Mending: Plain

I wonder how many textile artists think of mending as part of their skill set. Especially, in our modern consumer society, where it's easier and cheaper to discard old clothing and buy new. Even so, the techniques of plain mending are given their very own chapter in Thérèse de Dillmont's classic Encyclopedia of Needlework.

Encyclopedia of Needlework is now public domain and available
 as a free download from Project Gutenberg or the Internet Archive.

"How best to disguise and repair the wear and tear of use or accident is quite as valuable an art, as that of making new things."

 Thérèse de Dillmont, Encyclopedia of Needlework 

A page from Encyclopedia of Needlework.

I do think mending is making a come-back because people are becoming more environmentally conscientious, and mending is a valuable way of keeping discarded clothing out of the landfills. But also, it is becoming an art form in it's own right, and it's been exciting to rediscover the old techniques and explore the new. 

Plain mending utilizes basic sewing skills and generally includes patching, darning and seam repair. While it may not be considered a creative outlet, I still think it's important to master the techniques and take pride in one's work. Since I have an overflowing mending basket, I'm going to do just that.

© January 2021 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related Posts:

Plain Mending: Darning and Patching Socks

Mending: Visible

Mending: Invisible

Japanese Mending