02 Feb 2024

Repair Techniques to Try at Home

Repair Techniques to Try at Home

It’s inevitable that, over time, fabric begins to wear. However, that doesn't mean a trip to the dump, quite the opposite.

The wonderful thing about upholstery is there are many ways it can be repaired, and it is the perfect opportunity to get creative, add a personal touch and maybe make it look even better than before.

Embroidery:
Bring some quintessential charm to your worn textiles with a one-of-a-kind embroidery design. We love following Thread the Word on Instagram. Embroidery artist Sarah has serious stitching skills and beautifully reimagines homewares and vintage children’s clothing with monograms, icons and motifs.
“I never get bored of bringing something gorgeous into the 21st century so it can be enjoyed rather than hidden in a draw somewhere!”
.
Image by: [Thread More Carefully]
.

Sashiko:

Similar to embroidery, Sashiko is a decorative stitching technique from Japan used to embellish and/or reinforce textiles with coloured thread and delicate patterns. Although this technique has been around for over 400 years, like all reliable trends, it’s having a comeback - offering a practical solution to patching up holes, rips and tears.

If you fancy having a go, start with something small like a pair of holey socks. Check out Lydia Bolton, who creatively tackles textile waste using fabric scraps to repair and customise clothing.
.
Image by: [Lydia Bolton]
.

Fabric Dyeing:

Take a leaf out of Haines Curates designer Daphne Roach’s book and re-imagine your home textiles in fresh new hues. Her limited collection of cushions (made with surplus fabric from us) is dyed with deep indigo, giving the previously plain fabric a new lease of life. Fabric dye is a great way to spruce up any tired-looking cushion covers or tablecloths you already have.

Patchwork:

We love the mismatched effect of patchwork and the heirloom quality of quilts. Georgia Bosson creates large-scale textile installations for interiors. Her beautiful bespoke patchwork wall hangings and throws are a masterclass in how to repair and repurpose in style. We’ll share more of her work in our upcoming collaboration - watch this space!

.

.

To start your repair project, browse our remnant and trim collection. Just don't forget to show us the finished product by tagging us on Instagram!