flyingfish1 reblogged
Repairing holes in knitting
flyingfish1 reblogged
I fully understand everything that is going on here and could probably do it but it would take me like three hours and as such I’m calling Witchcraft.
Source: reddit.com
flyingfish1 reblogged
Resources for Mending Clothes
We toss out over 80 pounds of textiles each year. These textiles are often made of plastic materials (polyester, nylon), made in unethical conditions, dyed with harsh dyes that often get put into the rivers, etc. Even a single cotton shirt releases carbon emissions and uses tons of water.
So the best thing to prevent the unsustainable growth of the fashion industry is to make sure that your clothing lasts as long as possible. To do so, mending clothing is a must. So here are some resources to help you learn how to do various things, such as sewing a button, to tailoring clothes, or even upcycling old clothing into new styles.
These are just a few of the things that you can do in order to make sure that your clothing lasts for a long time. Nobody wants to keep buying new clothing, as it is expensive and wasteful.
So making alterations to your clothing, or fixing small holes hen you see them can be hugely beneficial to your wallet, to garment workers, and to the environment in the long term.
flyingfish1 reblogged
hey I've seen in the past you recommend embroidering the edges of fraying shirt cuffs and I love the look of it... but I can't figure out what kind of stitch is used? I tried looking on google and ur blog but didn't see it ):
Embroidering frayed sleeve cuffs
If I've got the right stitch in mind, it's the blanket stitch. Check Embroidery for Beginners for a text tutorial and Red Ted Art for a video tutorial. The blanket stitch is used to finish off raw edges, but can also be used in a decorative way.
You could also try a whipstitch, as demonstrated in text by The Spruce Crafts and in video by Rokolee DIY. It's usually used to sew two layers of fabric together, but can also be used as a decorative element.
A blanket stitch will be stronger, but will have a defined ridge which the whipstitch won't have.
(Image source) [ID: close-up on a cuff of a blue denim sleeve. The edge has been embroidered over in various colours of thread, using a blanket stitch with very little space between each stitch.]
(Image source) [ID: close-up on a blue denim pocket. The edges have been outlined with a blanket stitch in white thread with spaced out stitches.]
(Image source) [ID: a pink circle of felt fabric. The edges have been outlined in green thread using a whipstitch. Text: "© 2016 Oliver Rabbit".]
flyingfish1 reblogged
Hi!! Not sure if you've answered something similar before, but I have this jumper (purple turtleneck that fits perfectly it's basically my favourite jumper) that was a gift probably 8 years ago or so? and it's basically worn through at the elbows. No holes, but all the fluff of the yarn has worn off and you can see skin through it now, which kind of sucks. My parents think I should chuck it, but I'm sure there must be some way for me to repair it, and the rest of the jumper's fine. The only thing I can think of is knitting patches to go over the existing material, and I have some white 4ply that could do the job, but if you or your followers have any suggestions they'd be appreciated!
Love reading all your tips and tricks and I'm definitely going to be trying some of the diy sewing tutorials etc. when I have the time (and money for fabric)
Mending threadbare sweater elbows
You can absolutely mend that! :)
I've got a post on mending knit fabrics that has a bunch of techniques you could use to mend your sweater, like darning or patching and such.
Knitting patches for your sweater's an option. You can either knit separate patches and sew them onto your sweater, or knit them directly across the worn-out area. You can also use fabric patches.
(Image source) [ID: close-up on a heart-shaped red and black chequered patch sewn onto the elbow of a gray knit sweater.]
As you don't have a hole in your sweater yet, you can just cut out a patch of fabric and sew it across the worn-out area. Note that using woven fabric and non-stretchy stitches can alter how much the fabric around your elbow can stretch, so keep that in mind if the sweater relies on stretch to fit you.
If you'd rather knit or crochet your own patch, just sew it across the weakened fabric the same way you would for a fabric patch. Oddknits has good tutorials on how to figure out how to knit a certain shape, and plenty of fun shape ideas too.
If a hole develops before you can patch the sweater, make sure to run some yarn through the loose stitches around the edges of your hole before you sew on a patch. Knit fabric is made up of a bunch of loops: if one loop breaks, the entire fabric risks unravelling. Making sure the loose loops have something they can cling onto helps minimise this risk.
(Image source) [ID: close-up of a hole in a piece of beige knitting. The hole is in progress of being repaired by being knitted over with red thread.]
You can also knit across the weakened area instead of sewing a separate patch. This YouTube video by VeryPink Knits will show you how to knit across a hole. If you’re more of a written tutorial person, take a look at this Berroco article on knit patches.
If you're worried about your white patches standing out against the rest of the sweater, use your leftover yarn to do some embroidery in different spots on your sweater. This way, you're spreading your new design element (the colour white) out across your garment: this'll make it look like a conscious design choice rather than a mend.
flyingfish1 reblogged
Hey, I’m relatively new to sewing and mending. Do you have like,,, a baby step guide for beginners? Most things I find online say to use a stitch but won’t like,,, teach it to you.
Also what is a thimble for?? I know it’s a sewing thing but,,, why?
Sewing 101
Baby steps are important! We all have to start somewhere, after all. :)
Getting started:
Here's a few sewing 101 guides to get you started:
- How to thread a needle
- Hand-sewing: how to start and how to finish
- 5 basic hand-sewing stitches (start off with the backstitch)
- How to use a seam ripper
Once you know to do these things, you've got the basics of sewing by hand down and know how to undo mistakes with a seam ripper.
Practice on spare scraps of fabric at first until you feel confident enough to tackle a project, and start out small. Make your first project something that's easy and doesn't use a lot of fabric. It's okay if you mess up, because that's the best way to learn!
If you'd like to see more tutorials, check out my tutorial masterpost. Want to learn how to use a sewing machine? Check out this beginner's guide by Treasurie.
Thimbles:
As for thimbles, a thimble is a small protective device you wear on your finger while sewing by hand to protect your finger from getting pricked by your needle.
Abby Cox does a good job explaining what it's for and how to use one in her video about thimbles.
(Image source) [ID: five different types of thimbles: metal, rubber, plastic, leather, and an adjustable ring.]
flyingfish1 reblogged
[ID: a rip in a pair of jeans that has been patched with a black sock with a print of a dinosaur on it. The dinosaur is looking through the rip. Text: "I don't know who needs to know this but you can use patterned socks to mend holes in your clothes."]
Yup! You can use pretty much any fabric as long as it's a good match for the fabric of the original garment and as long as it's comfortable.
Thank you for the tag!
flyingfish1 reblogged
I noticed many of your visible mending suggestions utilize embroidery thread and I was wondering what your thoughts are on sewing thread vs embroidery thread. I have a TON of sewing thread but very little embroidery thread and to be honest I'd rather avoid buying more.
Using what you have is always better than buying more, both for your wallet and the planet. :)
Sewing thread versus embroidery floss
Sewing thread and embroidery floss have different functions: sewing thread is more commonly used for functional sewing while embroidery thread is more commonly used for decorative sewing. Sewing thread is (usually) stronger, but lacks luster. Embroidery floss is weaker, but has more sheen to it.
On top of that, floss usually comes in multiple strands you can split up which gives you more flexibility when it comes to thickness, while thread's a single line (unless you double-thread your needle).
There's no universal thread that's perfect for everything. You can sew with embroidery floss and embroider with sewing thread. Both techniques can be useful in certain circumstances and will result in different effects. Which one to use depends on your project and personal preferences.
flyingfish1 reblogged
^” Almost Exactly One Year Ago Today I Tried To Take My Own Life. The Emts Had To Cut Off My Pants But I Decided To Keep Them And Repaired Them With Bias Tape. I Call Them My Kintsugi Jeans “
^” My Child Requested “Flames In Space” For His Knee Mend.. “
^”Every Time This Dress Gets A Stain, I Fill It In With Fabric Markers”
^ “ First Time Mending, Hope It Holds Up! “
This is beautiful!
Thank you for tagging me!
This article is about r/Visiblemending, which is a great subreddit if you’re trying to get into mending.
If you’ve been following my blog, you may recognise some of the pictures I’ve posted as examples in this article. (Check out the article or my image sources to see the original Reddit posts.)
flyingfish1 reblogged
hi! i've seen your posts about mending jeans, do you have any suggestions for jeans that ripped at the butt? mine are old and the fabric is very thin now (a friend sowed a piece of fabric under the hole with her machine, but it tore after a while)... visible mending is very beautiful but not really appropriate for this kind of placing :/
anyways, thanks!
Mending jeans
I do!
While visible mending in this area can make for a cool design detail, not everyone's comfortable with drawing attention to their butt and that's totally fine.
Check out my previous post on mending jeans in the crotch/butt area to see a compilation of ideas on how to mend this spot in more subtle ways. My jeans tag might also prove helpful for other future mends.
Feel free to let me know if you still have questions after browsing through those posts.
flyingfish1 reblogged
Visible Mending
Introduction:
Visible mending is a decorative way to fix up an item. Instead of trying to make your mend as invisible as possible, the idea is to make it part of the garment's design.
Visual mending is not a single technique: it's more of a mindset. If you've got an item you love, it deserves to be mended, and if you're going to put that love into stitches, why not show them off?
That being said, there are some specific techniques that are popular with visible menders. Let's take a look!
Sashiko:
Sashiko is a type of traditional Japanese embroidery that is used to both decorate and reinforce fabric. In visible mending, sashiko is often used to cover up holes with patches or to reinforce thinning fabric. This technique uses a variation on the running stitch.
Some resources on sashiko:
- SashiCo on YouTube: sashiko livestreams and information on the cultural aspect of sashiko.
- Written tutorial by Upcycle Stitches.
- Free sashiko templates by TheSpruceCrafts.
- Fixing jeans with sashiko by Soluna Collective.
Embroidery:
Regular embroidery is also a popular technique to accentuate your mends. Check out my embroidery 101 post to learn how to get started. You can embroider patches, or use embroidery to hide or accentuate any stitches you've made to fix holes. Embroidery's also a great way to cover up stains.
Patches:
There are many ways to add patches to a garment. My tutorial on patches is a good place to start if you want to make custom-shaped patches to sew on top of your fabric. You can also sew your patch on the inside of your garment and have it peek out from beneath the hole you're trying to fix. Fun ideas for this are lace or superheroes.
(Source)
Darning:
Darning is a technique used to repair holes in fabric by using running stitches to weave extra fabric over the hole as to fill it up again. While traditionally darning is done in an invisible way by using the same colour of thread as your fabric, you can also use contrasting colours to accentuate your fix. Check out this written tutorial on darning by TheSpruceCrafts.
Conclusion:
Visible mending is a creative way to fix up your clothes and give them some personality at the same time.
You should be proud of the fact that you took the time and learned the necessary skills needed to mend your clothes! Show off what you did!
A fun side effect of wearing these obvious mends is that people will notice them. They'll remember your fixes the next time they're faced with a hole in their wardrobe, and it will make them more likely to try it for themselves.
These are just a few ways to visibly mend your garments. Want more inspiration? Check out Pinterest or r/Visiblemending on Reddit.
flyingfish1 reblogged
Resources for Mending Clothes
We toss out over 80 pounds of textiles each year. These textiles are often made of plastic materials (polyester, nylon), made in unethical conditions, dyed with harsh dyes that often get put into the rivers, etc. Even a single cotton shirt releases carbon emissions and uses tons of water.
So the best thing to prevent the unsustainable growth of the fashion industry is to make sure that your clothing lasts as long as possible. To do so, mending clothing is a must. So here are some resources to help you learn how to do various things, such as sewing a button, to tailoring clothes, or even upcycling old clothing into new styles.
These are just a few of the things that you can do in order to make sure that your clothing lasts for a long time. Nobody wants to keep buying new clothing, as it is expensive and wasteful.
So making alterations to your clothing, or fixing small holes hen you see them can be hugely beneficial to your wallet, to garment workers, and to the environment in the long term.
***
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Many people have asked questions, so I decided that I should answer them to the best of my ability! So let’s see what people are asking!
How to make small clothes bigger, or short clothes longer
This question was asked a lot, for instance, Celestriankle and Drachenstocther are at least two users who asked this, and this is a great question! Often you see how to make large clothing smaller, but not the other way around.
Here are some resources on that:
Jeans/pants https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s4TnNcbgEU
Mostly this is done by just adding a wedge of extra fabric between the seams, and this can make youtr clothes last and fit you, even if you fluctuate in your weight.
Here is a resource about adding more butt to your pants:
When it comes to repairing the crotch of jeans, which is what anyone with thick thighs know all too well the irritation of, there are a few ways that you can do that. For instance:
This question was asked by user CleanLinens and Bovel.
One person, OnYourGoat, asked about resources for people who cannot thread a needles, The good news with this, is that there are needles out there that you do not have to thread if you have vision issues. These are called Self Threading needles.
Also, there were a few tips by users on how to make your sewing more sustainable. User SaveATruckRideAnOptimus-Prime states that you can get blankets and table-cloths from the thrift shop (something I often do myself) in order to have fabric to make your own clothing.
This is even more sustainable if you are choosing cotton, wool, or linen fabrics.
The last thing to mention is that user AssassinationTipsForLadies says:
“there is a great sewing instructor on YouTube called Evelyn Wood who has a whole bunch of videos on mending and the construction of old clothes.“
Let me know if you have any more questions or tips!
If you don’t have a sewing machine and done want to buy one, do check with your local library as it’s becoming more and more common for libraries to rent out things like sewing machines and other expensive but useful items. If yours doesn’t, expressing interest in a “library of things” could well be the motivation your library needs to get one going.
Fabric stores sometimes rent out machines too so check if you have one near by.
And if you’ve got any sewing/knitting clubs or places like the WI that are popular with old women, you will absolutely be able to find someone who will gladly let you use their machine and teach you how.
If you have older family members ask them about sewing cause chances are they’d love to teach you
If you need supplies on the cheap, check out local estate sales. I will never have to buy new hand stitching needles thanks to someone’s sweet grandmother who loved to quilt.
Who tossed out 80lbs a year? Is that meant for the average household? That sounds like way too little for a country or something but too much for one person.
Yes, that is 80 pounds per person, per year. In the US, Canada, and the UK at least.
flyingfish1 reblogged
Having really enjoyed mending some pairs of jeans repeatedly over the last two years after reading up on sashiko, I decided to try another clothing repair book from the library, and quite frankly, if you are a sweater-lover/wearer, this is THE mending book you need.
Seriously, I’ve known how to mend knits for decades, but not as beautifully as Noriko Misumi does it. She uses lots of different techniques to approach both repair and design, and it’s really dawning on me just how many things I have which are going to get fixed so much more aesthetically now. All those little holes I tend to ignore are about to get fun and funky.
Hands-down, she’s got the best photo layout of how to darn socks I’ve ever encountered (and I studied costuming in college), and as a hardcore pedestrian, it’s time I learned to repair those colorful and expensive wool socks I put so much effort into obtaining.