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Just because something gets broken, torn, or old doesn't mean we need to throw it away. 92 million tonnes of textile waste ends up in landfills in the U.S. every year as it is. But there are ways to prolong the life of an item of clothing. One of them is mending, and it can be quite an art form, too.

People in this Reddit community know that. They're into what's called 'visible mending,' the art of repairing clothes, furniture, textiles, and in some cases even cars by displaying their flaws instead of hiding them. So, scroll through this list of stunning mending projects and perhaps it'll inspire you to prolong your garment's life too!

To know more about the benefits and joys of visible mending, Bored Panda reached out to fiber artist and author of Mending Matters and Make Thrift Mend Katrina Rodabaugh. She kindly agreed to tell us why mending clothes instead of throwing them away can be so joyous and shared some practical tips for aspiring menders. Read her insights below!

#1

Embroidered Couch Repair!

Embroidered Couch Repair!

antekamnia Report

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Greenmantle
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My old cat would've made an attempt to scratch the new design, get a claw caught, then panic

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#2

Third Attempt At Darning!

Third Attempt At Darning!

Guilty_Piglet5731 Report

When I was little, my grandma used to darn the socks for our entire family. Granted, she was the one who knit them in the first place, but she was also the one who would repair them when there would be nothing but big holes left in the heels. Back when she was growing up, there was no such thing as fast fashion. Even suggesting to throw the socks out would've seemed incredibly wasteful.

Luckily, it seems that mending is coming back in style. Patrick Grant, the host of The Great British Sewing Bee, told The Guardian that people are getting tired of the fast fashion industry and looking for alternatives. "I think this trend has been growing for several years now and I think it's largely been driven by our desire to consume less and throw less away for environmental reasons."

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#4

I Covered Up A Wine Stain On My Favorite Dress With A Cross Stitch Flower (X-Post From /R/Crossstitch)

I Covered Up A Wine Stain On My Favorite Dress With A Cross Stitch Flower (X-Post From /R/Crossstitch)

aly5321 Report

#5

Fixed A Small Hole In The Sleeve Of My Boyfriend’s Jacket. Do I Tell Him Or Let Him Find It?

Fixed A Small Hole In The Sleeve Of My Boyfriend’s Jacket. Do I Tell Him Or Let Him Find It?

Cute-Significance758 Report

#6

Really Happy With How This Came Out, Dandelion Seed Head Over Some Small Tears In A Shirt

Really Happy With How This Came Out, Dandelion Seed Head Over Some Small Tears In A Shirt

Hippophae Report

The wish to be more eco-friendly is one of the reasons artist and author Katrina Rodabaugh turned to mending as well. "I love so many things about mending clothes!" she tells Bored Panda. "Mostly, it repairs the textile and puts it back into rotation and prolongs its usefulness. It's better for the environment if I'm able to wear my clothes for as long as possible and reduce waste."

However, there's the crafting aspect as well. "I also love that it allows for experimentation with simple design elements like color, line, and scale," Katrina says. "I love that it's calming, centering, and quiet. And I love that it lets me practice basic stitching and patching—a micro session of crafting in a full day."

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#8

My Boyfriend’s Mom Had A Medical Emergency And The Emts Cut Her Favorite Jacket. I Mended It For Her Christmas Present

My Boyfriend’s Mom Had A Medical Emergency And The Emts Cut Her Favorite Jacket. I Mended It For Her Christmas Present

safety_pin_era Report

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Borg
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She will love you forever for that ❤️❤️❤️

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When you're a beginner at mending and have never done a stitch in your life, it can be hard to navigate the world of crafts. Especially if you're trying to be more sustainable and friendly to the environment; knowing what tools and materials to choose for mending matters. You wouldn't want to go for a polyester or nylon thread when your goal is to reduce the use of synthetic fibers.

#11

Patched A Hole In The Crotch Of My Jeans

Patched A Hole In The Crotch Of My Jeans

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Borg
Community Member
1 month ago

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#12

Fixed Some Holes With Bees

Fixed Some Holes With Bees

Knautia-arvensis Report

Katrina says that you don't need much to start mending. "Most of my mending materials are quite simple—thread, needle, yarn, patches, scissors, thimble, and a ruler," she tells us. "I love that the tools are not highly specialized and are common enough that most folks can access them easily."

#13

I Sewed Some Doilies Into Both Knees Of My Jeans (My First Mend Ever)!

I Sewed Some Doilies Into Both Knees Of My Jeans (My First Mend Ever)!

DataHasRedHair Report

#14

Had A Stain On A Shirt, Fixed It With A Little Ducky!

Had A Stain On A Shirt, Fixed It With A Little Ducky!

Alarmed_Shoulder_386 Report

#15

Cold Snap Here, So I Needed To Patch A Hole In Favorite Winter Coat

Cold Snap Here, So I Needed To Patch A Hole In Favorite Winter Coat

Responsible-Aside-18 Report

When it comes to fibers, Katrina prefers to go natural. "I opt for biodegradable fibers like cotton, linen, and wool to reduce my use of synthetics, whenever possible." She recommends using castoff clothes or remnant fabrics when you're making patches. That works really well for mending woven garments like denim.

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#16

First Attempt At Sashiko, Covering A Grouping Of Stubborn Stains

First Attempt At Sashiko, Covering A Grouping Of Stubborn Stains

freshahava Report

#18

My First Visible Mend And First Embroidery Ever!

My First Visible Mend And First Embroidery Ever!

_Something_Classy Report

And what about fixing knitted or crocheted garments? "If I'm darning knits, it's great fun to plant-dye tiny skeins of wool yarn to use for special mending projects—though leftover yarn from knitting projects is great too." People can either use store-bought natural plant dye extracts or experiment with homemade options like coffee, black tea, or onion skins.

#20

My Favorite Pair Of Shorts Ripped And So I Thought I’d Give Vm A Try

My Favorite Pair Of Shorts Ripped And So I Thought I’d Give Vm A Try

strawberrymystic Report

#21

A Snail To Fix A Torn Pocket Corner

A Snail To Fix A Torn Pocket Corner

pahein-kae Report

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If this list inspired you to try visible mending, Katrina has some useful tips about where to start. "Try to match the fiber of the textile you're mending with the fiber in the patch and thread," she recommends. "If you're mending mid-weight denim jeans, try to use a mid-weight denim patch and mid-weight cotton thread. If you're darning a bulky sweater, use bulky yarn."

#23

Mended My Toddler's Shirt With Some Mushrooms!

Mended My Toddler's Shirt With Some Mushrooms!

wollphilie Report

#24

Been Going Through It; Mending My Clothes As An Attempt To Mend My Self

Been Going Through It; Mending My Clothes As An Attempt To Mend My Self

sparklesquidd Report

A mistake many beginners can make is to use a patch the size of the hole they're mending. Katrina points out that the patch or darn should always be bigger than the hole or fray. "It needs to attach to the undamaged part of the textile so make the repair bigger than the hole. You can always practice your stitches on a fabric scrap to help warm up."

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#25

The Adhesive That Holds Together The Covering On My Headphones Ear Cups Came Apart

The Adhesive That Holds Together The Covering On My Headphones Ear Cups Came Apart

MainlandX Report

#27

Salvaging A Sentimental Sweatshirt

Salvaging A Sentimental Sweatshirt

Stick-Senior Report

Nobody's born an expert, so don't get upset when you fail. There's no superglue in mending; you can always fix a mistake. "Remember that they are just stitches and you can take them out and start over if you like," Katrina says. "The more you stitch, the more you'll get comfortable with your stitches, like handwriting. Mend things and have fun!"

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#30

I Thought You Guys Might Appreciate My Pants

I Thought You Guys Might Appreciate My Pants

helchowskinator Report

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Have you ever attempted visible mending, Pandas? Let us know how it went! If you get inspired by this list, don't hesitate to share your experiences with fellow Pandas in the comments as well. And if you're looking for more cool pics from the r/VisibleMending subreddit, check out our previous articles about them here and here!

#31

Flowers To Cover Up The Stitches From Closing Two Holes

Flowers To Cover Up The Stitches From Closing Two Holes

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#32

First Attempt At Darning, I’m Into It! I Tried To Make It Look Like A Consistent Plaid Pattern Across Two Big Holes And A Few Small Ones

First Attempt At Darning, I’m Into It! I Tried To Make It Look Like A Consistent Plaid Pattern Across Two Big Holes And A Few Small Ones

thisnthatthisnthat Report

#33

“Mended” Taxi

“Mended” Taxi

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Traveling Lady Railfan
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did the same on my car. Stitches outta zip ties. Works great on cracked plastic part.

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#34

I Don't Know If This Counts, But These 25¢ Shorts Didn't Fit Right So I Added Side Panels. Now They Fit Like A Dream

I Don't Know If This Counts, But These 25¢ Shorts Didn't Fit Right So I Added Side Panels. Now They Fit Like A Dream

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#35

They Were Getting So Threadbare They Were Practically Translucent

They Were Getting So Threadbare They Were Practically Translucent

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Sedona
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its a great idea to keep clothes like this around and practise sewing/mending skills on them.

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#37

Parchment Holes In A 14th Century Manuscript Repaired Using Embroidery. Circa 1417 Ce, Now Housed At The Uppsala University Library In Sweden [500x375]

Parchment Holes In A 14th Century Manuscript Repaired Using Embroidery. Circa 1417 Ce, Now Housed At The Uppsala University Library In Sweden [500x375]

Interesting-Note-714 Report

#38

I Finished Patching My GF's Pants With A Puppy Patch

I Finished Patching My GF's Pants With A Puppy Patch

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#39

When Life Gives You Lemons

When Life Gives You Lemons

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#40

I Didn't Do The Best Job Possible, But I Think It Looks Pretty Cute

I Didn't Do The Best Job Possible, But I Think It Looks Pretty Cute

Wexoun Report

#41

Applying The Pattern To Jeans Repair

Applying The Pattern To Jeans Repair

Sea_Solution_9837 Report

#42

Girlfriend's Hoodie Had A Stain That Wouldn't Come Out So I Turned It Into Another Tiny Friend 🥰

Girlfriend's Hoodie Had A Stain That Wouldn't Come Out So I Turned It Into Another Tiny Friend 🥰

Illustrious_Poem_42 Report

#43

Three Or Four Layers Of Repair Into Not Paying Another $35 For Replacement Padding For My Headphones

Three Or Four Layers Of Repair Into Not Paying Another $35 For Replacement Padding For My Headphones

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#44

Laced-Up Tear

Laced-Up Tear

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Justin Tyme
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one should be higher for its uniqueness. There is a lot of redundancy in the ones above it.

#45

I Sacrified My Pants On A 100 Degree Day

I Sacrified My Pants On A 100 Degree Day

theta394 Report

#47

A Cheerful Little Mend For A Ripped Belt Loop On My Favorite Jeans

A Cheerful Little Mend For A Ripped Belt Loop On My Favorite Jeans

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Meagan Glaser
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like that it's subtly giving a "tada!" effect, since OP just pulled off a sartorial magic trick

#48

Autumn's Coming!

Autumn's Coming!

ThisTimeInBlue Report

#49

Felted Over The Holes In My Sweater

Felted Over The Holes In My Sweater

this_is_butts Report

#50

Fixed The Tablecloth With A Lil Squirrel

Fixed The Tablecloth With A Lil Squirrel

11_petals Report

#51

My First Stab At Embroidery For This Visible-Ish Mend!

My First Stab At Embroidery For This Visible-Ish Mend!

pineapplekid8 Report

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#52

At This Point, I Keep Patching It Just To See How Ridiculous It Can Get. (Be Kind, I'm Pretty New To Darning)

At This Point, I Keep Patching It Just To See How Ridiculous It Can Get. (Be Kind, I'm Pretty New To Darning)

Peregrine2976 Report

#54

I Only Wanted To Cover A Small Stain First But Ended Up Liking The Concept Too Much

I Only Wanted To Cover A Small Stain First But Ended Up Liking The Concept Too Much

Super-_-Pooper Report

#55

Long Time Lurker, First Time Poster, I Covered The Flaking Faux Leather Headband Of My Headphones With Constellation Fabric

Long Time Lurker, First Time Poster, I Covered The Flaking Faux Leather Headband Of My Headphones With Constellation Fabric

socketlaunch Report

#56

First Attempt At Sashiko On My Friends Worn Out Trousers!

First Attempt At Sashiko On My Friends Worn Out Trousers!

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#57

First Time Using A Speedweve

First Time Using A Speedweve

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#59

Update On Temporarily Patching The Hole In My Toddler’s Backpack

Update On Temporarily Patching The Hole In My Toddler’s Backpack

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#60

Idk How To Knit, So I Fixed My Sweater With A Simple Whip Stitch 😃

Idk How To Knit, So I Fixed My Sweater With A Simple Whip Stitch 😃

Maxzon Report

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Judy Reynolds
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if you do the same thing on the other sleeve, it becomes a design element, not a patch!

#61

Mending My Kid's Jeans

Mending My Kid's Jeans

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#62

First Attempt At Sashiko

First Attempt At Sashiko

MonaLisa341 Report

#63

I Gave My Child A Quilt For Her 18th Birthday And Then Her Pet Rats Managed To Chew Holes In It, So I Fixed It For Her 19th Birthday

I Gave My Child A Quilt For Her 18th Birthday And Then Her Pet Rats Managed To Chew Holes In It, So I Fixed It For Her 19th Birthday

BalmOfDillweed Report

#64

Husband Asked For His Pants To Be Repaired. Finished Product. I Am Not Sure If The Colorful Yarn Is A Good Idea

Husband Asked For His Pants To Be Repaired. Finished Product. I Am Not Sure If The Colorful Yarn Is A Good Idea

Walalungs2022 Report

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Wyndmere
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this the location you really want to draw other people's attention? Perhaps everything in gray scale would have been a better choice. -- Does he wear them?

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#65

Kid 1st Time Hand Sewing (Aka She Needed Knee Patches)

Kid 1st Time Hand Sewing (Aka She Needed Knee Patches)

LazyMangoCat Report

#66

Accidentally Ripped A Hole In My Favorite Jean Skirt, Sashiko To The Rescue!

Accidentally Ripped A Hole In My Favorite Jean Skirt, Sashiko To The Rescue!

lazypunx Report

#67

Finally Finished Visibly Mending My Husband's Jeans. He Had Blown Out Both Pockets And The Knee

Finally Finished Visibly Mending My Husband's Jeans. He Had Blown Out Both Pockets And The Knee

S3M0 Report

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Fire Singer
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that men are willing to wear these! So many I know would be like "Uh, no that's too colorful." Love it!

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#68

Patched Jeans After Rabbit Attack

Patched Jeans After Rabbit Attack

Cosmo-bun Report

#69

Start ‘Em Young

Start ‘Em Young

goldenhawkes Report

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leendadll
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wish someone did that for me. I was sewing by 10 but am now 61 and never learned to darn.

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#70

Work Doesn’t Allow Jeans With Tears, So…

Work Doesn’t Allow Jeans With Tears, So…

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#71

Second Attempt With Cute Bird Fabric. 🦜

Second Attempt With Cute Bird Fabric. 🦜

The8ballkid Report

#72

My First Visible Mending

My First Visible Mending

Roadbound_Punk Report

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#73

My Husband Said That They Don't Make Clothing For Grown Men That's "Joyous" And He Wanted Some

My Husband Said That They Don't Make Clothing For Grown Men That's "Joyous" And He Wanted Some

bpvanhorn Report

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Stephanie Did It
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any husband that uses the word 'joyous' about something as mundane as clothing is definitely a keeper.

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#74

Check Out My New (Dumpster) Cardigan!

Check Out My New (Dumpster) Cardigan!

Sleepysloth Report

#75

Idk If It Still Counts As Mending If The Distressing Is Self Inflicted But Here’s A Jacket I Made Regardless

Idk If It Still Counts As Mending If The Distressing Is Self Inflicted But Here’s A Jacket I Made Regardless

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#76

Almost Invisible Shirt Repair

Almost Invisible Shirt Repair

Sea_Solution_9837 Report

#77

Visible Mend On Daughter’s Pants

Visible Mend On Daughter’s Pants

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#78

My Cable Was Damaged From Both Sides, Then It Was Too Fun To Stop

My Cable Was Damaged From Both Sides, Then It Was Too Fun To Stop

eliseetc Report

#79

Life Hack: You Can Order Free Upholstery Samples Online 🥴

Life Hack: You Can Order Free Upholstery Samples Online 🥴

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#80

Maybe My Ugliest Mend Yet

Maybe My Ugliest Mend Yet

WorriedNoise6301 Report

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Zoe's Mom
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At this point, maybe just get a new pair of socks. That doesn't look like it's going to be comfortable in a shoe.

#81

Got Sick Of My Phone Never Fitting In My Pockets So Took Matters Into My Own Hands

Got Sick Of My Phone Never Fitting In My Pockets So Took Matters Into My Own Hands

heyhicherrypie Report