We’ve thoroughly enjoyed hosting visible mending workshops with Skye Pennant from Slow Stitch Club. She has a gentle teaching style that conveys her knowledge at the appropriate tone and pace for a hand stitching workshop.

We were delighted to hear that she had written a book on the subject, published by Ilex/Octopus Publishing Group in 2024. It is very well laid out with gorgeous pictures and illustrations. The style is engaging, both in terms of her writing and the layout of the book. Chapters tend to be short, with sub chapters making it easy to read and refer back to. Skye’s voice of experience is to the fore, sharing tips and hints that she’s learnt along the way.

Skye studied Fashion at degree level and began Slow Stitch Club in 2020 as a desire to help people to mend clothes, rather than throw them away. There is a chapter devoted to sustainability that outlines the alarming statistics that surround fast fashion. People are paid a pitance to make low quality clothes, that may only be worn once before being thrown away. The image of the clothing mountains in Chile’s Atacama desert is particularly striking.

Skye advocates for making the clothes you choose, wear and love, last. And this is where ‘Well Worn. Visible Mending for the Clothes you love’ excels.

‘Well Worn’ begins by examining the different tools, threads and supplies that are handy to have around when you start mending clothes. There are also  handy chapters that explain the properties of different types of fabric and the author helps us decide which clothes are not suitable for mending and helps out with troubleshooting issues that may arrive.

The book has fabulously drawn illustrations and photographs showing how to create different types of darns and patches with a very helpful chart showing which darn is best suited to what type of repair is needed.

The last 8 chapters of the book is devoted to different types of clothing; from denim to leggings, jackets to jumpers and socks. She also includes technical and delicate fabrics. These chapters are then broken down into smaller sections devoted to the many parts of clothing that needs mending. For example the jumper chapter covers elbows, ladders, underarms and cuffs and hems.

This is a beautiful book, well thought through and laid out. It’s comprehensive in both text and images. It engenders confidence in the reader and is perfect to have beside you with your beloved pair of jeans with a worn through knee.