‘A stitch in time saves nine’
So the saying goes. Yet, time and time again I seem to need to have it proved to me.
I’m a great believer in the ‘make do and mend’ approach to clothing that came from the Second World War. It was mother that taught me to sew as part of my childhood. Putting buttons back on shirts and sewing up small tears was part of everyday routine. And doing it for yourself probably meant she had more time to get on with other everyday tasks, and believe me there were enough of them for her to do!
So, now, even if my eyesight needs a bit more help I still have a mending box of needles, spare buttons, various threads and so on that I can turn to when the occasion arises.
My latest lesson was a rip that developed behind a button on my favourite winter coat. I mostly zip it up and ignore the buttons, but I would occasionally absent-mindedly button up and realise it was just getting worse…
One morning recently I sat myself down and did the job, rather visibly, on purpose.
I am a fan of the ‘visible mending programme’, as promoted by Tom of Holland. The philosophy makes the repair stand out as testament to the craftsmanship involved, a dissatisfaction with the throwaway culture, and building a deeper relationship between the user and the objects that they use.
Seems like a good thing.
Happy mending.
