Visible mending is a decorative way to fix up an item. Instead of trying to make your mend as invisible as possible, the idea is to make it part of the garment's design.
Visual mending is not a single technique: it's more of a mindset. If you've got an item you love, it deserves to be mended, and if you're going to put that love into stitches, why not show them off?
That being said, there are some specific techniques that are popular with visible menders. Let's take a look!
Sashiko is a type of traditional Japanese embroidery that is used to both decorate and reinforce fabric. In visible mending, sashiko is often used to cover up holes with patches or to reinforce thinning fabric. This technique uses a variation on the running stitch.
(Image source) [ID: sashiko stitch diagram: the distance between each stitch is 1/2 stitch in length.]
Some resources on sashiko:
SashiCo on YouTube: sashiko livestreams and information on the cultural aspect of sashiko.
Written tutorial by Upcycle Stitches.
Free sashiko templates by TheSpruceCrafts.
Fixing jeans with sashiko by Soluna Collective.
(Image source) [ID: three examples of sashiko embroidery on jeans fabric.]
(Image source) [ID: sashiko embroidery with white thread on blue jeans fabric.]
Regular embroidery is also a popular technique to accentuate your mends. Check out my embroidery 101 post to learn how to get started. You can embroider patches, or use embroidery to hide or accentuate any stitches you've made to fix holes. Embroidery's also a great way to cover up stains.
(Image source) [ID: colourful embroidery floss covers a worn sleeve edge of a jeans jacket]
(Image source) [ID: colourful flower embroidery surrounds a hole in a pair of dark gray jeans. Fabric with a red and black flower print peaks out of the hole.]
There are many ways to add patches to a garment. My tutorial on patches is a good place to start if you want to make custom-shaped patches to sew on top of your fabric. You can also sew your patch on the inside of your garment and have it peek out from beneath the hole you're trying to fix. Fun ideas for this are lace or superheroes.
(Image source) [ID: Spiderman peaking out of a rip in a pair of blue jeans.]
(Source) [ID: a red flannel heart-shaped elbow patch on a gray knitted sweater.]
Darning is a technique used to repair holes in fabric by using running stitches to weave extra fabric over the hole as to fill it up again. While traditionally darning is done in an invisible way by using the same colour of thread as your fabric, you can also use contrasting colours to accentuate your fix. Check out this written tutorial on darning by TheSpruceCrafts.
(Image source) [ID: vintage instructions on how to darn a hole.]
(Image source) [ID: four examples of darning on blue fabric with colourful contrasting thread.]
Visible mending is a creative way to fix up your clothes and give them some personality at the same time.
You should be proud of the fact that you took the time and learned the necessary skills needed to mend your clothes! Show off what you did!
A fun side effect of wearing these obvious mends is that people will notice them. They'll remember your fixes the next time they're faced with a hole in their wardrobe, and it will make them more likely to try it for themselves.
These are just a few ways to visibly mend your garments. Want more inspiration? Check out Pinterest or r/Visiblemending on Reddit.
as much as i absolutely love the dynamic of scar and grian in double life can we p l e a s e talk about how pearl was left all alone like oh em gee the angst, the drama, my girl all alone with her dog after her soulmate and her friend decided to leave her ;-;
More smol hermits
This happens during Doc and Xisuma shulcer operation when all the ground is covered with buttons
@wasyago tagging you as main inspiration sourse >;з
spotify playlists i made that i love:
for instantly inducing sadness and depression
for losing sight of what love means to you
for feeling present in the current moment
for deep-rooted loneliness
for the pure excitement of having a crush
for sleeping
for the person who left and would ruin you if they ever came back
for a love that rages like a fire
for your pride & prejudice hand flex moment
for feeling dreamy
for your radiohead fix
for crying while still bopping along
for drinking warm spiced milk on a rainy day
for feeling like you're an indie coming of age film
for the nostalgic emo phase
for feeling wretched
for when you're walking the streets of a new city by yourself
for daydreaming about moving to new york city with your best friends
for bangerz only
for wearing bold lipstick
for your bollywood fix
for allowing yourself to change
for feeling like you're floating on your back in a swimming pool at night in an indie movie
for your gracie abrams fix
for when you don't recognize yourself
for my desi diaspora kids
for my desi diaspora kids pt 2
for traveling and being present
for feeling like a smashed vase, or for smashing vases
for the jungle
for your james blake fix
for managing the aux cord
for feeling like the color orange, or perhaps the fruit. either one
for late night car rides surrounded by the open sky
for seeing the end of the world but smiling ridiculously
for your ridiculous bestie
for dying of love
for gradually falling into sleep
for your joji fix
for watching bright orange sunsets while hating yourself
for feeling the first warmth of summer hit you
for feeling like the weird kid in class again
for learning to live without the heartache it gives you
for playing breath of the wild
for realizing that romantic love will not be the thing that heals you
for whispering secrets to your best friend
for the kids who grew up on the internet
for love, or the lack thereof
for when you want to move to a new city but something is keeping you where you are
for your morning walk
for sitting in a field of marigolds
for beat drops that make you go feral
for traveling to see your best friends
for not allowing yourself to feel ridiculous anymore
for feeling like a perpetually open wound
for risk-taking
for your coke studio pakistan fix
for waiting for better days
for haunting
for being afraid that this is all there is
for texting them to get home safe
for falling in love in the summertime
for your hallmark movie main character moment
for your slowcore fix
for studying
for eating heartshaped jam cookies
for an espresso shot of joy
for feeling like an empty well that has nothing left to give
for love-filled days
for your ariana grande fix
for web-weaving
for your commute
for losing grip of your dreams
for setting this whole year on fire
for feeling like a pakistani uncle drinking chai on the porch
for isolation
for kicking anxiety in the face
Actually no Jimmy and Tango calling each other partners and Tango rushing down the mines to check on Jimmy and Tango jumping off the roof and Jimmy saying ow as we see not only Tango but Jimmy getting hurt. Jimmy coming back and going “And you said you couldn’t build!” to this little place Tango put together. Jimmy coming back with goods and them both going out back and forth to check and get chickens. They meet in death and they melt for each other so quickly. Jimmy comes back with cows and they’re cheering. They share a single bed. They make a animal farm. They communicate sweetly. They’re poor ranchers.
false hunting pink during pkt aka her going on an absolute rollercoaster of emotions
"oh sorry, i guess i was infodumping again" - sad, shy, apologetic
"you sly dog, you got me monologuing" - cool, strong, confident
uhh um ahhem ahem uhmm uh um um.. taps mic umm… ⁱ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃⁿ ⁱᵐᵖᵒʳᵗᵃⁿᵗ ᵃⁿⁿᵒᵘᶜⁿᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
If I stay perfectly still, perhaps a resplendent butterfly will bless my nose with a landing. 🦋
I’ve been getting back into Stardew lately, so I coloured an old sketch as a warm up :d