Mending Things, Big and Small

Repair inspiration

Over the years, I’ve found there’s something quietly powerful about the act of repair. Whether it’s stitching a favourite jumper, repotting a drooping houseplant, or, as I did recently, repairing the elbows on a well-loved denim jacket for our friend Paul, the process feels restorative, grounding even. The satisfaction that comes from making something last a little longer is hard to beat.

This week, that small repair job led me back to one of my favourite books on the subject of care and renewal: Mend by Kerstin Neumüller, available via Harper Collins It’s a beautiful reminder that repair isn’t just about the physical act of fixing things, but also about the emotional rhythm of slowing down, noticing, and valuing what we already have.

**Kerstin Neumüller**, with one of her beautiful shirt repairs

Kerstin writes with a tenderness that makes even the most practical stitches feel meaningful. It’s the sort of book you can dip into on a quiet Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea and your mending kit spread out beside you. The elbows I repaired for Paul were a perfect excuse to do just that.

There’s something deeply satisfying about knowing you can give an item new life rather than simply replacing it. That small act, the decision to repair instead of discard, feels increasingly important in a world that moves so quickly. And, perhaps, that’s what Mend captures so beautifully: the idea that care, in all its forms, is a quiet kind of resistance.

So, whether you’re darning elbows, patching denim, or simply taking a moment to breathe between projects, here’s to mending, things, moments, and maybe even ourselves.

If you go via Capital One Shopping’s Harper Collins page it shows any current offers or discount codes available for the Harper Collins bookshop. It’s one of those browser tools that automatically checks if there’s a voucher code floating around, so you don’t have to go searching yourself.

This post includes a collaborative link to Capital One Shopping.