Stitch ‘N’ Fix
Joan Gordon
In A Nutshell: Beginner’s reference guide to mending using both hand and machine sewing
“Make do and mend” is becoming one of the key mantras of the day, and this book shows you how to do just this. It covers many basic repairs from buttons, zips, seams, hems, holes and a miscellaneous assortment of others – creating an hourglass shape in a shirt, removing a skirt waistband, and turning a pleat into a dart. It’s not exhaustive – I looked in vain to find how to shorten a sleeve but I can’t complain at lack of content. Each of the procedures is explained with clear instructions and accompanying photos.
This book is most useful to a sewing novice as it starts from the most basic level – how to thread a needle. I’m an intermediate sewer so already know how to undertake most of the processes. Saying that, I still learnt some useful snippets. I had not thought to tighten a gaping neckline by edging with blanket stitch, but this would be both useful and decorative.
A bonus of the book is that Joan suggests many quick fixes. A hem can be temporarily held up with staples, safety pins, or double sided sticky tape. Many repairs are explained using both hand and machine sewing. So all in all a great reference book for a novice sewer wanting to learn how to repair their clothes.
