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Katrina Rodabaugh

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Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More Kindle Edition

by Katrina Rodabaugh (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

973 ratings

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This guide explores visible mending techniques in both hands-on projects and thoughtful insight about how mending relates to mindful well-being.

Mending Matters explores sewing on two levels: First, it includes more than twenty projects that showcase visible mending—styles that are edgy, modern, and bold, yet draw on traditional stitching. It does all this with just four simple mending techniques: exterior patches, interior patches, slow stitches, darning, and weaving. In addition, the book addresses the way mending leads to a more mindful relationship to fashion and to overall well-being.

In essays that accompany each how-to chapter, Katrina Rodabaugh explores mending as a metaphor for appreciating our own naturally flawed selves. She also examines the ways in which mending teaches us new skills, self-reliance, and confidence, all gained from making things with our own hands.

Editorial Reviews

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“I’m excited for Mending Matters and for Katrina’s work that offers new directions within the sustainable fashion community. It creates solutions, draws on handcraft heritage, and widens the opportunities to connect with Slow Fashion through simple stitching.”―From the foreword by Natalie Chanin, Alabama Chanin

“Our clothes can have a long history, if we let them. Mending is a way of ensuring a longer life for the clothes we wear and maintaining our long relationship with them. Human hands should always be a part of the making of fashion and Mending Matters helps inspire that long story. Because #lovedclotheslast.”―Fashion Revolution

“This book is a joy—I love how Katrina combines practicality and a lightness of touch with a deep understanding of the issues that drive the Slow Fashion movement. Her creative, considered, and beautiful approach to mending and making is exactly what we need in this moment of overconsumption and fading connections to our clothing and textiles. Thank you, Katrina, for helping rekindle our love affair with clothes built to last and hold memories.”―Clare Press, Sustainability Editor at Large, Vogue Australia

About the Author

Katrina Rodabaugh is an award-winning artist and crafter working across disciplines to explore environmental and social issues through traditional craft technique. She lives in the Hudson Valley of New York.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07BFBJVRS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ ABRAMS; Illustrated edition (October 16, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 16, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 70.4 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 228 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1419729470

Best Sellers Rank: #227,692 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #87 in Fashion & Art
- #93 in Embroidery (Kindle Store)
- #169 in Sewing (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
973 ratings

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Katrina Rodabaugh

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Katrina Rodabaugh is an award-winning artist and author working across disciplines to explore environmental and social issues through craft techniques. Currently, she focuses on sustainable fashion through her work with mending, plant dyes, and sustainable design in her ongoing art project, Make Thrift Mend.

Katrina is the author of three books including Make Thrift Mend: Stitch, Patch, Darn, Plant-Dye & Love Your Wardrobe (Abrams, 2021); Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More (Abrams, 2018) and The Paper Playhouse: Awesome Art Projects for Kids Using Paper, Boxes, and Books (Quarry 2015). Katrina's artwork, writing, and designs have appeared in numerous books, magazines, websites, newspapers, galleries, theaters, and alternative art venues across the United States and beyond.

She earned her MFA in Creative Writing and her BA in Environmental Studies having spent many years working in nonprofit arts organizations. She lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for over a decade but currently resides in the Hudson Valley of NY in an 1820s farmhouse with her husband, sons, chickens, honeybees, and many dye plants. For more information visit: www.katrinarodabaugh.com or Instagram: katrinarodabaugh

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973 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's beautiful pictures and step-by-step instructions that are easy to read and follow, making it great for beginners. Moreover, the book effectively inspires a positive mending mindset and serves as an outstanding guide to stitchery, with one customer highlighting its variety of ways to repair denim and linen. Additionally, customers appreciate its slow fashion approach and eco-friendly message, with one noting how it helps maintain a sustainable wardrobe. However, the book receives mixed feedback about its value for money, with some customers finding it not worth the price.

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Photography Clarity of instructions Insight Stitching information Eco-friendly Fashion pace Value for money Repetition

52 customers mention "Photography"52 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's photography, describing it as beautifully illustrated with amazingly beautiful pictures and a subtle style.

"...I like the artsy appearance of the repairs while they are not overdone! I will be purchasing a paper copy of this book for my library!" Read more

"...making and re-making in creating a world of sustainability....very appealing...." Read more

"...japanese boro style mending and kantha quilting there is a wealth of mending beauty and inspiration in these pages...." Read more

"...It does show how to mend some things, it is well-written, it has nice pictures, but there is quite the lack of depth and variety...." Read more

44 customers mention "Clarity of instructions"40 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's instructions clear and easy to follow, with one customer noting it takes readers through the process step-by-step, making it particularly suitable for beginners.

"...I found this book well organized, easy to read and follow. I liked the variety of ways to repair/mend denim and linen...." Read more

"...Each chapter provides a brief introduction, then technique(s), photos a little stitching history and brief 'essay' by contributing artists...." Read more

"...I don't mean this as a bash, because this book is intelligent and well written, but I thought I was getting a book on mending techniques and it did..." Read more

"Easy to read, high gloss pictures, great philosophy about getting out of fast fashion, and getting into slow fashion. Easy to follow directions...." Read more

40 customers mention "Insight"40 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, particularly noting how it helps develop a positive mending mindset. One customer mentions how it expands their repertoire of ideas, while another notes how it motivates them to mend their own clothes.

"...But overtime I've come to my senses and appreciate the act of mending, repair, preserving, making and re-making in creating a world of..." Read more

"...with the knowledge to move forward in mending garments in a unique, thoughtful and meditative way, extending the life cycle by leaps and bounds...." Read more

"...So, I love the concept behind the creation of the book. I love the heart of the author and the goal to do better as an individual to make the world..." Read more

"...The photography, layout and, most especially, the mending projects themselves are so lovely...." Read more

22 customers mention "Stitching information"17 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the stitching information in the book, describing it as an outstanding guide that teaches how to mend anything, with one customer highlighting its comprehensive coverage of denim and linen repair techniques.

"...I liked the variety of ways to repair/mend denim and linen. I know these techniques will be useful for other fabrics as well...." Read more

"...provides a brief introduction, then technique(s), photos a little stitching history and brief 'essay' by contributing artists...." Read more

"...It does show how to mend some things, it is well-written, it has nice pictures, but there is quite the lack of depth and variety...." Read more

"...finding out that there are curved safety pins that are useful when sewing on patches. I like the Boro technique stuff too." Read more

7 customers mention "Eco-friendly"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's eco-friendly approach, with one customer highlighting how it helps maintain a sustainable wardrobe and another noting its recycling philosophy.

"...I love the idea of wasting less, buying less while recycling more and saving more...." Read more

"...This book gives ideas how to remake and save clothes, and other textiles instead of just throwing them away...." Read more

"...Visible mending appeals to me aesthetically, pleasing the eye, and ecologically, pleasing the environmentally responsible side of me...." Read more

"...guidebook but even more soninspiration for building and maintaining a sustainable wardrobe one mend at a time...." Read more

7 customers mention "Fashion pace"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the fashion pace of the book, with some noting that slow fashion is possible.

"...great philosophy about getting out of fast fashion, and getting into slow fashion. Easy to follow directions. I’ll probably read it again." Read more

"...Apparently slow fashion means mending your clothes...." Read more

"...If you are a fan of the Slow Fashion Movement, you need this book!" Read more

"...I loved learning more about slow fashion and sustainable design." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value for money, with some saying it helps them spend less while others feel it's not worth the cost.

"...My take away... That there is tremendous value and worth in the idea of loving our garments and enhancing them overtime with pieces of ourselves,..." Read more

"...Not worth the money." Read more

"...I love the idea of wasting less, buying less while recycling more and saving more...." Read more

"...It's reasonably priced and would make a nice gift, along with a packet of sashiko needles and thread." Read more

9 customers mention "Repetition"0 positive9 negative

Customers find the book repetitive, with one customer noting it lacks depth and variety.

"...well-written, it has nice pictures, but there is quite the lack of depth and variety...." Read more

"...I bought this book with that in mind. But it was very repetitive. Once you've seen the first very slow instructions, you've see the entire book...." Read more

"...If you are an experienced needleworker, it's probably too basic for you." Read more

"repetitive ideas and shocked to find NO patterns included- not even for the very basic embroidery ideas...." Read more

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AmazonWoman
If you wear jeans, you need this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2025
Verified Purchase

As a lifelong sewist, over 50 years, started when I was 11 or 12, I prefer to make my clothing. However, jeans are another matter for me, I just don’t mind purchasing them. So learning to repair them is essential!
I found this book well organized, easy to read and follow. I liked the variety of ways to repair/mend denim and linen. I know these techniques will be useful for other fabrics as well. I like the artsy appearance of the repairs while they are not overdone!
I will be purchasing a paper copy of this book for my library!

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Amazon Customer
A must have book
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2018
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I pre-ordered this book even though I was a bit skeptical ...and being a fan of Boro, Sashiko and Kantha stitching was not sure this would be of interest. I really like this book. I'm a fan of 'art textiles' and even though I've sewn for years I really don't know much about actual mending.....toss the old thing and buy new was my motto. But overtime I've come to my senses and appreciate the act of mending, repair, preserving, making and re-making in creating a world of sustainability....very appealing. The book is well designed, simple and clear instruction, good photography. Each chapter provides a brief introduction, then technique(s), photos a little stitching history and brief 'essay' by contributing artists. I liked that the essays were interesting to read and not what I call "annoying artist art-speak" but rather more like a conversatioin with others who are like-minded. I do have to mention the size of the book.....approx. 7"x9". Such a nice change from the usual 9xll standard. As stitching/mending feels personal so does the size of the book. Personal is nice. So, congratulations to the author, well done!

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53 people found this helpful

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Vanessa Filley
Thoughtful, Beautiful and Informative.
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2018
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With an introduction from Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin, a leader in the slow fashion movement, the book opens by welcoming each of us into the Slow Fashion community.

Katrina thoughtfully and articulately lays out her motivations and inspiration for adopting a slow fashion practice and her mending is beautiful and meditative to boot. My take away... That there is tremendous value and worth in the idea of loving our garments and enhancing them overtime with pieces of ourselves, so they continue to grow to express our individuality.

With reference to Tom of Holland's mending of sweaters, shashiko stiching, european darning, japanese boro style mending and kantha quilting there is a wealth of mending beauty and inspiration in these pages.

I love that the author has taken her art practice into the world in a practical, thoughtful and intentional way. One that engages in social practice and social change

After a thorough read of this book one is equipped with the knowledge to move forward in mending garments in a unique, thoughtful and meditative way, extending the life cycle by leaps and bounds.

Bravo on a beautiful book of images and lyrical instructive text.

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17 people found this helpful

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Call of Kthalia
Lovely sentiments and photos, but wouldn't recommend to most
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2019
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I am giving this book a 4 but I don't know that I can recommend it as a tool for learning to mend. If you want to know why, please read on.

Maybe I misinterpreted the title? Maybe as I scanned through the book and I didn't see all the projects offered? The book shows images that prove her mending is as lovely as her sentiments towards the movement of slow fashion. And really that is what this book has the most to offer, as it is a long, well-thought presentation of the movement. If I wanted a reason to mend then this would be the book for me. If I wanted to convert someone with slow fashion proselytizing this would be the book for that need. I don't mean this as a bash, because this book is intelligent and well written, but I thought I was getting a book on mending techniques and it didn't feel that way when I dipped my toes in to look at the projects.

I returned the book as soon as I realized it wasn't really a book with an array of techniques for many kinds of damaged clothes, but because I wanted to know if I misunderstood what the book presented itself to be I went back to look at the title, and description, in greater detail. The description cites that there are over 20 projects within the pages of the book, but even though I felt a big problem with the book was that all the projects looked and felt the same, and that there wasn't much innovation - do I put the patch inside or outside? do I make the patch bigger than the hole? do I make some extra stitches around the area? - but even thinking things all looked the same my mind cannot wrap around the fact that on returning the book, I came here to write this review, and fully thought I was going to write that I was disappointed in that it only contained a half dozen projects. And here I look and see the book has over 20. I think this says it all, sadly. 20 projects easily summed into a handful.

Another person mentions the lack of knit fabric mending techniques as one issue. I think this also hits the nail on the head. The clumsiest newbie-to-sewing folks can sew a patch on denim and perhaps make some even-enough rows of running stitches without too much of a stretch of effort and this is what the majority of the book contains. Patchwork denim. It's lovely work, but a simple concept, and each one I recall seeing as I scanned the pages was a pretty simple project. What I really wanted was a mending book that told me how to fix an array of common issues, and maybe creatively. Seeing different fabrics, different notions, different treatments. Fixing buttons, fixing plackets, fixing the inevitable holes we get in t-shirts, darning socks, mending undies, maybe mending brassieres to fit better when they begin to stretch over time to give them a second life - a brassiere lift? My mom darns socks and I guess I can ask her how, but that would be something I would liked to have seen in this book. Everyone I know has at least one pair of jeans with a patch slapped on it. But who darns their socks anymore? My mom pretty much from what I know. I cannot imagine too many people can say they know someone well within their 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon that darns socks. Just a thought on a way to save lots of holey socks from the landfills, cause I sure don't donate holey socks, nor do I really know what to do with them other than throw them out. I also think the lack of variety means we are forgetting that a lot of people happily don ripped jeans, or patch them and keep them for years more, but what do I do with a torn work blazer, for example?

So, I love the concept behind the creation of the book. I love the heart of the author and the goal to do better as an individual to make the world better for all of us. I love the idea of wasting less, buying less while recycling more and saving more. I love the images and as much as I complain of the simplicity and lack of variation I do still love her art. The author has a lot to say about fashion and it is stuff that should be said and that people should think about. For that - if I were looking for a book about why I should slow my fashion roll - I would give the book 5 stars.

As a book on how to actually mend I think I would give this a 3. It does show how to mend some things, it is well-written, it has nice pictures, but there is quite the lack of depth and variety. While the concepts offered could be applied to other items of clothes, I really think more variety would help her cause here and would help the user become more inspired to take a whack and mending their own clothes instead of pitching them. Also, I know that this is touted as a mending book but perhaps - in lieu of an array of mending techniques for a variety of clothing types - a mention of basic alterations to save ill-fitting clothes from the bin or the Goodwill would help, too. Just a thought.

In summation, I took my ratings of 5 and 3 and mashed them up to a 4, but I am conflicted on that. I feel bad giving it a 4 because I don't know that I would recommend the book as a resource for mending, but conversely I would feel bad rating it less than a 4 because I think the author has important things to say so... my 4 comes with this caveat:

I would recommend this book ONLY to four kinds of people:

1. Those who want to learn about slow fashion and why it is important.
2. Those who want to make patchwork denim
3. Those who have very little sewing skill and want to learn a few basics
4. Those who want to support the author for whatever reason that may be - perhaps that they approve of her message of the need for slow fashion movement to catch on, etc.

I do not recommend this book as a resource to learn an array of techniques to mend clothes.

I hope this helps and best of luck!

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Jorge
Beautifully illustrated book, clear directions, a well constructed book with thick pages. Glossy.
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
Easy to read, high gloss pictures, great philosophy about getting out of fast fashion, and getting into slow fashion. Easy to follow directions. I’ll probably read it again.

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LC
LOVE this book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2025
Verified Purchase
Absolutely love this book- such a wonderful read and explanation of mending using Sashiko. Highly recommend if you are interested in mending your own clothes. So well done, I love that I have this to reference and keep in my best sashiko book collection.

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Eye Candy Farm
Just what I need to get my beloved Levi's mended with style!
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2025
Verified Purchase
Super excited to really dig into this book! I have some old Levi's I've been dying to mend in a creative way. They've been worn thin in several areas and really shouldn't go through another wear/wash cycle until they're properly mended (the fit is fab, I cannot give them up!). I browsed through a bit and liked what I saw in the book. Great value in a hardcover book too!

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Eye Candy Farm

Just what I need to get my beloved Levi's mended with style!

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2025
Super excited to really dig into this book! I have some old Levi's I've been dying to mend in a creative way. They've been worn thin in several areas and really shouldn't go through another wear/wash cycle until they're properly mended (the fit is fab, I cannot give them up!). I browsed through a bit and liked what I saw in the book. Great value in a hardcover book too!

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Gonzï¿½lez-Cossï¿½o Teresita
Este libro es una belleza
Reviewed in Mexico on November 23, 2021
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Es un libro que se toma muy cómodamente entre las manos. Su pasta es dura y sus hojas gruesas. La encuadernación permite pasar las hojas de tal forma que quedan abiertas completamente sin lastimar el libro.
Más allá de la hermosa presentación, el libro tiene textos claros y sencillos. Los ejemplos son bellos. Es una delicia este libro

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SnowWhite
Toll!
Reviewed in Germany on March 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
Ich habe gemeinsam mit diesem Buch auch "Visible Mending" gekauft, weil ich mich nicht entscheiden konnte. War richtig so, die beiden Bücher ergänzen sich sehr gut.
"Mending Matters" enthält neben sehr schönen Fotos und ein paar Schritt-für-Schritt Anleitungen zur Reperatur verschiedener Kleidungsstücke auch ein schönes Vorwort der Autorin über Slow Fashion und Sustainability, regt zum Nachdenken an und hat mir sehr gut gefallen.
Behandelt wird nicht nur das übliche Loch am Knie der Jeans, es wird auch gezeigt wie man Blusen reparieren kann, die am Saum oder unter dem Arm kaputt sind. Dann gibt es noch Anleitungen für einfache Taschen aus Jeans-Resten und natürlich werden die ganzen Werkzeuge/Materialien behandelt, die man braucht.
Ein wirklich informatives Buch, das auch schön anzusehen ist und das ich immer gern durchblättere, auch wenn aktuell kein Projekt ansteht.

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beth lamb
Joli réparations
Reviewed in France on November 20, 2018
Verified Purchase
On a tous un vêtement quelque part qui est troué. Ici, ce que j'aime, c'est la manière esthétique (et insolite parfois aussi) de réparer un jeans. A part certaines, je crois qu'on mettrait notre jeans longtemps et il y aura un jour une réparation à faire. Super pour les hommes et les adolescents, ces derniers portent déjà des jeans troués - peut être un jour, on aura envie d'un jeans (ou autre vêtement) bien entretenu. Livre à recommander.

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Aleksandra P.
Przerost formy nad treścią
Reviewed in Poland on September 6, 2023
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To ładna książka, do oglądania. Wartościowej treści starczyłoby na kilkanaście kartek.

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Nicola
Consigliato, belle immagini e testi chiari.
Reviewed in Italy on March 29, 2024
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Libro in inglese, con immagini a colori e testi di spiegazione chiari. Bella edizione, piacevole nell’estetica da tenere anche a vista e con molti spunti interessanti. Consigliato.

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Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More Kindle Edition

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Just what I need to get my beloved Levi's mended with style!

Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars If you wear jeans, you need this book!

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have book

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, Beautiful and Informative.

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely sentiments and photos, but wouldn't recommend to most

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated book, clear directions, a well constructed book with thick pages. Glossy.

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE this book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I need to get my beloved Levi's mended with style!

Just what I need to get my beloved Levi's mended with style!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Este libro es una belleza

5.0 out of 5 stars Toll!

5.0 out of 5 stars Joli réparations

2.0 out of 5 stars Przerost formy nad treścią

5.0 out of 5 stars Consigliato, belle immagini e testi chiari.

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If you wear jeans, you need this book!

A must have book

Thoughtful, Beautiful and Informative.

Lovely sentiments and photos, but wouldn't recommend to most

Beautifully illustrated book, clear directions, a well constructed book with thick pages. Glossy.

LOVE this book!

Just what I need to get my beloved Levi's mended with style!

Este libro es una belleza

Toll!

Joli réparations

Przerost formy nad treścią

Consigliato, belle immagini e testi chiari.