Zero Waste January: The Art of Visible Mending

January is the perfect time to slow down, take stock, and make our wardrobes work harder for us. As part of Zero Waste January, we’re sharing some of our favourite visible mending techniques - simple, creative ways to extend the life of your handmade and well-loved garments.

Visible mending isn’t about hiding wear and tear. It’s about celebrating it. Each patch, stitch, or darn tells a story and keeps a garment in use for longer, reducing waste and honouring the time and materials that went into making it in the first place.

Below, we’ll walk through a few approachable mending techniques you can try at home, using jeans and knits as examples. These methods are beginner-friendly and a great excuse to get creative with scraps, thread, and texture.

Why Mend?

The most sustainable garment is the one you already own. Holes, thinning fabric, and worn hems are often the reason clothes get pushed to the back of the closet. Learning a few basic mending techniques can dramatically extend the life of your clothes and help you fall back in love with pieces you already have.

Mending also encourages a shift in mindset: from fast replacement to thoughtful repair. And once you start, it’s surprisingly satisfying.

What You’ll Need

You don’t need much to get started. Most of these supplies are things you may already have, or can easily source second-hand:

• A garment with a hole, tear, or visible wear

• Sewing thread or embroidery floss

• Fabric scraps (old garments are perfect for this)

• Pins

• A darning mushroom or embroidery hoop

• A sewing machine (optional - many techniques can be done by hand)

Garment One: Well-Worn Jeans

Jeans tend to show wear in predictable places: knees, thighs, hems, and pockets. Here are a few ways to give them new life.

Technique 1: Visible Patching on the Outside

This is a classic visible mend and a great way to showcase fabric scraps you love.

• Trim away loose or frayed threads (or leave a few for a distressed look).

• Choose a patch that’s larger than the hole.

• Place the patch on the wrong side of the jeans so it shows through the hole.

• Pin in place and stitch by hand or machine.

• For extra texture, sew back and forth over the area to create a layered, graphic effect.

This method works especially well for knees and thighs, where wear is common and a sturdy repair is needed.

Technique 2: Patching from the Inside

For a slightly subtler look, you can patch entirely from the inside of the garment.

• Trim frayed edges around the hole.

• Cut a patch larger than the damaged area.

• Finish the edges of the patch with a zig-zag or serger to prevent fraying.

• Press the edges under, pin in place, and stitch securely.

This technique reinforces the fabric while still allowing your stitching to become a design feature on the outside.

Technique 3: Fixing a Worn Hem

Hems often wear out before the rest of the garment.

• Carefully unpick the original hem.

• Trim away damaged fabric.

• Create a facing or cuff from a contrasting fabric.

• Attach it where the original hem was, press, and stitch.

A contrast cuff can turn a practical repair into a deliberate design detail.

Garment Two: Hole-y Knits

Knits can look intimidating to mend, but they’re incredibly forgiving and perfect for hand stitching.

Darning Small Holes

Darning is ideal for elbows, underarms, and anywhere the fabric has thinned.

• Place the area in an embroidery hoop or over a darning mushroom.

• Use a simple running stitch to weave threads back and forth across the hole, then repeat in the opposite direction.

• Choose thread that blends in—or go bold with colour.

Adding Structure with Decorative Stitching

For areas like collars or cuffs:

• First, close the hole with basic hand stitches.

• Reinforce the entire edge using a blanket stitch or similar embroidery stitch.

This adds strength while creating a cohesive, intentional look.

Turning Tiny Holes into Features

Small holes in t-shirts and sweaters are common, especially from wear and washing.

• Use darning stitches to reinforce the fabric.

• Add small embroidered motifs—flowers, stars, or simple shapes—to cover or highlight the damage.

Instead of hiding wear, you’re turning it into decoration.

Make It Yours

There’s no single “right” way to mend. Mix techniques, play with colour, and use what you have on hand. Scraps from past sewing projects, contrasting thread, or even imperfect stitches all add character.

As we move through Zero Waste January, we invite you to look at your wardrobe with fresh eyes. What could be repaired instead of replaced? What stories could you add with a needle and thread?

And remember: when fixing a hole, the most important part is to have fun and think outside the patch.