“How Do I Mend This?”
This question came up after I volunteered to help a young mother mend something while we were visiting. How that stack of mending can pile up with a growing family! This is kind of embarrassing to say—but I have had a child to grow out of a garment before I got it mended! In the last few years, I have learned to do the hand mending during our family’s literature time in the evening, while my husband reads.
A mother once brought her daughter to our home to have some time with our daughters making greeting cards. Do you know what the mother brought along? Her mending! I was impressed with her forethought and organization!
It is our desire that in this column we mothers can be of help one to another. If you have a question, feel free to ask. If we don’t know, we will try to find the answer or maybe some of our readers can help us out. If you have a hint that has been a blessing to you, please share it with us.
In looking up the subject of mending at the library, I found only two books. Mend It, and The Mender’s Manual. Of the two, the latter one is the best, but unfortunately it is out-of-print. The author, Estelle Foote, was a chairman of a small mending committee who helped underprivileged folks by collecting, mending and giving out good used clothing. Through her nine years of welfare mending, many tough problems were worked out. She has written and illustrated this book for others to benefit from, and we hope to share some of the ideas with you.
Fig. A
Fig. B
Fig. C
One of the first things she tells us is that hand mending is much like embroidery stitches.
So if you are unfamiliar with hand stitching, get a good book on embroidery stitches and keep it handy.
Let’s start with sewing on a button where the fabric underneath is torn (Fig. A). Sometimes the button may slip inside the facing. Let’s pull the button out and take it off. Take a small patch of fabric, a little larger than the tear, and slip inside the facing, under the hole. Take a needle and thread, and with point of needle, push under the frayed edges, whip-stitching to the patch underneath as you go (Fig. B). For extra reinforcement, machine stitch on the darning setting or use a good patching stitch as illustrated (Fig. C). Remember not to run the stitches back very far from the edge, or they will show when the garment is buttoned. Sew the button back on and the garment is ready to wear again.
When sewing on a button, note the thread color of the other buttons and match it as closely as possible. Remember not to sew it on too tightly or it will be difficult to fasten and will also pucker the top and bottom fabrics. To prevent this, slide a large pin, needle or toothpick between fabric and button. Pull it out after the button is sewn on. At this point, wind the thread around the loose stitching two or three times, between button and material, and secure it with a knot. I have also found that putting a drop of “Fray Check” on the knot will also keep that button on!
If you are sewing a button on a coat or other heavy garment—consider sewing a small button on the wrong side, underneath. This will help keep the cloth from tearing under strain.
Another valuable suggestion is sewing buttons on with elastic cord if they are in a place subjected to strain. They would “give” more and the button would tend to stay on longer than when sewed on with unyielding thread. Do not try to pull the elastic cord through to the wrong side; just sew it to the outside of the fabric under the button.
A common place for undue strain is at the bottom of a dress that buttons all the way down the front. So you can try sewing this button on with elastic cord; or you can also substitute a strong snap fastener, and then sew the button on the outside, over the buttonhole.
One mother solved this problem by simply stitching up from the hemline going past the last button! This is an excellent idea for active little girls! No more rips to mend, and it is more modest, too.
May the Lord bless you as you endeavor to serve your family in this humble but needful task. The Lord hath said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren [or sisters], ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)
With love,
Sister Dorcas (a pseudonym)