Creative Ventures & Artistic Experiences
This shirt has been sitting in my mend pile for some time now. I found it in a thrift store shortly after I moved to Kentucky, it’s perfectly worn in, and so soft – a bit paint stained from repainting my house in it, but it adds to the character.
I think the most fun part of this was going ahead and picking thread that matched the paint stains – I’m glad to have my favorite shirt back in circulation again!
My best friend came to visit me some time ago wearing this green sweater with the elbow totally blown out, like it was nothing, like that rip wasn’t getting bigger and bigger every time she washed it. LEMME AT IT! And here we are, I’m quite proud of the results, even though I wasn’t able to swiss darn like I’d initially hoped to.
The elbow hole just kept getting bigger on me as I tried to work, so I heavily reinforced the edges.
It’s one of those repairs that I don’t even know how to explain what I did, it just happened – perhaps someone will help me film it someday.
There was a second hole I repaired the same way near the bottom back of the sweater. I think the second repair looks much better.
If I could do anything different, I’d love to find a way to make this round style of patching in place lay more flat on the sweater, perhaps that will come with washes.
When I decide whether I want to mend something, or repurpose it elsewhere, I first ask “how much do I love this item?”
Well, I don’t love this pillow case at all, in fact, years ago I even gave up patching the comforter it came with – but my kitty, Gravy, adores this pillowcase, so I just have to save it.
This is an ongoing mend, I have to add more patches almost every time I wash it, but it’s given me lots of practice with patching and blanket stitch (can you tell blanket stitch is my favorite way to affix patches?). I decided to use an embroidery hoop when patching this as it helped me see the weak spots in this old fabric, I could stretch it out and hold it up to the light.
Contrary Expressions 