The Project:
In good shape otherwise, this cute pair of Carhartt jeans with one knee torn and the other knee threadbare. I found these jeans while thrifting and realized this was such a common, relatively easy mend. Carhartt's are known for being heavy duty, and I thought it fitting to reinforce both knees, and give them back some dignity.
I attached the patches using sashiko style stitches to add textural pop to this knee repair. The dark denim stands out so much, that the stitching should be more subtle, so I only stitched in vertical lines.
A Note About Choosing Materials:
Sashiko is a hand mending technique developed by Japanese peasant folks centuries ago. Garments were patched for repair or stitched together for warmth. The stitched patterns covering the surface, many honoring nature and symbolic in Japanese culture.
The Japanese concept of repairing an item in a way that transforms it and makes it more beautiful than before is reflected in sashiko.
I appreciate using materials (and reuse when possible) that are the most accessible where we live. Here, in my smallish city of Bellingham, we happen to have incredible secondhand shopping resources, which is lucky for repairing with quality secondhand materials.
Search for creative reuse, secondhand shops, thrift, or resellers in your area. Yard sales and estate sales are great resources too!
These are all different types of thread that I use in my mending. You can use regular 6 strand embroidery floss, but because of those individual strands, the mend doesn't look as "clean".
Notice that yellow block at the bottom of the picture? That is beeswax, and I think it is so helpful to coat your thread, especially for denim mending projects. You just pull your thread through the wax a few times, it's a gamechanger.
If you aren't sure where to start, I have a kit with everything you need right here.
https://wrenbirdarts.com/collections/diy-embroidery-patterns/products/sashiko-mending-supplies
Sashiko Style Mending Technique
It is necessary to pin your patch firmly in place, so that it doesn't shift as you are pulling needle and thread through multiple times. I leave the pins in for as long as I can, only removing when I am about to stitch through the pin holding the layers together. It's a pain, but worth it.
With this type of repair, a long, sharp sashiko needle is used. This is so you can collect multiple stitches on the needle, rather than making single stitches. Start by trying to collect 3-4 stitches on your needle before pulling it through. As you get more comfortable, you'll be able to collect more stitches on your needle. This speeds up the mending process significantly.
I started stitching in the bottom right hand corner, going up, then after stitching to the top of the patch, I poked my needle out over the next row, and stitched downward. Up and down, working from right to left.
The Finished Project
I wish you could feel the bumpy, soft texture of the stitching!
