On the mend

Last weekend I finally got around to doing some mending.  Does anyone do that anymore?

My youngest son wears business shirts to work and about nine months ago one of his shirts lost two buttons. I told him I would fix it.  Nine months ago.

Towards the end of last Winter, I noticed the inside seam on the left arm of my trench coat had begun to unravel. A bit like me really.  I made a mental note to take to it with a needle and thread, before the weather turns cold again.

About a month ago the zip broke on a pair of my jeans. You know those jeans that you've sufficiently worn in to the point where they are like a comfy old friend?  Those.  They are worth fighting for. I dumped them on a chair in my bedroom, where I could see them and be constantly reminded of the need to fix them up. Preferably before I wear them again!

So last weekend I pulled out my needle and thread, sat on the couch in front of the TV and did me some mending.  It reminded me of my Nana, darning socks. I wonder if anyone still darns their socks.

I used to be pretty good with a sewing machine, or a needle and thread.  My mum taught me well.  I made a lot of clothes for my kids when they were small. I even completed a TAFE Certificate in making kids clothing, and I made boys clothes under my own clothing label and sold them at markets. I did.

I used to make a lot of my own clothes too.  That was before I started working full-time, a decade and a half ago!  Back in the days before it took me nine months to sew on a couple of buttons.

Today, I have a half-made skirt in a drawer in my laundry, the fabric still pinned to the pattern at least 10 years after I cut it out. I wonder if it would still fit me?  I wonder if I'll ever finish it to find out?

I told my son that I {finally} sewed the buttons on his shirt. He looked at me with a smirk and said, "About time".  Um, yep.  How does that saying go?  

"Better late than never."