Knitting is a wonderful hobby that allows us to decide from the fiber composition and color to the final style of the garment. However, knitting can also be a sustainable practice, especially when we embrace the art of mending and repairing.
Darning, patching, and felting
Mending and repairing knitting garments is not only a way to fix holes and tears or decorate and spice up our knitwear but also a way to extend the life of our items, reduce waste, and decrease our environmental impact. By choosing to mend or repair a knit item instead of throwing it away, we consciously choose to reduce our consumption and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.
Darning and patching are two great methods to repair and sustainably extend your knitwear's life. Darning is the process of weaving new yarn over a hole or a thinning area, duplicating the stitched, reinforcing the fabric, and preventing further damage. It's a common technique used on sock heels and sweater elbows.
Patching, on the other hand, involves adding a piece of fabric or knitwear to cover a hole or a tear. Not only does patching fix the problem, but it can also add new textures, colors, or patterns to your knit items, giving them a unique and personalized touch.
If you have a wool blend garment without polyamide or nylon, there's even more good news: you can felt the torn fabric to repair it. Felting can be a fun and creative way to fix your clothes while adding funny decorations. You can make your mending even more unique and sustainable using cookie cutters and a felting needle.
Mending and repairing knitwear also means that we value the materials and resources that go into making the item. When we knit our wardrobe, we are investing time, money, and energy into creating something we hope will last. By caring for our knitwear and repairing it when needed, we honor the materials, resources, and investment while reducing our environmental footprint.
So next time you notice a hole or a tear in your knitwear, don't throw it away! Try the rewarding darning, patching, or felting techniques to give it a new life and reduce your environmental impact.
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