the ledger, kept in pencil
Mending notes
Every repair written up since 26 January 2025, newest first. Kinds of work so far: darning, patching, treadle, mending table. A note gets a second date when a mend is looked at again after wear, and whatever changed is added to it rather than tidied away.
Mending table · mend 4 of 4
A year of Saturday mornings at the monthly mending table
What people brought to our free monthly mending table in a community hall: split seams, hems, elbows, zips and one old bear, and why we teach instead of fixing.
Started 22 August 2026. Looked at again 13 September 2026. About 8 minutes.
Treadle · mend 3 of 4
Bringing a hundred-year-old treadle machine back into daily use
The cast-iron treadle that came from a neighbour's clear-out: loosening decades of dried oil, a new leather belt, learning which way the wheel turns, and a first seam.
Started 8 November 2025. Looked at again 17 January 2026. About 9 minutes.
Patching · mend 2 of 4
Patching the knees of work trousers that are knelt in every day
Heavy cotton work trousers from a neighbour who gardens on her knees: patching inside or out, cutting patches from worn cloth, the treadle for seams, hand stitching.
Started 14 June 2025. Looked at again 2 August 2025. About 8 minutes.
Darning · mend 1 of 4
Darning a wool sock heel on a mushroom, one row at a time
How I darn the worn heel of a hand-knitted wool sock: finding the edge of the thin patch, choosing yarn, laying the warp, weaving across it and not pulling tight.
Started 26 January 2025. Looked at again 9 March 2025. About 7 minutes.