A beginner's mending kit
A small mending kit pays for itself the first time a button pops off on the way out the door. You don't need much, and most of it can be found secondhand.
What goes in the box
Needles in a few sizes, plus a needle threader.
Thread in black, white, navy and a neutral grey.
A small pair of sharp scissors, kept just for thread.
Pins and a pincushion.
A seam ripper.
A thimble, if you have one.
Scraps of fabric for patches.
Three repairs to learn first
Sewing on a button: four passes through each hole, then wind the thread around the shank before tying off.
Fixing a hem: a simple slip stitch keeps it invisible from the outside.
A visible patch: pick a contrasting fabric and make the repair part of the look.
Mending is the easiest way to keep clothes out of the landfill.
Start with something you don't mind practising on, and go slowly. The second repair is always neater than the first.
Sample post for layout. Replace or delete before the Journal goes live.
