repairing things

on topic, i'm trying to fix the floorboards that the plumber left untidy after he'd done replacing some pipes. in the hallway (1m x 2m) he left 3 boards un-nailed and another one split in half. but the entire area had been covered with hardboard (nailed) and then a layer of cork (glued) and he'd removed this from around the boards he needed access to, but didn't for the rest of the hallway, so there's a 5m difference in heights in random places. he'd put the carpet back down, without even picking up all the nails he'd pulled.

it's slow going, mainly because i don't have the tools. plan is to screw down the loose boards (i don't have a hammer). but some of them he's cut in places where they are no joists underneath. and, of course, there are now additional pipes there.

i would love to be better at formal mending. i made an instagram account lately and it 25% gives me repairing videos. I've seen some techniques that are just amazing and would love to try.

― plax (ico), Tuesday, April 2, 2024 1:21 PM (three weeks ago)

this is the stuff I learned to do as a teenager when I worked for a theater costume shop. of course that was 30+ years ago so I could probably use some remedial lessons.

I need work clothes. I need to think about how mending can still be elevated.

I think it depends on the garment ... as in, pants, dress, shirt ... a huge rip in the knee of a pair of dress pants is likely not going to something you can mend and have look normal, but inseams and hems and belt loops you can definitely do. In terms of feminine tops and dresses, currently there is so much "fussiness" in design with bows and buttons and contrast colors, I think you've got a leeway there.

it's slow going, mainly because i don't have the tools. plan is to screw down the loose boards (i don't have a hammer). but some of them he's cut in places where they are no joists underneath. and, of course, there are now additional pipes there.

In a way, screws are better than nails as it's a lot easier to take them out again if you need to or if you mess up. A cheap cordless screwdriver would save you a bit of time. Not sure about the unsupported ends though - if you're not able to fix a supporting beam underneath, it might be easier to buy a new board

i would love to be better at formal mending. i made an instagram account lately and it 25% gives me repairing videos. I've seen some techniques that are just amazing and would love to try.

― plax (ico), Tuesday, April 2, 2024 1:21 PM (three weeks ago)

this is the stuff I learned to do as a teenager when I worked for a theater costume shop. of course that was 30+ years ago so I could probably use some remedial lessons.

I need work clothes. I need to think about how mending can still be elevated.

I think it depends on the garment ... as in, pants, dress, shirt ... a huge rip in the knee of a pair of dress pants is likely not going to something you can mend and have look normal, but inseams and hems and belt loops you can definitely do. In terms of feminine tops and dresses, currently there is so much "fussiness" in design with bows and buttons and contrast colors, I think you've got a leeway there.

― sarahell, Thursday, 25 April 2024 17:44 (one week ago) bookmarkflaglin

No no! The videos I'm talking about are ones where its just absolutely flawless reconstructions of holes in silk. Microscopically fine repairs. Absolutely insane stuff!

Seems like, in the opposite corner, 'visible mending' is also a thing?

I patched my teenager's beloved butterfly print puffer with a solid color and she kept wearing it. I appreciated that.

yeah visible mending is definitely a thing. i mean obv it always has been (leather patches on elbows, motley patching on trousers or coats) but you see places that fix moth holes with v different colours. brings individuality over time, makes the garment yours etc. no longer going to be formal wear but it migrates clothing to old loved comfy wear.

invisible mending - i was at the tailors pinnas and needles recently, standing on the stairs waiting my turn while one of the brothers discussed whether they could invisibly mend a reversible silk bomber the customer had brought in. in the end they said they couldn’t - there just wasn’t enough spare fabric to do it but they suggested visibly mending it to give it some character. customer didn’t want that tho.