We wanna make it easy peasy when it comes to learning how to repair your clothes. That's why we've put together this list to help you find the advice you need whatever level you're at...from beginners to advanced menders.
Wear, Repair, Repurpose: A Maker's Guide to Mending and Upcycling Clothes by Lily Fulop
Best for: beginners with no prior knowledge of textile repair!
Modern Mending: The Craft of Clothes, by Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald
Best for: a comprehensive intro to the full range of modern mending techniques for beginners and intermediates.
Darning: Repair Make Mend, by Hikaru Noguchi
Best for: those wanting to learn more creative darning stitches & techniques beyond the well-known basics.
Joyful Mending: Visible Repairs for the Perfect Imperfect Things we Love, by Noriko Misumi
Best for: another fabulous intro to darning stitches and more unusual mending techniques such as: needle felting, patchwork, rug hooking, and crochet.
Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch and Repair Your Favourite Denim and More, by Katrina Rodabaugh
Best for: learning how to repair your jeans including using Boro/Sashiko.
MEND! by Kate Sekules
Best for: reading about the history of textile repair, rise of craftivism and fast fashion issues. It also includes a wealth of mending advice!
Visible Creative Mending by Flora Collingwood-Norris
Best for: learning how to Swiss darn, Scotch darn and handle cuff repairs on knitwear. A beautiful book full of colourful mendspiration!
The Mending Directory by Erin Eggenburg
Best for: a wide selection of mini weaving patterns with how-to instructions and diagrams.
Needle Weaving Techniques by Hazel Blomkamp
Best for: more weaving pattern inspiration.
Mending Life: A Handbook for Repairing Clothes and Hearts!, by Nina Montenegro
Best for: learning about the environmental and human impact of fast fashion...why it matters to mend!
Mend It: A Complete Guide to Clothes Repair, by Maureen Goldsworthy
Best for: those wanting to expand their mending skills to a more advanced level.
This was published back in 1979 and hasn't been reprinted so it can be difficult to obtain a copy!
Visible Mending: Repair, Renew, Reuse The Clothes You Love by Arounna Khounnoraj
Best for: another helpful guide to a variety of mending techniques as well as useful upcycling and zero waste project ideas.
Embroidery on Knitting by Britt-Marie Christoffersson
Best for: knitwear repair inspiration.