Mending with love Creative repairs for your favorite things

This gently encouraging instruction and inspiration manual teaches more than how to repair damaged items. Misumi's approach is less about the "make it do" utility of mending (though she includes ample, clearly illustrated, simply explained techniques and examples) than it is about appreciating and preserving meaningful textiles: heirloom pieces still in use, high-quality natural fabrics, beloved garments, or utilitarian items with small flaws. Introductory pages bring to mind Marie Kondo's "spark joy" philosophy, but Misumi clearly delights in the happy clutter of life as she retains bits of colorful thread, lovely scraps of lace, or even the softest cotton T-shirts for future repurposing. Samples demonstrate how sturdy mends transform pieces, sometimes boldly drawing attention, often adding cheerful color, and occasionally creating an unobtrusive fix. The appended stitch instructions may be less useful than YouTube videos, but the book on the whole is a must-have for those looking to shrink their ecological footprint with beauty and warmth.

Mending worn pieces of clothing evokes "happy memories and a sense of pleasure in the passing of time," writes stylist Misumi (Joyful Mending) in her clever how-to. One chapter is dedicated to mending socks and makes use of basic darning techniques; another focuses on covering stains with stamps--Misumi advises if a stamp is "a little crooked or otherwise off a bit, that makes it unique." Frays and holes, meanwhile, can be repaired with decorative embroidery and patching, and Misumi provides step-by-step instructions for each technique. For a cloud-shaped hole on a jacket collar, Misumi embroiders a night sky with yellow and blue stitches. Moth holes in an antique handmade coat are covered with small, round crocheted motifs. A final section shows readers how to transform unsalvageable pieces into something new: projects include stitching an old woolen sweater into a hot pad, and transforming an old sack into a trivet. Though some projects can be rather involved (turning an old T-shirt into a dust cloth, for instance, requires several techniques), Misumi offers no shortage of quick-fix stitches. Those looking to bring new life to old pieces will find this a useful guide. (Mar.)