcome to the craft along!

[Annchen (Ann)]

Links and resources

Mend and maintain for a sustainable 2020

We all love creating, but what happens after that? Did you wear a hole in those comfy socks? Did critters munch on your favourite cardigan? Did the lovingly crafted wooden spoon take too many rides in the dishwasher? Loved items see some wear and tear, but if we can craft it - we can mend it! [image] And we don’t have to stop at the handcrafts either. I’ve darned storebought socks and mysterious holes in cotton t-shirts. I’ve needle felted holes and worn patches on machine knitted garments. …

2021 Sustainable mend-along

If we want this planet and its resources to last we need to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. What better way than to DIY it? By mending and maintaining what we already have we can reduce what we buy. If we keep our things in shape we can reuse them for years to come. As a last resort - recycle, or upcycle! [image] And doesn’t it feel good to mend what you once created to be able to use it longer? And we don’t have to stop at the handcrafts either. I’ve darned storebought socks and mysteriou…

2022 Mend and maintain-along

[image] Ready for a sustainable new year? It’s fun to make or buy something new, but in order to preserve resources we need to take care of what we already have. Make each item or garment last, and be ready to care for it during its entire ”lifetime”. Also, mending can be fun, I promise! Sure, it might seem a bit bonkers to spend time and effort mending storebought items that are easy and cheap to replace. However, while fast fashion is cheap it is not sustainable. But never fear, no one is…

theorispresent https://instagram.com/theorispresent?igshid=g7ywu4s3sj7y
If you have ever wondered where all those second hand clothes go. Sadly, some of it might end up on a beach or landfill in Ghana.

ajabarber https://instagram.com/ajabarber?igshid=3w04ajglb13y
Writes about sustainable fashion, and on her Patreon she also helps people buy better. A lot of inspiration and food for thought on the instagram too.

Tutorials and inspiration

I did an invisible mend!

Well, sort of… One of my dang-they’re-so-cosy-slippers was getting tired. So I decided to mend it. But hey, you can’t see the damage anymore which makes it an invisible mend right? ;-D [IMG_3684]

Tutorial: Mending a hole using duplicate stitch

Mending hand knits is an important skillset for a knitter and for anyone enjoying to wear handknits. Too much love goes into each stitch not to try mending the garment if there’s a hole. [image] Case in point. This lovely mohair sweater was made by my mother in law. Unfortunately I found a hole in the front of it one day. As luck would have it there was just a single yarn break, and due to the sticky nature of the yarn nothing had unravelled yet. Can you see the break? [image] This one is …

Mending a shattered mug handle

This mug, made by a local potter friend, has been in my daily tea rotation for aproximately fifteen years! So when I broke the handle off (and into three pieces), I resigned myself to using it for pencils or something. However, the Mend and Maintain craftalong gave me the boost of inspiration I needed to rejuvenate my old favorite. [IMG_0668] I used gorilla glue to put the pieces back together - and they seem to hold well under a reasonable amount of pressure. (The first time I t…

Darn it! A tutorial

Who in their right mind mends storebought socks? Ahem, that would be me… But only if I happen to like the socks. I’ve also darned annoying tiny holes in t-shirt fabric. However, this works for handknitted (or machine knitted) items too, you would just use matching yarn instead of thread. You will need: A holey or worn item Embroidery floss A needle. A blunt one is easier for weaving while a sharp one might be easier for creating the ”warp”. Something hard to keep the fabric tension and avoid …

Reverse Applique - 4 different methods - Sew Guide

How to hem jeans while keeping the original hem:

How to Hem Jeans While Keeping Original Hem

Master Denim Repair & Jeans Restoration with Indigo Proof

Re-soling slippers:

How to Resole Slippers

Visible Mending: Darning Cuffs — Collingwood-Norris

[Annchen (Ann)]

Monthly challenges

January challenge - First
Show your first mend of the year or try something for the first time.

February challenge -
Oops, forgot to create a february challenge

March challenge - 15 minute mend
What can you fix in 15 minutes? Make a dent in the mending pile one quick fix at the time.

April challenge - Shoes
Give your shoes some TLC! It could be as simple as replacing the shoelaces or applying some shoe polish.

[Magpie (Straight, not narrow 🏳️‍🌈 🇨🇦 🌎)]

Thanks for all the terrific links!

All our sweaters have holes, I have a LOT of mending to do

[AntBee (Jen)]

Thanks for setting this up!

I did my first mend the other day on the ‘22 board, but there’s way more where that came from lol

[Annchen (Ann)]

Thanks! I’ll go through the previous threads and add some more. I’ve fond some good ones among the popular links in previous mend-alongs.

[tendstowardschaos (Erin)]

It’s nothing fancy, but my winter boots were getting uncomfortable so I replaced the insoles. They’re a few years old, but the soles and leather (and waterproofing) are still in great shape.

My DH got me a mending loom for Christmas! I don’t have anything to mend yet, but I’m ready.

[Magpie (Straight, not narrow 🏳️‍🌈 🇨🇦 🌎)]

Ooohhh! I have been ogling that thing, please let us know what you think of it?

[Annchen (Ann)]

Oh! I’d love to try one of those!

[photojenn (Jenn)]

I haven’t seen one of those before, how does it work? Is it for mending knitted items?

[AIMR (Linda -2023 is a use the good stuff year! :us:)]

So great! You must have been on the nice list!

[tendstowardschaos (Erin)]

It’s used like a tiny weaving loom. I would only use this for non-stretchy things.

[AIMR (Linda -2023 is a use the good stuff year! :us:)]

I have watched that video so many times…I think it means I am meant to get one…I would repair every hole .

[photojenn (Jenn)]

Ah, cool!

I didn’t know there was a loom I didn’t have

[tendstowardschaos (Erin)]

I also find it surprising that you don’t own one.

[kayrun]

wow, sounds like a great gift that I’ve never heard of!
I’ll have to go find out how it works~ (oh, I see the video below!)
This is why I love this site == always learning new stuff!

[AntBee (Jen)]

Question, menders:

If you have a knit sweater (75% wool 25% polymide) with holes in it would you wash it first then mend or mend first then wash or does it matter? It is 23+ years old if that matters.
Thanks!

[Immaculata]

Do you think the fabric will fray? I usually prefer mending a clean item but you don’t want to make the situation worse.

[Magpie (Straight, not narrow 🏳️‍🌈 🇨🇦 🌎)]

I am working on similar now. I washed on gentle in a mesh bag & laid flat to dry to get the least distorted shape to begin with. It still tightened up a little but Rob’s trying to shed a few post-holiday lbs anyhow. Maybe his fave Mr Roger’s being snug will encourage him? That’s what I tell myself, anyhow.

[Immaculata]

My nightdress has a lace border and tonight I noticed it had come loose. I didn’t take a lot of supplies to our little house in the woods but I did take a needle and thread so time for a bit of hand sewing tonight (it’s only 2 or 3 inch luckily).