Visible Mending: Artful Stitchery to Repair and Refresh Your Favorite Things

I’ve been chomping at the bit waiting for this book to be delivered. It’s everything I was hoping it’d be, then some!The book itself is such fantastic quality. The pages and cover are of beautiful and strong stock. The photos, quality and the illustrations, clear, well thought out and executed.I JUST received it very early this morning which shows how hard amazon and drivers are working to get products out to us all even during a time when it’s frightening to be out in public. They know that books, although not as important as the medical and food supplies they’re delivering are still important to our mental health. Kudos to amazon workers from every department right to the person walking up my 26 stairs to leave my package at the front door. You are appreciated.If Boro and seshiko, visible mending is your thing or your just starting to get the itch, this is the book to start with. Covers denim, knits, backpacks, jackets, towels even a pair of sneakers/trainers, canvas shoes. LOVE this book and will start using TODAY!!

I was so tempting to get Mending Matters, but thankfully I read the reviews closely because Visible Mending covers WAY more fabrics (knits are included!) and techniques, whereas the other book covers, well, jeans and that's it. If you're really looking for ideas and instructions for various types of visible mending THIS BOOK is what you want!I have a feeling that cover photos (yeah, don't judge a book by its cover, right?) are partially to blame for Mending Matters getting better sales. Japanese boro and sashiko techniques are popular and MM has several jeans on the cover showing that - and it looks nice and minimal. For some reason, I really don't dig the cover of VM, as the colorful square looks like a childish patch and you have to look closely to see just how well done the mending square has been done.IN SHORT, BUY Visible Mending for *excellent* usable content and ignore the sub-par cover. Only get Mending Matters if all you're looking for is mending only jeans!!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I did read the whole thing.As others have noted, there is not a lot of information in this book. It’s very basic. Here’s what it has:“Boro Stitching” Section• Pages 8 – 10: List of materials and descriptions. The materials list is very informative, and the author recommends specific materials as well as specific brands. (I found these pages to be highly useful, and I purchased several of the recommended items.)• Pages 10 – 12: Describes the boro stitch technique. It’s minimal, but acceptable.• Pages 14 – 21: Gallery of photos of projects the author has done with descriptions of each photo. This section seemed designed for inspiration so if your aesthetic is similar you will probably enjoy the photos. My aesthetic is different so I did not feel very inspired, but I suppose you can get an idea of different things you can do."Embroidery" is discussed from pg. 23 through 37. I felt like this was the weakest section of the book. It gives a materials list, shows some embroidery stitches, and is followed by several pages of photos of projects that used embroidery to mend. If you do not already know how to do the embroidery stitches, I don’t believe this book provides enough instruction. You would need a book on embroidery.“Patches” Section (I really liked this section and found it useful.)• Pages 39 – 40: Discussion of materials• Pages 40 – 43: Instruction on 4 methods for applying patches. (I found these pages helpful.)• Pages 44 – 51: Gallery of photos of patch projects and descriptions“Darning” Section (I also really liked this section and found it useful.)• Page 53 – 54: Discussion of materials• Pages 55 – 57: Darning Instruction (I think the instruction is adequate and useful.)• Pages 58 – 63: Gallery of photos of darning projects and descriptions“Machine Mending” Section (This section was okay, but I wasn’t blown away or inspired by it.)• Pages 65 – 66: Discussion of materials• Pages 67 – 69: Instruction• Pages 70 – 78: Gallery of photos of machine mending projects and descriptionsI was torn between 3 or 4 stars. I feel like even though this book is probably intended to be introductory, it could have provided more instruction. It feels like it might have been edited down to not be more than a certain number of pages per section, especially the embroidery section. Embroidery stitches require numerous photos for explanation, and this book did not provide that.I paid almost $17. This is relatively cheap for a book, and I really liked the darning and patches section along with the materials list in the boro stitching section. I feel like I got my money’s worth, learned a few things, and will definitely keep the book. I did not find the photo gallery inspiring, but it gives some ideas of things you can do. An in-depth book would cost more so I don’t believe it would be fair to rate this book low when it is priced for what it is. This is the only mending book I have read so I have nothing which to compare it, but I'm happy with the purchase.

I learned about this book and technique by viewing a Sulky webinar a couple of days ago and ordered this book immediately after the webinar ended. I've mended things most of my life, but I've always tried to make the mending as invisible as possible.This book is an inspiration to embrace the mending and turn it into fun design elements. It's not about perfect traditional embroidery or stitching, it's about using stitches and patches to create visual interest. Some of the repairs are obviously repairs but some just look like part of the design. It's about creating something a little quirky, funky, eclectic, definitely unique.It includes both hand- and machine-sewing techniques and examples. The photos and illustrations are excellent.It almost makes makes me want to find something to mend. I will definitely look at my next mending/patch project from a completely different perspective!

I got this book only yesterday after a few weeks of dithering over it and a few others. It is short--I read through the entire book last night. BUT, it is packed with clear, concise instructions and pictures, not a word wasted. I love that she writes about materials other (and in addition to) denim because so much of what I had seen focused on jeans and other denim only. Not being much of a jeans wearer I was happy to see examples and discussion about other woven materials as well as knit materials. I learned about some things I can get to help me in my new project of mending an old knit turtleneck. I'm thrilled to have the book and highly recommend it if you want simple, easy to understand language and helpful information.

I have several mending books but I like this one best. It's very clear and the mends are unfussy, yet still attractive. Has a good selection of mends too.

This book gave me the basics for doing some mending on currently damaged clothing and also ideas to include in designs I create.

creative ideas and clear illustrations

Ich bin begeistert, endlich kann ich Kleidungsstücke die ich lieb gewonnen habe, auch mit kleinen Makeln noch weiter tragen oder sogar zum Hingucker machen.

英語はわかりませんが、刺繍やﾊﾟｯﾁﾜｰｸ、ﾀﾞｰﾆﾝｸﾞ、ｱｯﾌﾟﾘｹ縫い目の方向も示されてあり写真だけでもわかりやすかったです。刺し子の要領やいくつかの技法はぎれ?を合わせての作り方、色づかいや縫い方、配置にセンスのよさが際立ち、もっと色々な種類の作品を見たいと思いました。

I really enjoy this book.What wonderful information and a true art form.If you are the least interested in visible mending or boro you need this book.

I deliberated for sometime between this & Mending Matters. This has some ok, basic stuff which covers a range but much smaller & thinner than I was expecting. Also it contained nothing I hadn’t already seen on Instagram.