The Story Behind the Pocket Mending Guide & How You Can Pre-Order
I've been keeping a secret. It's finally time for me to reveal a big project I've been working on. Say hello to the Pocket Guide to Mending! This pint sized guide (yes, it really is pocket sized) is packed with practical tips, techniques, and stitches to help you mend, upcycle, and repair your wardrobe.
In 64 pages I share different ways to knits, denim, linen, cotton, and more. You'll learning things like Swiss darning, hemming, attaching buttons, sashiko, patches, and so much more. I tried to make this a practical guide you will want to reference again and again.
Now you might be wondering, why was the Pocket Guide to Mending your next writing project? Or how did you come up with this idea? And to answer that, I have a funny story for you. It's a little bit about being in the right place at the right time.
Last summer my editor emailed me asking if I was familiar with any mending techniques and if I was, would I be interested in contributing a few pages to a sewing guide she was working on. I said sure and sent her links to some of the many upcycling and mending blogs on my website. In case you want to check them out, I've listed the blogs here too.
About a month later my editor emailed me again to say congratulations. At first I thought, great, we'll be working on a project together and I'll write up a bit about mending for her guide. Well it turns out the publication board decided to split the projects into two separate guides. So instead of me contributing just a few pages, I was now writing my own 64-page guide called the Pocket Guide to Mending.
At first I was a little unsure about it. But then I sat down and thought about what would go in the guide and what the publication board would like included and I realized I actually know quite a bit about mending. The guide includes simple mends, darning, embroidered mends, sashiko, using a sewing machine for mending, and patches, as well as a guide to materials and tips for caring for your mended garments.
Last fall I set to work writing this pocket sized guide. After confirming a few details with my editor I started on project samples. She jokingly told me I'd finish the entire guide in under a month. I apparently took that to heart and actually did just that! During that month I also managed to finish almost all the mending in my mending pile, so it was a double win! (That pile is now twice the size it once was and I'm currently avoiding it since I haven't had time to touch it in the months since... but that's another story.)
Now that everything has been turned in and my editor has had a chance to review everything the Pocket Guide to Mending is in the layout and publication stages. I just finished reviewing the final draft for the guide and saw the manuscript laid out in book form. This is my favorite part!
The Pocket Guide to Mending will be published January 12, 2027. You can pre-order your copy on Amazon (*affiliate link), order at your favorite book store, or request it from your local library.
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