Spring Mending

Rotating seasons & fixing holes

Hello again On the Mends! After some winter hibernation I’m feeling the spring energy and channeling it via gardening, rotating my wardrobe and a burst of repairs.

Various mends on an heirloom wool sweater

I’m a big believer in closet rotations — shifting things a few times a year between under the bed storage to my closet. I like having fewer things at hand while getting dressed at any given time and I also find that putting things away for 3-6 months makes clothes feel fresh even when I’ve owned them for years.

While doing the rotations this month, I encountered a few unwearable things and wanted to share the satisfactions of several small fixes:

1. One raincoat with a torn placket — I fixed this raincoat before, the placket, or where the snaps are attached in the front was torn, I suspect because I own the ‘lightweight’ model from the raincoat brand and the snaps are too strong for the material. Shout out to Eva Joan for the fix. I’m so pleased to be able to fasten this coat again during spring rains.

2. Two pairs jeans — One had a rip in the leg and another a broken zipper. Shout out again to Eva Joan here. Very helpfully for moving things out of my mending basket and back into my closet — my husband opened a coffee shop with friends right by Eva Joan (swing by so good if you’re ever in the West Village!).

3. A onesie with a tear on the thigh — It’s too small for my baby, but I wanted to fix before passing it on. It’s got a cute neck ruffle & was otherwise in fine condition.

4. One green wool sweater pictured above — Worn by my uncle Jim as a toddler, my older brother, me and now both my kids. I love that it already had visible mends from previous generations. Are layers of repair the true definition of heirloom?

Anything on your too mend list or things you’ve recently repaired? I’d love to hear about it!

The seeds I planted last week are beginning to sprout and I’m feeling ready to write once more about mends.

Rocking the sweater this morning. Seeing some more further mending opportunities in those cuffs...