Thank you, Kap Ashworth, for the suggestion to write about this! I love that so many people replied to my Instagram post about mending with their own stories of how they mend and sew and who taught them.
In terms of what to have in a mending kit, there are two ways to go: 1) the old-school sewing box (mine has everything from snaps to thread to pattern making equipment in it) and 2) the on-the-go pouch for quick fixes. I’m going to talk about number two in this post. I can throw this into my purse or other bag when seeing clients or taking a short trip (remember those? Pre-Covid!). You can make something similar to easily carry with you or have at your fingertips at home.
Needle and thread—obviously. I carry a light and dark color of thread and a few different sized hand needles (I put them onto a small piece of fabric for easy transport—the orange camou in the photo).
Seam ripper—to open up problem areas before repairing (as well as pockets sewn shut or vents in blazers—hate it when I forget to open that stitching before wearing!).
Topstick—two sided “fashion” tape. Topstick is my absolute favorite and it’s actually two-sided toupee tape. Fixes just above everything in a pinch—hems that fall down, if you lose a button on your blouse (tape the gape shut!)—plus it holds bra straps in place. Always good.
Measuring tape—just in case you want to be accurate in the repair.
Small scissors—good for everything!
Extra large safety pins—these also fix just about anything and are great for marking alterations and not falling out (for the other stylists out there!). Add a few extra buttons onto one of the safety pins in your pouch. Never be at a loss when a button flies off in the middle of your day.
Needle nose pliers—the piece de resistance! Fix any and all jewelry mishaps with this little guy! Can’t tell you how often I use these. And they’re pink and cute. Gotta love that.
Virtual Style School at The Perfect Provenance
And please join me tomorrow, Thursday October 22 at 12:30pm EST on Zoom for a Virtual Style School held at The Perfect Provenance. I’ll be using their beautiful pieces to teach how to layer the right way for Fall and what to wear during our Autumn of Covid for both men and women. Tickets are $25 and will benefit California Wild Fire Relief. Click here to register for this 45 minute session. Hope to see you then!