{"id":44,"date":"2025-01-28T14:32:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T14:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/ditch\/?p=44"},"modified":"2025-02-11T11:26:44","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T11:26:44","slug":"save-your-old-jeans-and-the-planet-with-this-beginners-guide-to-visible-mending","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/ditch\/save-your-old-jeans-and-the-planet-with-this-beginners-guide-to-visible-mending\/","title":{"rendered":"Save your old jeans and the planet with this beginner\u2019s guide to visible mending"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why are we still throwing our clothes away? A third of unwanted clothes in the UK end up in landfill, but not these jeans
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The time has come for another spring clean and that same old pair of jeans is still sitting in your wardrobe. You had this dilemma last year: to keep or to get rid? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you reach your decision, consider this: each year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced across the world, according to the waste management company Business Waste<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fashion industry contributes to 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, with the UK producing the seventh most textile waste in the world and the average person spending almost \u00a31000 on new clothes each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, we\u2019re neglecting the clothes hiding in the back of our wardrobe, and throwing things away instead of taking the time to mend them. So, maybe for this year’s spring clean, it’s time for some upcycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found this old pair of jeans, which have been well-worn and well-loved to the point they\u2019re falling apart slightly. You might think now is the time to throw them away, that they\u2019re not even worthy of the charity shop, and it doesn\u2019t cross most people\u2019s minds to even think of recycling clothing. But there\u2019s another way. Let me introduce you to visible mending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sashiko is a traditional Japanese form of functional embroidery used to reinforce worn points of clothing and repair holes and tears. This varies from a simple cross pattern to intricate designs. I used this technique to upcycle my jeans, restoring them from a sad, holey mess back to their former glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you will need:
– Your item of clothing that needs mending
– A piece of scrap fabric big enough to cover the hole
– Pins 
– A needle
– Thread – I used sashiko thread which is non-divisible so the strands don\u2019t come apart, but you can also use embroidery thread for a similar look
– Scissors
You can find all of this at your local craft store – support local businesses and not J*ff B*z*s

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And the best thing is, it\u2019s really easy for beginners! Here\u2019s how to do it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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