Very Visible Mending!

I decided to take visible mending of jeans to a new level by trying a new mixed technique:  weaving and stitching with colored threads.  

This pair of preloved jeans had a big hole that was probably “manufactured” that way, but enticing, nonetheless. As you can see, the vertical (warp) blue threads are missing, leaving only the horizontal (weft) white threads. Since most of the white threads remain and are in good shape, I decided to stitch and weave different colors to mend the hole.

Step One: Pin and machine sew a piece of denim under the part to be mended leaving extra space from the edges. This will give strength to the jeans when wearing them and help preserve the mending.

Step Two:  There are tools that help you weave but I opted to use straight pins as guides. The spacing weave incorporated several white threads so more color would show.

Step Three:  I began with vertical weaving to get practice and surprisingly it is quite easy! Start outside the area to be mending with a sashiko (kind of running stitch) and then try weaving through the marked white threads. Note: do NOT attach the underside to the denim patch underneath – – simply weave.

Step Four:   After feeling a bit more confident, I began with a purple loop outside the part to be mended and continued with a straight vertical weave inside.

Step Five: Adding Diagonal Weaves. It becomes a bit tricky when you begin to stitch/weave at an angle. Carefully sticking to the “over and under” of the weave design is key. You can halve or double up on the weave, but that can get confusing and you need consistency.

This lime green thread was the first diagonal weave and it was definitely part of the learning process.

And here comes an orange stitching loop outside the mending part and angled mending inside.

Yellow and blue threads added angles in the other direction but the challenge continues. Up to 9 colors so far!

Using the blunt side of the needle can sometimes help lead it through the white threads as shown here with the peach-colored thread.

And finally, I have decided to stop mending, though the urge to continue is also present. Already my brain is churning at how to incorporate this colorful and visible mend into another denim garment.

Happy stitching and weaving!