Hello my dears,

I hope you will forgive my silence for the last couple of weeks (minus our usual first of the month freebie drops). For the last month, I've been completely consumed with prepping for PatternCon 2026 in Atlanta, which was AMAZING.

For those of you who were there, you know. For those of you unable to attend this year, the epic feeling of community and love for our shared passion for patterns was truly incomparable. For an introvert who studiously avoids crowds, noise, and events, it was still my happy place.

I will definitely write more on that later, but for now, I just wanted to pop by and say,
(read this in a pathetic, whiney voice)

..."I'm siiiiiiiiiiick."

Darn elevator germs, they get me every time I travel!

So for now, while I melt into a pathetic puddle of ick on my couch, please enjoy this cool article on mending from Sew with Distinction...

...for reasons.

Love,

Anna

Clever Mending Will Save It!

If the torn garment is one you have made, your scrap collection should contain the needed mending materials. This is one of the economies of home sewing!

DARNING

Darning means filling a hole with thread — by running rows of stitches one way, then crossing these with rows at right angles. A sturdy darn can be made on your Kenmore machine; a less noticeable darn is made by hand, using the same lengthwise and crosswise threads pulled from a hem or scrap of the torn material. Trim the edges of the hole. Cover the hole (overlapping the edges at least ¼ inch) in the direction of the lengthwise material threads — then stitch or weave in the crosswise threads to cover the hole in this direction. Use unknotted threads and running stitches — the smaller the better. Tie in all loose thread ends by catching them under several stitches.

MENDING TEARS

Mending is drawing the edges of a tear together with regular machine stitches, or hand Running Stitches. Do not cut away any of the material around the tear; but push it back together as neatly as possible. Preferably, use threads from the material — and stitch along the lengthwise or crosswise threads, as illustrated. Hide the stitches on the wrong side as much as possible — and tie loose ends as above.

When mending a torn seam, strengthen the material by stitching narrow bias binding strips along the Seam Edges.

WRONG-SIDE PATCHING

Patching is covering a hole with a piece of material. To be inconspicuous, the patch should match exactly, in color and design. (You can fade new washable material by washing it with soap and baking soda, rinsing, and drying it in the sun.) Trim the hole so that sides are straight with the lengthwise and crosswise material threads — unless it can be trimmed to hide the patch seams in the lines of a design (like the outline of a flower).

A Hemmed Patch. — Cut the patch to overlap 1 inch all around. Pin it to the under side. Cut diagonal slits ¼-inch deep at the corners of the hole, turn the edges under — and baste them to the patch. Turn in the patch edges about ¼ inch, and baste these to the garment. Whip the hole edges to the patch with an Overhanding Stitch; and do the same for the patch edges.

A Darned Patch. — Cut the patch exactly the size of the hole. Hold it in place by basting a piece of paper to the back of the patch and the garment. Now secure the patch to the garment, using the same method as for Mending Tears — by machine, or by hand.

Torn-Out Buttons. — Put a patch on both the wrong and right sides — even use an interfacing (Book VI), if necessary for strength.

Underarm Patch — Square the hole, placing the corners at the seamlines — and rip the seams back ½ inch. Cut a bias patch for greater strength. Overlap it 1 inch at the sides. Turn (and press) ½-inch Seam Edges on the hole and patch — then secure the patch to the garment with Plain Inside Seams at the four sides. Press the Seam Edges flat.

RIGHT-SIDE PATCHING

Animal or flower-shaped patches stitched on the outside save time and trouble in mending childrens' play clothes. Even your own dresses can sometimes be mended by cleverly arranged appliques neatly sewed on — or by a pocket, belt, tuck or hem added to garment. Your own creative imagination is your best guide.

WEAVING

Weaving is similar to Hand Darning — except that you must match exactly the original weave and the number and color of threads. You can attempt small holes in wool, but all others require the knowledge of a professional. Hole edges are "hidden by starting the threads underneath — and by staggering the starts. Put in the warp threads first, then weave in the filling threads. Duplicate the nap by brushing with a suede brush.