Hand Mending Made Easy: Save Time and Money Repairing Your Own Clothes [Paperback]

Nan L. Ides (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

Twelve easy, well-illustrated lessons demonstrate how to mend clothes in the comfort of one’s home. Chapters include basics from threading a needle and sewing on buttons to repairing seams and fixing seams and buttonholes, ironing techniques and repairing broken zippers, all done without a sewing machine. The easy to read, step-by-step language allows anyone to sew ripped hems, replace missing buttons,  fix sweater snags and so much more, replacing unwearable garments back into their wardrobe. Proving that mending is an easy, money and time saving skill that anyone—men, women, children—can do, this reference is an essential resource for any household.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nan L. Ides comes from family of sewers and teaches hand mending for several community groups in the Philadelphia area. She lives in Philadelphia. Visit her online at www.handmending.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Palmer/Pletsch Publishing; 2nd edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935278745
• ISBN-13: 978-0935278743
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Mending, March 8, 2008

By 

Grace Mendez (Emeryville, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hand Mending Made Easy: Save Time and Money Repairing Your Own Clothes (Paperback)

I love this book because it is clear and simple.

It covers several basics: knotting a thread, sewing on buttons, hemming, repairing ripped seams, replacing elastic and more.

The directions are easy enough for a child to understand yet it doesn't talk down to adults or teens.

As a seamstress with over 30 years experience, I am now starting to teach others to sew. I have been looking for a reference book for students interested in doing their own mending and quick repairs. It is a perfect book for anyone who is not going to be using a sewing machine but still wants to do some sewing.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Being able to mend a bit of clothing is economical, personally satisfying, and an indispensable skill, April 2, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hand Mending Made Easy: Save Time and Money Repairing Your Own Clothes (Paperback)

Being able to mend a bit of clothing is economical, personally satisfying, and an indispensable skill that has almost been lost in the currents of our throw-away culture. The looming economic recession is beginning to introduce and instruct a whole new generation in the benefits of conserving garments through the use of a bit of needle and thread. Needlecraft expert Nan Ides' "Hand Mending Made Easy: Save Time And Money Repairing Your Own clothes" is specifically designed to teach novice sewers to use the economically beneficial option of making simple, common repairs ranging from sewing on buttons, to fixing seams, to ironing, to repairing broken zippers. Superbly organized, illustrated and presented, "Hand Mending Made Easy" is an ideal instruction manual and reference for students, bachelors, working women, and anyone else operating on a limited budget and needing to make their clothing look good while recovering from the inevitable wear and tear they are subjected to. Of special note is the chapter on when not to try mending a garment. "Hand Mending Made Easy" is a money-saving and enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal or community library Needlecraft reference shelf.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Instructions for Hand Mending, January 30, 2010

By 

Linguere (Hamilton Bermuda) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hand Mending Made Easy: Save Time and Money Repairing Your Own Clothes (Paperback)

This is a great book for anyone who may feel a bit intimidated about mending their own clothes. The instructions are clear and the illustrations complement the instructions well. Even an experienced sewing enthusiast will benefit from Nan's money-saving tips. Use it as a reference book or as a guide for mentoring beginners.