Saturday, August 4, 2018

Mending Day at My Cottage

Yesterday, I decided to do some mending. One of my favorite percale sheets had a three-cornered tear and had been in my mending basket for way too long.

Here it is before mending. I like percale sheets because they are so nice and cool in the summer.

This is the reverse side after mending. I used a plain zig-zag stitch first and then topped it with another decorative stitch for stability. Then I trimmed away the excess backing material.

This is the side that faces the mattress when the bed is made. I ironed the sheet and changed my bed linens and it was good to have my old sheet back again.

17 comments:

Kay G. said...

Well done! Now, come and mend for me! :-)

Content in a Cottage said...

Kay G. -- Kay: Georgia is a little too far for me to travel. As you probably already know, the hardest part of mending is getting started. Then it's oddly quite satisfying.
xo, Rosemary

Mama Pea said...

Good job! (Attractive, too.) You are so, so correct. The hardest part is getting started. Why is that when, as you say, it's so satisfying when it's done? :o}

Molly said...

Wh1at did you use for backing material? I'm facing several similar tears

Content in a Cottage said...

Molly -- I used some of the lining material from the curtains I just remade. There were several long strips right at hand from my previous project. Otherwise, I would have gone into my cleaning rags that are really old clothes looking for something. My linen closet is full of sheets that are too big and I have shortened the width of several top sheets for my double bed, also called a full. I could have cut a strip from the side of a Queen sheet but I didn't have to. When you mend, just be mindful of the wrong side. You want the finished mend against your body so you won't feel the extra fabric on the mended side. Hope this helps.
xo, Rosemary

Content in a Cottage said...

Mama Pea -- Once I get started I always wonder why I waited so long. But I absolutely can't make myself do things if I'm not in the mood. Unless, of course, it's an emergency. It really does make you feel good to complete something you have been putting off as you well know too.
xo, Rosemary

Jeannine said...

Great job! I, too, love percale sheets in the summer.

jane said...

I just love to mend things. It is so satisfying and relaxing to me. I do a lot of mending in my life. I have a daughter that makes things to mend all the time. Lovely to see that other people do it too, and so well.

Pam said...

Good job, Rosemary. I have started mending my bed sheets, also. There's nothing that feels better to the touch than a gently worn sheet. The ones we're using this summer are getting awfully thin...fingers crossed that they last a bit longer.

Molly said...

Thanks

Goatldi said...

Nice job!

It has been ages since I have had anything require mending. I used to mend things often by hand or machine. Heck I used to mend my husbands socks. Even his sport socks. Mending is becoming a lost art isn't it?

That would make us dinosaurs wouldn't it? sigh

Kathy said...

I enjoyed this post. It doesn't seem as if people mend much anymore; almost as if that inclination has been lost. I love the idea of rescuing something from the landfill. Well done!

Betty said...

Mending is an almost lost art. Sadly, everything is disposable.
Good for you, Rosemary!

Nyla said...

I love to mend things, from clothing or sheets to toys. I have repaired my grandchildren's favorite stuffed toys and their clothing many times. I also refresh their eyes and embroidered features. Makes me feel a little like the toymaker in Toy Story. So satisfying and fun.

The Queen Vee said...

Your mend is a work of art and I LOVE that you mended your sheet instead of throwing it out like most others would do. I will mend my sheets as needed too as there is nothing better than a good cotton sheet unless of course it's a good linen sheet. My preferred color is white and I iron my sheets after washing. My kids think I'm nuts, I'm sure they'll mention my sheet obsession at my funeral.

Content in a Cottage said...

Nyla -- I'm sure your grandchildren love you to pieces for bringing their stuffed toys back to life. They probably don't even notice the mended clothes but their moms surely do. Mending can be fun and it's a gratifying thing to do.
xo, Rosemary

Content in a Cottage said...

The Queen Vee -- Victoria, I have ironed several sheets lately and love sleeping on them. I think I'll continue doing this since I have moved my ironing board to the attic near my sewing machine. I'll think of you the next time I iron a sheet.
xo, Rosemary