While I wait for my yarn and shuttle to arrive for my table loom weaving project, I have time to work on some sewing and mending.
Rodrigue has a favourite old wool jacket that’s full of holes, from regular wear and moths, and during the pandemic lockdown, I ordered a “speedweve” type mending loom— but never used it.
These little looms were originally sold in the 1940s, and now they’re plentiful on Etsy. They’re fairly simple to use, and allow you to weave a small patch directly onto a piece of clothing to conceal a hole.
I got some darning yarn in compatible colours from a local knitting store, and got to work, using the project as a chance to practice some basic weaving patterns.
![Random plaid patch in white, maroon, greige and wedgewood](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3341-1024x1024.jpeg)
![Diamond twill patch in in greige, maroon and wedgewood](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3340-1024x1024.jpeg)
![A gingham patch in greige and wedgewood](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3338-1024x1024.jpeg)
![single-chevron twill patch in greige and wedgewood](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3333-1024x1024.jpeg)
![A chevron twill patch in greige and maroon](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3334-1024x1024.jpeg)
![A messy plain weave patch in wedgewood, navy and greige, with a red heart both worn and embroidered](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3335-1024x1024.jpeg)
![Mini houndstooth in wedgewood and maroon](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3336-1024x1024.jpeg)
![A basket weave patch with a wedgewood warp, an stripes of greige and maroon](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3337-1024x1024.jpeg)
![A plain weave patch with stripes in navy, maroon, and greige](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3332-1024x1024.jpeg)
![A mini-houndstooth patch in greige and wedgewood blue](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3342-1-1024x1024.jpeg)
![The front of the jacket, with 8 patches](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3331-scaled.jpeg)
![The back of the jacket, with 3 visible patches](https://www.jillmurray.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3339-768x1024.jpeg)
At the outset of this venture, we identified three holes that needed mending, but by the time I was done, I’d made 11 patches. The more acquainted I became with the jacket, the more worn spots I found.
The patches are messy in spots– sometimes unavoidable because near the seams, the fabric was too bulky and would slip off the loom. But I’m overall satisfied with the finished look of the jacket, and I learned a lot while doing it– including that sometimes it’s easier to just weave directly onto the garment, setting aside the loom.
Most importantly, we’ve saved a beloved jacket from the landfill, and I’ve reignited my mending habit, which is definitely going to serve us, in this time of an impending trade war.