Posted on

sweet mending satisfaction

20121118-163248.jpg

A friend sent me a photo of her daughter’s dress and asked the best way to fix it. She was either going to finish it on the machine or add ric rac to cover the frayed ends.

I told her to bring it over. There were a few dropped stitches that I fixed with a crochet hook. Then I hand-sewed the rest with matching thread and duplicate stitches.

It’s not perfect, but I have to admit that I was kind of impressed with my own work.

Does anyone else get this excited over mending? Please tell me I’m not the only one!

Posted on

satin stitch: making a buttonhole smaller

20121109-141844.jpg

A few years ago I found a really nice raincoat at a garage sale. It’s got a removable, quilted lining that makes it extra toasty on cold days.

I love everything about it except one thing: the buttons. They’re always popping out of the holes. I chalked it up to the fabric being slippery, but one day while I was complaining about them, my daughter said: Why don’t you just make the buttonholes smaller? Upon closer inspection, I realized they are bigger than necessary.

Smart kid!

I’m closing them up with a little bit of satin stitch on the side of the hole that will be hidden when buttoned. I’m ready for the cold, rainy autumn days ahead — if we ever get any.