Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Well Worn is the perfect book both for stitching pros and for those who have never picked up a needle and thread before. The sustainable darning and sashiko techniques taught in this book fight against perfectionism as well as fast fashion.

Begin by getting to grips with core mending skills, with a handy introductory compendium of visible mending techniques. Then, move on to convenient garment-led chapters, from socks to jeans, and from knitwear to stretch fabric, each with a wide variety of ideas and advice for approaching whatever piece of clothing you wish to revive.

Whether you're interested in fostering a more sustainable lifestyle, saving money by avoiding fast fashion, or simply engaging with a new creative outlet, this book is an accessible introduction for anyone looking to explore visible mending and revolutionise their wardrobe.

Including advice for mending:
- Jeans
- Jumpers & Knitwear
- Shirts
- T-Shirts
- Leggings
- Socks
- Jackets
- Delicate fabrics

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

As more people become aware of the environmental costs of fast fashion, the movement to repair, reuse, and recycle worn clothing has expanded. Enter visible mending, the practice of creatively patching, darning, and embroidering damaged clothing. Textile artist Pennant provides an accessible overview of the most popular visible mending methods, and she gives plenty of tips and tricks for making sure the results are useful, along with numerous reminders to take it slow and check work often. Concepts, techniques, and tools are introduced in the first sections of the book. That's followed by projects that provide step-by-step guidance on how to repair holes, worn cuffs and collars, threadbare areas of clothing, and more. The projects are illustrated by both photos and drawings, which can, at times, be a bit challenging to parse. But the variety of the designs presents many practice opportunities, and examples of completed work give a sense of what is possible. How to handle delicate, stretchy, and nonwoven fabrics is covered too. The discussion of the origins of some techniques might encourage readers to explore further. VERDICT A solid how-to manual for mending techniques.--Rebecca Brody

Publishers Weekly Review

Textile artist Pennant debuts with a practical guide to repairing clothing in ways that emphasize the mending process. "The fashion industry is one of the top most polluting industries on the planet," Pennant writes, suggesting that extending the lifetime of clothes through mending constitutes a crucial means of reducing ecological harm. The detailed overview of tools and materials recommends choosing fabric patches "of a similar weight and fibre content" to the garment and needle sizes that correspond to the thickness of the thread. The handy projects mostly rely on hand sewing, showing how to repair a frayed collar on a shirt with a sashiko patch, mend worn-out cuffs with plain-weave darning, and cover up tears in a leather jacket with leather polka dots. A brief primer on darning, patching, and sashiko provides some helpful tips (sashiko stitches should be "about the length of a grain of rice" and readers should be sure to leave enough slack in the thread when darning to prevent puckering), but Pennant doesn't offer much guidance on how to actually perform the techniques. The wordy instructions and tendency to cover several steps in a single illustration will make it difficult for novices to follow along. This is best suited for experienced sewists with a penchant for sustainability. (May)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Skye Pennant is a textile artist and repair specialist living in Frome, Somerset. She has a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design Enterprise and in recent years has established Slow Stitch Club, an initiative based around celebrating and educating people about the joys of visible mending. Find more of her work on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok @slowstitchclub