Blog

Make Do And Mend: We Asked YOU, Is It Still Important?

7 Apr
2017 Make Do And Mend: We Asked YOU, Is It Still Important?

We asked the Sew readers if their families followed the Make do and Mend sentiment when they were growing up, and if it were something that they thought was still important today. Here’s just some of what they said…

Di Kendall
It was certainly very common in my childhood, plus having clothes too big for us “to grow into”. Clothes were expensive and had to last a long time, it was certainly not a consumer driven throwaway society!

Sandra King
I have spent most of my adult life making and repairing clothes. When I see holes and tears in new clothing I’m speechless! What is that all about?

Davina Gardner
I have been married for 46 years and we still have our original curtains! In our first house they were full length and the width of the room, in our second house this reduced to two pairs, and in our third house re-lined again! They now hang in our bedroom and still look great.

Sue Brown
Thank goodness that my schooling included needlework and we were taught to make clothes. I think it should be compulsory in schools today! I always try to recycle clothes and re-make for my grandchildren.

Pauline Ann Perry
I love mending! I get a lot of satisfaction from making a garment wearable again or from saving something get ruined, like a ripped sheet. I voluntarily mend for both my daughters’ families – that’s five grandchildren and four adults.

Amanda Jane McDonald
Mending is so satisfying. Bringing the life back into something loved. I also enjoy recycling items. I’ve just made a waterproof jacket for my dog and lined it with an old Hunter welly fleece sock. Love it!

Annette Davies
I will be replacing a zip in my jacket soon! A zip costs £3.75, whereas a new jacket is £80+. It’s a no-brainer really!

Jo Donnelly
Too much wasteful, fast fashion is not good for the environment. My mum never threw anything away and always found a new use. Friends of the Earth now run repair sessions and I believe they include simple sewing repairs.

SEW ANGELIC THREADS
We spoke to Angela Foster, the blogger and avid stitcher behind Sew Angelic Threads, with a passion for sewing and making garments live longer.

Angela

“The entire philosophy behind my blog is to pass my knowledge of sewing onto others. I am very concerned that our traditional crafts, sewing is but one, are not being taught in schools and there are now at least two generations of people who cannot sew or knit at all. Why does this concern me? It worries me a great deal because we are too fond of quick fashion and purchase very cheap clothes, wear them a couple of times and throw them away. Do we ever stop to think about the consequences of this? There are children in sweatshops, even now, producing clothes which we will buy and throw away inside a year.

“There is also the impact on our landfill sites as we throw so much away that is not biodegradable and it is harming our planet. Cheap clothes are often made of fabrics that do not break down easily. Blogs like mine and many others provide free tutorials to help you to learn to sew. This “slow fashion” is sustainable, and ethical. What’s more, you can produce a garment that is bespoke and which you are going to want to wear time and time again. It is a fantastic craft to learn together with your child or grandchild too, and by doing so you are giving a gift which lasts a lifetime.

“You can learn how to alter your clothes too, remember the wartime booklet “Make do and Mend”? The philosophy still holds today, so do not dispose of anything until you have explored all possibilities, can it be made into something else either for yourself or a child? Can it be made into cushion covers for your home? If not, can it go to the charity shop or at the very least, used as cleaning cloths? Whatever you do, don’t put it in the bin!

“It saddens me that sewing and knitting are no longer taught in school as I was, and to be honest, that is how I played, making clothes for my dolls and so on, it certainly wasn’t a chore. Over 90% of my wardrobe is now me-made, including my undies! I learned to sew as a child, and I am still learning, so if you are a sewing newbie do persevere, skills do not come immediately and yes I do still make mistakes, but we all do - that’s how we learn! Take a class if you can, and read the many blogs that are around. You will soon be producing garments to be proud of. And believe me it is a wonderful feeling when somebody asks where you got your dress from and you answer proudly ” I made it myself.”

You can read more of Angela’s stitching ventures at sewangelicthreads.blogspot.co.uk

Find more tips and repairing advice at loveyourclothes.org.uk