Daylesewblessed

There is skill involved in mending. I admire people who can do a good job at it. Examples include my late grandmothers and my mother. And when done for others, as much love is given as that given in making a quilt for someone.

Last night I mended a "made in China" knit dress for the 7 year old girl next door. It has rows and rows of narrow decorative ruffle that was somehow gathered in the same step as application to the dress. Mending a ruffle was a tedious job, but a worthwhile one. Now nobody can tell it was mended, and my little friend can wear the dress with pride. Meanwhile, she has learned that things can be fixed instead of tossed away when a small problem develops.

Mending may not be considered artistic, but as already posted, neither are a lot of quilts. And workmanship on either endeavor can either be shoddy or of good quality.

Dayle

Reba'squilts

I do mending for my granddaughters. They bring me their stuff by the bag full. I can't say no to them. They are both short....so I do get the prom and homecoming dresses. Their mother has a hard time sewing a button on.....so it all me. I really need to teach one of them how to sew!

quilt queen

Mending isn't my choice, but it seems that my sewing room holds a number of things my family wants me to "fix" the pile isn't getting smaller...I hate doing it...but for LOVE I will...I just love to quilt..

maviskw

I love mending clothes. My daughter just brought me 4 snowmobile suits with the knees out. (She has a day care and keeps these around.) It took me a few days to figure out how to do that. I'm going to cut open the side seam, cut out the whole knee, and put a new piece in there. That will be the quickest and easiest. I'm just looking for some rip-stop nylon to use for the outer fabric. The suits are in good condition except for the knees, and I think they are worth it.
I also make jackets and square dance dresses for myself, and am making quilts for all of my 21 grandchildren.
Do I feel like Picasso? You bet. Most people are quite proud of their own work, even though they know it isn't really artistic.
Quote from this thread: At least she has learned that things can be fixed instead of tossed away when a small problem develops. ( from Daylesewblessed)

brenwalt

I've always mended. When doing laundry, if something is discovered that requires mending, right to the sewing room we go and it is fixed immediately. Also when helping out daughters with their laundry, can't stand to see things that need mended. Yes, I sew garments and home decor items along with the mending and quilting. Just LOVE to sew and it doesn't matter "what."

ThayerRags

I guess it’s no surprise not to find many clothing menders and alteration/repair sewers on a quilting board. I mend clothing and accessories more than doing quilt work, which so far has only included quilt block piecing.

I’d like to find a forum where folks primarily discuss mending and alterations, but I haven’t bumped into it yet.

CD in Oklahoma

GramMER

Believe it or not! Leah Day has a video lesson dedicated to just this topic. She does a pretty clever "cover-up" at the same time she uses the SITD.

AlienQuilter

I totally agree!

GramMER

Believe it or not, I used to do lots of mending in my day. I grew up in an era that was dedicated to frugality and with a mother who was a perfectionist. Mending tears or making things fit was an art form! My Home Economics teacher was also "one of those" who thought everyone ought to learn to mend--even knitted sweaters.

jcrow

I find that the most mending my husband needs is his back right pockets where his billfold goes. He wears a hole in it. That is all the mending that is required of me. And it's a little tricky not to sew the pocket closed.