u/itsbehindsomething

A few weeks ago I made a post here about a tear in my jacket, I thought I could join it together with some fancy stitches. Someone in the comments recommended visible mending instead. (Thank you, kind stranger!) I had never heard of that before! After watching tutorials I decided to try it.

Edit: I meant “visible mending”!

A few weeks ago I made a post in the embroidery subreddit about a tear in my jacket, I thought I could join it together with some fancy stitches. Someone in the comments recommended visible mending instead. (Thank you, kind stranger!) I had never heard of that before! After watching tutorials I decided to try it.

I’m pleased with the results and wanted to make this post to share some of the stuff I learned along the way:

1. I ironed on fusible interfacing to the flower fabric for some extra stability.

2. To first attach the flower fabric to the jacket, I basted close to the hole as well as close to the edge of the fabric to avoid accidentally stitching a folded edge on the wrong side. It’s the wrong side so it’s not a big deal but it may add unwanted bulk (I stitched a fold and wish I had basted closer to the edge).

3. I used a blanket stitch with 3 strands of embroidery floss to connect the flower fabric to the jacket hole (I cut the hole bigger than the original tear).

4. As I completed the blanket stitch, I folded under(in?) the edge of the ripped fabric so the frayed part doesn’t show. I tried to capture that step on one of the pictures I posted.

5. Then I used lazy daisies and backstitching to make the flowers and the vines. I was trying to be random with their placement but made an effort to keep the colors dispersed.

I am in the process of making this purse and I used double single crochet for the bottom which created a nice, sturdy bottom. I should have done that for the sides but I didn’t have enough yarn. It’s cotton yarn so it doesn’t have elasticity. I know it won’t stretch but it also won’t be box-like/rigid.

I’m going to attach shoulder straps to the sides but not until I figure out how to stiffen them.

What can I do to make the sides more sturdy and help hold the shape of the purse?