The reward of mending a favourite skirt, a child’s outfit, socks and linen for another season of use is more than a financial savings. You will feel a great deal of personal satisfaction from making a repair that is so inconspicuous no one will notice it, or from making a patch that is so creative it enhances the look of the garment. Mending includes all types of repairs to damaged garments.

Threads weaken, seams split and elastic stretches to its limit in well-worn garments that may still have years of use except for these minor signs of wear. Elbows and knees of shirts and pants may wear thin from normal use. Poor fit may cause a seam to split or a zipper to break. Faulty manufacturing may result in a ravelled hem, lost button or broken topstitching.