Since the weather began to turn, it has felt as though every second piece of clothing I want to wear requires mending. One of the good things about having this place set up for sewing is that I can mend seams that have come apart while the iron is warming up, and put a stitch here or a stitch there, replace a vanished button or stitch down a hook or eye very quickly and easily. However, some of my favourite things require quite a bit more attention. I warmed up on a calico bag that turned out to have unfinished seams fraying on the inside. How many years has this been kicking around? I have no idea, and my beloved who presumably brought it into our mutual stash didn’t either. Brisbane community radio’s little image of radio lovin’ will be with us for some more years yet.
Then there is the dingo flourbag shirt, made from Fremantle flour mill flourbags that once had red dingoes printed on them. It took some effort to track down my notes–I made this shirt in 2004 from bags a friend gave me when she left for the US for some years of international peace activism and adventure. So long ago! Before I learned to spin. Before socks took over my notebooks! No sign of the red dingo anymore, it washed out years ago. McCall’s 9579 in M is now a gardening shirt with a collar that has worn right through. I didn’t really want to turn it because the other side is thin too. I added a strip of well worn, soft kimono fabric and stitched it down.
Then there was the matter of the upper fronts. This is where the flour bag was stitched closed with a large gauge needle and string. Just the same, it has lasted for many years, but I think not much longer.
So, I basted down some patches on the inside (this one is part of a threadbare napkin) and started stitching. Thanks to Jude Hill for this fabulous basting technique.
And kept stitching with madder and eucalyptus dyed thread.
Then moved over to the other side and kept going with carrot top thread and eucalyptus and madder dyed thread. I am rich in lovely thread! It makes me want to stitch!
In all honesty, I am not sure I’m finished stitching. But this is the prettiest mending I have ever done!
Local & Bespoke 
What a beautiful mending job! 🙂
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Thanks, Lucy!
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So inspirational! I’m getting that half done boro shirt out this afternoon!
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Enjoy! I thought this was such fun mending, and people have been complimenting me on it every time I wear it as well 🙂
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Wow, just amazing. I love the collar and then you show us the rest. As Philip Adams would say you get the Koala stamp for this effort.
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Thanks! I love a good koala stamp!
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I just used an old flour bag for the pocket on an apron for my son. I love the way they fade. The shirt you have mended has been made more beautiful by the mending… How curious!
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I love the calico of flourbags–the way they fade and the way they soften is just lovely. Those woven plastic sacks and the double layer paper ones are just not the same. I am so surprised to agree with you–but it’s true! The mending is an improvement!
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Love to see all your mending – I too do a lot of mending and find it so comforting and rewarding. The sashiko on the shirt is beautiful
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Thank you! It is rewarding to be able to continue wearing something you love, or bring something back into use, isn’t it?
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Very time you work on something it becomes more beautiful.
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Maybe not every time 🙂 But some times, for sure! Thanks for this lovely vote of confidence.
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Gorgeous!
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Thanks!
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WOW, that is worthy of a trip to the shops. VERY nice.
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Thanks, Susan!
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I was so sorry to have missed your Mending Workshop on the weekend but I had double booked with the Unley Council’s other event, Terrarium Making. I look forward to the next Unley Repair Cafe and more of your wonderful workshops.
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Thanks so much Melanie!
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