Joyful Mending


Book Description

Joyful Mending shows you how to repair and improve old items of clothing by turning tears and flaws into beautiful features. Simply by applying a few easy sewing, darning, felting, or crocheting techniques, as well as some sashiko and other favorite embroidery stitches, you can repair your favorite pieces in a transformative way. Along with her own philosophy of mindfullness and Wabi-Sabi mending, author Noriko Misumi teaches you how to: Repair any kind of fabric that is torn, ripped or stained—whether knitted or woven Work with damaged flat or curved surfaces to make them aesthetically pleasing again Create repairs that blend in, as well as bold or whimsical visible repairs Darn your handmade or expensive gloves, sweaters and socks to make them look great again The joy to be found in working with your hands and the personal artistry you discover within yourself lie at the heart of this book. While nothing lasts forever, there's pleasure, as well as purpose, in appreciating age and imperfection. Joyful Mending allows you to surround yourself with the things that truly give you joy, whether they were given to you by a loved one, picked up in your travels or simply have a special place in your heart.




Mending with Boro


Book Description

One simple stitch can bring new life to hundreds of your favorite things! Boro is the Japanese straight stitch used to repair and reinforce fabrics that is the basis for Sashiko. It is a favorite among visible mending enthusiasts because of its simplicity and because it adds an intriguing textural element to favorite garments and home furnishings. In this new book, Sashiko expert Harumi Horiuchi shares her ideas for using Boro to patch holes and tears, reinforce worn areas, and add fresh details to garments. Her approach is simple—the things you love are worth fixing. Rediscover your favorite items by giving them a new look and feel—while also being good to the environment. Her demonstrations and instructions make the process easy and enjoyable. Here are just a few of the things you'll learn in this book: Discover the pleasure of working with old fabrics and making classic neutrals come alive Be inspired to give old scraps of cloth new purpose, whether patching a well-loved skirt or a pair of jeans Learn to revive a faithful cloth bag, or even something knitted like a favorite pair of worn woolen socks And so much more! There's no need to stop at reinforcement and repair. Remake an entire garment by artfully patching it here, there and everywhere. The more you patch, the more unique your garment becomes. This book will be just the start of giving new life to hundreds of old things!




Mending with Love


Book Description

Mend, rethink, transform, recreate! Mending With Love shows you how to apply embroidery, patching, darning, felting, stamping and a little crochet to worn pieces of clothing or household items. Instead of stowing or throwing away damaged pieces that hold happy memories, you can employ these beautiful and sustainable ideas to give them a new life. With this book, you'll learn how to: Repair knitted and woven fabrics Work with flat and curved surfaces Artfully repair comfy, well-made socks and gloves Make a statement with creative patching Fill in holes with roving using felting techniques Use embroidery to visibly mend frays or damage from the odd cat claw Apply other tips and techniques to torn, worn, or stained favorites Creative as well as practical, mending is both a source of pleasure and an eco-friendly fashion statement. Instead of buying more stuff with less meaning, this method allows you to hold on to the things that have a special place in your heart.




Kintsugi: The Wabi Sabi Art of Japanese Ceramic Repair


Book Description

When your favorite cup is broken, kitsugi can bring new life. Instead of lamenting the breakage embrace and love the opportunity to create something new and beautiful through mending. This is the appeal of kintsugi. Kintsugi is the mindful Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics and glassware by appreciating the cracks and chips as design elements—bringing new life to cherished items. Kintsugi:The Wabi Sabi Art of Japanese Ceramic Repair shares traditional methods you can practice in your own home. Step-by-step lessons in repairs suited to every level of experiences—filling cracks to completely rebuilding and finishing a broken piece—fill the pages of this in-depth yet unintimidating guide. Ceramics and lacquer guru Kaori Mochinaga offers a complete course in using urushi lacquer and metallic powder in the traditional Japanese way. Your broken piece soon becomes whole again, and more meaningful than ever before. From assessing the damages and selecting the repair methods, to applying the finishing touches, you'll learn all the essential kintsugi techniques, including: How to seal a fine crack or repair a chipped rim Techniques for rebuilding a shard, restoring a handle, even reconstructing a multi-shard piece And much more—and all of it with the use of non-toxic lacquers and powders There's something here for every type of repair—from clean, simple breaks to more challenging reconstructions as you learn the techniques. Assemble your tools, set up your workspace, and let this book guide you through the mindful art of kintsugi!




Always the Mountains


Book Description

David Rothenberg is one of our most eloquent observers of the interplay between nature, culture, and technology. These nineteen pieces exemplify what has been called Rothenberg's "amiable" mix of interests, styles, and approaches. In settings that range from wildest Norway to his own front porch in upstate New York, Rothenberg discusses the Hudson River School of painters, the hazy provenance of Chief Seattle's famous speech, ecoterrorism, suburbia, the World Wide Web, and much more. He asks if we can save a place less obtrusively than by turning it into a park. He muses on the plight of a pacifist beset by a swarm of mosquitoes. He ascends Mt. Ventoux with Petrarch and Mt. Katahdin with Thoreau. In Always the Mountains, Rothenberg dares us to "enjoy the fundamental uncertainty that grounds human existence," to wean ourselves from the habit of simple answers and embrace the world's vastness.




Charting Our Future--


Book Description




Blue & White Embroidery


Book Description

Simple stitches, elegant and quirky motifs & a classic color scheme combine to create 30 fun embroidery projects for all skill levels! Calming blues from a day at the beach, the soft white tones of clouds and seashells—we never tire of pairing shades of blue with white. In this book, author Kozue Yazawa draws inspiration from the natural world and her own surroundings, using an array of classic nautical motifs to evoke a sense of elegance and nostalgia. Lessons demonstrate the basic embroidery stitches, making it easy to embroider these designs even if you've never picked up a hoop and needle before. Follow the simple instructions and diagrams to turn your embroidery into delightful things to make and use, like: A sea urchin pincushion, conch shell scissors holder and needle book for your sewing supplies Tote bags sporting anchors, starfish, and sailor hats to carry anything you might need—from groceries to supplies for a day at the beach An elegant garland of flowers for your wrist and a stylish shawl to keep warm A notebook cover and keychain charms to elevate your accessories And much more—30 projects in all! These projects are easy to complete quickly, but fun to savor slowly, leaving room for creativity. Let Blue & White Embroidery be just the start of adding this well-loved color scheme to your favorite things.




Small Knits


Book Description

A modern take on classic knitted accessories. With a contemporary approach to traditional knitting patterns and textures, Small Knits brings to life a collection of stylish necessities for warmth and fashion. From selbu mittens to unisex hats and neckwarmers--these pieces work for just about any mood, recipient and wardrobe. In this book, you'll find instructions and photos for 19 charming projects, plus variations, including: Elegant Nordic mittens, handwarmers and a beret Stylish neckwarmers in houndstooth and argyle patterns An eyecatching Fair Isle hat and handwarmers Comfy, durable socks in herringbone and other classic stitches A delicate, lacy shawl And much more! Instructions, diagrams and Japanese-style knitting charts take you through each project from start to finish. A section on technique shows how to execute the stitches used in this book. These projects are fun and rewarding for experienced knitters who've enjoyed a taste of the Japanese knitting style or would like to give it a try.




Simply Sashiko


Book Description

Sashiko: the needlework form of both decorative and functional embroidery developed in Japan many centuries ago. With just four key materials needed--needle, thread, thimble and fabric--Sashiko stitches have long been a favorite for quilting and embroidery. Today, the style is popular in the visible mending movement because of its simplicity, efficiency and aesthetic appeal. With Simply Sashiko, you can apply centuries-old Japanese techniques to your home, clothing and accessories in a fun, modern way. This book gives you simple but thorough lessons on the ins and outs (literally) of 36 different sashiko patterns, plus designs for stylish home and personal accessories so you can try them out, including: Decorative pouches Little purses Placemats and napkins Covered brooches and buttons And much more! Step-by-step instructions and detailed color photos show you everything from transferring patterns to perfecting your stitch technique. User-friendly templates help you keep your motifs balanced and even, while color combinations ranging from the traditional white and indigo to multicolored threads on primary colored backgrounds inspire you to get creative with these basic stitches.




Country Life


Book Description