Member Reviews

This book looks at the importance of repairing or mending damaged clothing, rather than throwing still-usable pieces away. Skye Pennant provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for beautiful mending that is designed to be seen. The book is easy to read and has lots of helpful hints to ensure success. A valuable addition to any sustainable household.

Was this review helpful?

I have been searching for a book just like this. It has so much useful information to help start and continue the journey of mending clothing and keeping your wardrobe looking great!

Was this review helpful?

A beautiful book that captures a skill we all need to (re)-remember. I feel that this was lost somewhere during our parents' or grandparents' generation, by and large. This book will make you inspired to love your worn-out clothing in a new way. My only frustration was that I wanted the actual techniques to broken down even more step by step, with even more tips and explanation on exactly how to do them. Mending holes in knitted fabric by picking up the loops is DARN hard (see what I did there? ha ha). But it really is, and I was hoping that the author would have some tips on how to be more successful at it. I also wanted more specifics on every other process, even more of a tutorial. The big photos are certainly beautiful but it was a lot of space that could have been filled with line diagrams to help teach us how to become more expert. I also wanted a larger variety of techniques - this offered several good ones, but it wasn't a huge variety. I was hoping for more of an encyclopedia of techniques. Regardless, this is a topic usually overlooked and I understand that the publisher probably wanted to make sure the book wasn't overwhelming to the beginner. So I say - well done, and thank you for reminding us of this important skill!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC for unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

I don't do a lot of mending, but I quite liked this book for its straightforward practicality. The one other mending book I saw recently was more about the meditation of mending than the techniques of mending and it turned me off. Skye Pennant focuses on mending and leaves you to your own spiritual growth.

My favorite bit of this book is the table on page 12 that suggests which of the 10 mending techniques presented in the book are best for various mending projects. To repair damaged belt loops on jeans consider Sashiko, Machine mending, and Patching. Each of these techniques is explained later in the text, with examples.

Visible mending embraces two visual concepts. First is that it's OK for the mending to be seen and a repair can and should have a pleasing aesthetic. The second, and this goes a bit against more traditional mending instruction, is that it's OK for the raw edges of the teat remain visible. Thus jeans are patched with a fuzzy bit in the middle. It's an artistic thing that might not appeal to everyone in every situation but you can choose another technique if you want to cover up the hole instead.

Was this review helpful?

There's a lot about what the stitches work for. A bit wordy in that sense. However, almost no write description of how to actually do the stitches. Sorry, but 1-3 pictures of the stitch are not enough for everyone. More descriptions were used later in the book but as much as I'd like.

Was this review helpful?

I love the new trend to sustainability in fashion right now. This book gave some easy tips and tricks on how to do visible mending that works with the style and type of clothing you are trying to mend.

I think it would be a great hobby book or a gift for someone in your life who is looking to relearn some time-old skills. It is a super basic look at what tools and technique you might need to know to get started.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

It’s a great feeling to repair a well loved article of clothing rather than throw it away. I had been looking for instructions on clothing repair since one of my favorite pairs of jeans developed a rip along the back pocket. This book addressed that exact repair along with many other instances of clothing damage I have encountered over the years. The author obviously knows what clothing damage is most common and addressed the repair of these in practical and unique methods. I learned a lot from this book. I’m now going to fix those comfy jeans and hopefully get many more years of wear out of them!

Was this review helpful?

I can’t wait to use these mending techniques on mine and my loved one’s clothes! The attention given to different fabrics, techniques as well as which technique works best for each fabric type, and the tools needed to accomplish the repair. The directions are pretty easy to follow, coming form someone who is VERY crafty!

Was this review helpful?

This is an extensive collection of mends you can easily make on all types of clothing you might want to keep or might even want to purchase in order to save from landfill. It offers you information on when and how to mend clothing in order to keep it in use, but also improve its look by adding details.

You can find out how to mend all types of clothing, from fine garments to jeans. The details are spelled out well and techniques and tools are explained for even a layperson to understand.

This book would be a good addition to any hand crafter, environmentalist or even fashionable person's repertoire. It can give your accessories new life and help you to personalize them.

I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review,

Was this review helpful?

This is an excellent book on how to mend clothing and the different tools and techniques that can be used. It includes really good instructions and pictures.

Was this review helpful?

I am not a seamstress, I made a pair of gym shorts in Home Ec class in middle school but that’s it. I requested this book from NetGalley because I thought it might offer basic tasks such as fixing a button, etc however the stitching included is way more involved and detailed than I can manage. But that’s my fault not this book. If you have a basic sewing knowledge then this book is extremely well done and chock full of techniques, illustrations, and photos to help you save your favorite clothes and other items from the trash heap. However if you need basic sewing knowledge look elsewhere.

Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received from NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

This is amazing. This book is amazing. I have been looking for a book like this for literally years. Thank you for making this. It’s incredible. I’m buying a hardcopy.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a solid introduction on how and why to mend clothing. Very helpful charts explain what types of mending working for various pieces of clothing and wear locations. There's enough depth to interest those with existing skill in sewing/mending. Great addition to the growing number of visible mending books out there.

Was this review helpful?

This is a really nice basic reference source for mending a variety of types of clothing. Steps are illustrated clearly and directions are detailed. More complex mends might benefit from videos or more color photos, but this will get most people started. Mending is an area of crafting where I’m happy to see new, attractive titles.

Was this review helpful?

A well rounded introduction to the technique of mending clothes. The photographs and instructions are clear and the categorization is done by the type of garment which makes it a good go to guide for a specific mending need.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a helpful book!

It includes information on mending clothes from jeans to shirts and other items. The book includes instructions on various stitches as well as pictures on how to make them. It shows various ways to mend different clothing items and to do so cutely. It also talks about the importance of mending items to keep them out of landfills. A great find for those wanting to make their wardrobe last longer.

Was this review helpful?

Well Worn: Visible Mending for the Clothes You Love is an instructional book on how to mend your clothes in a way that is visible, and creative. I'm trying to be more conscious of my consumption, and I loved reading about a creative way to increase the longevity of clothing. I actually stopped halfway through to mend a large hole in my jeans with a colorful patch of my own creation, and I really enjoyed the process, and the results. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in mending clothes.

Thanks to netgalley for the earc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

While I'm all for saving the planet and the impact mending your clothes can have on the environment, and I regularly do mend my own clothing, I would not wear any of the clothing mended in this book. I understand that it's "visible" mending...and you're "making a statement" with these stiches and "celebrating the garment's journey so far"...but come on! These mendings are unattractive! I've seen countless tutorials and videos showing how to mend your clothes, and for the most part, they are at least aesthetically pleasing as well as practical. The final mended version of these are just more like "Look at me! Not only am I battered and torn, but I'm also now uglier!"

Was this review helpful?

I love that is has various ways to mend on various types of materials and garments. The mending knits section was nice and detailed. Beautiful pictures throughout.

Was this review helpful?

This book gives clear instructions. However, the examples are repetitive and a bit uninspiring. The work over small areas look like rushed patch jobs. I'd recommend this book to students who are interested in learning to hand sew as well as those who want to move away from fast fashion.

Was this review helpful?