Visible mending, not for public consumption.

I have often admired sashiko, the very visible Japanese method of mendingtextiles, and thought I'd have a go one day. A pair of old but much loved jeans kindly presented themselves for the challenge and then sat patiently on a chair for a few months.

I finally decided to give it a go and did a quick search on Google. I learnt that sashiko means something like "small stabs" and is traditionally white stitches on indigo fabric. I found a patch of fabric to stitch behind the hole. I struggled until I found a suitably-sized box to insert in the jeans leg to stop me sewing right through.

Once I'd done that, I seemed to forget everything I'd found out about the noble Japanese art and got stuck into a colourful riot of running stitch. As the point is for the mending to be visible, I left exposed knots, which add a little texture.

It was a very calm activity, completed whilst watching the Commonwealth Games on the tele and will help tick off a clause in Conscious Consumer.

I'm not sure whether I like the effect or not and think these may be jeans to wear in the house. But who knows, if they are still going next year, they may make a guest appearance at Rebel Camp!