Darning and mending is a financially smart and environmentally friendly choice that can give your clothes a new lease on life. While bigger items such as jumpers, jeans, and coats are worth the time spent on fixing them up, socks and tightsmight be the wrong focus, according to the experts. Here are the things to consider before you take a needle in your hands.
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Do the tights still have the potential?
Time is the most precious asset, and it is, therefore, important to define whether is it worth spending it on mending a pair of socks. If your socks are way too used or weren't of great quality to start with, repairing won’t change much as the holes will keep coming back and the costs of the materials and time will be higher than potential savings.
If the items are of better quality and have the potential to last longer, repairing them is highly recommended as it is good for both your wallet and the planet.
Are you needle-savvy?
Some people enjoy sewing, mending, darning, and other similar tasks. They usually have what they call 'a darning pile’ that accommodates everything that is broken but not yet unwanted.
If you’re new to it but really want to learn, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials that describe the process in detail.
Repairing your clothes is a very useful skill to acquire. It will serve you well, if not for the socks and tights, then definitely for other garments.
Besides, needlework is therapeutic.
Sometimes you just have to let go
The hardship of letting go is understandable but finding the courage to dump hopeless items will spare you from the misery of having to sort the piles of piles of unwanted clothes afterwards.
Schedule a clear-out once in 6 months or once a year to get rid of pieces that are ‘in the way’ but have no real purpose in your house.
Dispose of unwanted clothes in the special recycling containers.
Can tights be mended?
There's no point trying to mend sheer or low-denier tights as they are too fragile, but you can certainly extend the life of thicker nylon, cotton and wool ones.
The key with this kind of sewing or repair is to stop ‘ladders’ in their tracks with a dash of nail varnish as an emergency measure and do it as quickly as possible.
When the tights – with their webs of intricate hand-stitching – are really too far gone for further repair, leave them in your local textile recycling bank and marvel at the bit of extra space that has been freed up.
Prevention is the key
To avoid having to deal with holes, try to keep your tights and socks whole for as long as possible.
Cut and file your nails regularly as even a tiny imperfection can ruin a brand-new pair of basics. Machine-wash these garments in a net washing bag.
Wear house shoes or a pair of thick winter socks at home to keep them protected from potential damage.
Sources used:
- The Guardian: 'Darn it, buying no clothes for a year is getting tough'
- Mumsnet: 'Mending pile... do you mend?'
