Yeah you!!!  You decided to start on the slow fashion journey, you rock!!! 

The first and most important thing to remember is to be inspired by other people's skills and mends but don't be intimidated.  Just start stitching! It may not be perfect (mine never are) but they are going to be beautiful and most importantly you will have kept clothes out of the trash!!!

Let's start with figuring out what you are going to patch.  For your first mend start with denim that is worn (and needs strengthening) but doesn't have a hole.  It is just a whole lot easier for your first try. Your patch needs to be at least an inch bigger (all over) then the area you are patching.  This is to insure you are stitching on strong fabric so your patch stays put and strengthens your garment.

Choose a pair of jeans to become your patching jeans.  Claire chooses jeans that will become her cut off shorts for the coming summer.  I choose jeans that either don't fit or I just never wore.  However you choose, your patching jeans will create lots of patches (and save many jeans) so don't feel bad about "wasting" that pair of jeans.

Now you've got your patch cut out and are ready to decorate.  For your first patch we are going to do a patch on top.  This means that you can decorate the patch before it gets put on, it is a lot easier this way.  The running stitch is a simple stitch but that doesn't mean it's basic.  With just the running stitch you can do soo many creative and amazing mends.  The video below goes in to the basics of the running stitch and also a few tips and tricks that we have learned along the way.  Claire even learned something new!!!

With the running stitch under your belt take it a bit further.  Change the colors of your thread to make strips, rainbows, or even a plaid pattern.   Vary the size of your stitches to create interest and texture within your patch.  Use stencils (cookie cutters, bottle caps, jar lids, whatever you find around the house) to create outlines inside or around the stencil to make patterns or a scene. Go wild and have fun!!!

Check back next week for more tips, tricks and ideas.  We will also post updates on the whale patch Claire is working on (the one she began in the above video) and the details for our mending giveaway. 

Happy mending!!!  We would love to see your mends and what you are stitching.  

Next up is the buttonhole stitch which is perfect for sweater mends.