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.
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.