follies in fandom

< chris richard . danilo ricci >

🛁 Rubber Duckie, you're the one

You make bath time lots of fun 🦆

Introduction:

Visible mending is a decorative way to fix up an item. Instead of trying to make your mend as invisible as possible, the idea is to make it part of the garment’s design.

Visual mending is not a single technique: it’s more of a mindset. If you’ve got an item you love, it deserves to be mended, and if you’re going to put that love into stitches, why not show them off?

That being said, there are some specific techniques that are popular with visible menders. Let’s take a look!

Sashiko:

Sashiko is a type of traditional Japanese embroidery that is used to both decorate and reinforce fabric. In visible mending, sashiko is often used to cover up holes with patches or to reinforce thinning fabric. This technique uses a variation on the running stitch.

(Image source)

Some resources on sashiko:

SashiCo on YouTube: sashiko livestreams and information on the cultural aspect of sashiko.

Written tutorial by Upcycle Stitches.

Free sashiko templates by TheSpruceCrafts.

Fixing jeans with sashiko by Soluna Collective.

(Image source)

(Image source)

Embroidery:

Regular embroidery is also a popular technique to accentuate your mends. Check out my embroidery 101 post to learn how to get started. You can embroider patches, or use embroidery to hide or accentuate any stitches you’ve made to fix holes. Embroidery’s also a great way to cover up stains.

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(Image source)

Patches:

There are many ways to add patches to a garment. My tutorial on patches is a good place to start if you want to make custom-shaped patches to sew on top of your fabric. You can also sew your patch on the inside of your garment and have it peek out from beneath the hole you’re trying to fix. Fun ideas for this are lace or superheroes.

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(Source)

Darning:

Darning is a technique used to repair holes in fabric by using running stitches to weave extra fabric over the hole as to fill it up again. While traditionally darning is done in an invisible way by using the same colour of thread as your fabric, you can also use contrasting colours to accentuate your fix. Check out this written tutorial on darning by TheSpruceCrafts.

(Image source)

(Image source)

Conclusion:

Visible mending is a creative way to fix up your clothes and give them some personality at the same time.

You should be proud of the fact that you took the time and learned the necessary skills needed to mend your clothes! Show off what you did!

A fun side effect of wearing these obvious mends is that people will notice them. They’ll remember your fixes the next time they’re faced with a hole in their wardrobe, and it will make them more likely to try it for themselves.

John doesn’t ask Bobby if they can stay–he pretty much just dumps Dean and Sam on the porch and drives off. Dean hears the squeal of Bobby’s front door opening as he watches the Impala’s tail lights fade into the distance. 

Bobby didn’t plan to take care of them, so they end up going to the grocery store at nine pm. Sam gets excited about everything–riding in the cart, getting to choose what kind of bread they have, carefully holding the egg carton, telling Bobby how this is the most they’ve had to eat in weeks.

(Dean carefully avoids Bobby’s gaze when Sam says that.)

The next day is a Sunday, and at breakfast Bobby tells them that he’s signing them up for some free summer program at the Boys and Girls Club downtown. 

“There’ll be other kids your age,” Bobby says. “It’ll be good for you.” 

The first day, Monday, Dean lasts until pool time after lunch. 

“You can’t drown the other kids,” Bobby says sternly in the truck, a dripping-wet Dean in the passengers seat. 

“They were pullin’ Sammy’s hair,” Dean complains.

“Ignore ‘em.”

Tuesday’s not much better–some other kid at lunch says they’re “weird” because they don’t have a mom, so Dean dumps his milk carton out onto that kid’s head. 

“You just said I couldn’t drown anyone,” Dean says to Bobby’s stern face when he picks him up. 

“I also said to ignore ‘em.”

Wednesday: Dean shoves someone on the playground for teasing Sam about the soles of his sneakers falling off. 

Thursday: another boy makes fun of Dean for “eating too fast.” Dean leaves with a split lip. 

Friday: the secretary at the club tells Bobby regretfully, “We can’t keep Dean anymore.”

“What about Sam?” Bobby asks.

“He’s been an angel.” The secretary beams at Sam. “You can go inside the gym with the other kids.”

Sam’s lip wobbles. “I’m not goin’ without Dean.” He grabs Dean’s hand.

Dean bends down to his brother’s height. “I’m sorry, Sammy. You gotta go by yourself.”

“Don’t wanna.”

“Sucks.” Dean ruffles Sam’s hair. “Go on, go play with your friends.”

The secretary really does look sorry. 

The whole ride back to Bobby’s, Dean’s sure he’s gonna get it. If his dad was around, well…

Dean’s glad his dad’s not around. 

“Get out of the truck,” Bobby says after skidding into the drive, and then he gestures for Dean to follow him into the house. 

Bobby pours himself some coffee. 

Dean waits. 

Bobby drinks his coffee.

Dean waits.

“I got a Pontiac in the yard that needs work,” Bobby finally says. “You wanna help?”

“What–help?” Dean stares at him. “You’re not mad at me?”

“Oh, I’m mad, but shoutin’ at you ain’t gonna fix anything.” Bobby stoops down to Dean’s level, mirroring Dean and Sam’s conversation from half an hour before. “When a kid says shit about you or your brother, that ain’t a reflection on you. It’s a reflection on them. But you can’t just lash out at ‘em every time, okay? You wanna be frustrated? That’s fine. Then you gotta find another way to get that frustration out.” 

Dean keeps staring. The room is getting blurry.

“You can cry, too,” Bobby says. 

“Dad said–”

“Screw your dad. Boys can cry, and if you don’t you might explode.”

Dean cries. 

Then they go fix up that Pontiac.