Bespoke Visible Mending Service
I’m not taking any new visible mending knitwear commissions at the moment. Please sign up to my newsletter at the bottom of the page to be the first to know when I have spaces available.
I’m passionate about extending the life of your jumpers and keeping clothing out of landfill! So, I’m offering you a bespoke, artisan visible mending and darning service for knitwear. Bring your old jumpers back to life with creative repairs to fix holes, cover stains, reinforce elbows and turn your knitwear into something unique to you.
If you have an old favourite jumper that’s been sitting at the back of your wardrobe because of moth holes, worn elbows, or general wear and tear, and you would like to me creatively and visibly mend it, please send me an email with a description of the jumper and the areas in need of repair, and photos of the issues to info@collingwoodnorrisdesign.com . I will then discuss my ideas for mending your knitwear, give you an estimate and discuss the time frame.
It’s time to get excited about those pieces in your wardrobe that you’d given up on!
My visible mending for knitwear has appeared in Vogue, Country Living Magazine, The Sunday Times, The Times Scotland, Homes and Interiors Scotland, Inside Crochet magazine and Mollie Makes magazine among others.
The “before” picture of a damaged alpaca sweater with worn hem and cuffs.
The repaired cuffs, darned so that they work when the sleeves are folded back, as the owner wears them.
The finished hem detail.
How the Visible Mending Service for Knitwear Works
Step 1: You send me an email with a description of the damage and photos of it to info@collingwoodnorrisdesign.com. If you particularly want me to include embroidery in the repair or have seen an example of my work you particularly like, please let me know at this stage.
Step 2: I will then give you an estimate of costs.
Step 3: If you’re happy to go ahead, you will then post your item to me (making sure it’s clean and moth free first). At this stage you can also let me know about any colours you love, or ones you want me to avoid.
Step 4: Once your garment has arrived, I will select colours for the repair, and send you photos of the options for you to approve and select the ones you like best.
Step 5: I’ll then repair your garment and turn your holes into something you want to show off!
My Promise to You
You will receive a very personal service- I will discuss colours with you, and what style of creative mend you might like. All knitwear mending is done by hand, using the finest materials, such as cashmere, lambswool and silk, and great care and attention goes into each one to make your knitwear the best it can be again.
I can guarantee that when it’s finished, your knitwear will be as unique as you are!
Customer feedback on receiving their mended knitwear
“You not only gave new life to a beloved cardigan but something happened in your meticulous transformation of that utilitarian garment. It became a work of art.”- Susan
“My jumpers are amazing, even better then they were new! I love what you’ve done and can’t wait to get them on!!”- Sabby
“The repair is fantastic - it really looks like it could have come from the factory like that. And I do like the pattern - very much - and shall look forwards to wearing this again.”- David
“I’m bowled over by how beautiful and fine the repairs are. They have added a new story to the history of this rather precious jumper. I love this idea of building the history so creatively of a piece of clothing rather than throwing it away.
My sister who is a textile conservator saw it last night and was mightily impressed and taken with it and the very skilled needlework. She described the repairs as looking like stained glass windows - love that!”- Alison
“The 'darning' is fantastic. You are so talented. Both garments have been re born and will be part of my active wardrobe once more. I will not hesitate to tell anyone who asks ( or who doesn't ) about your service.”
“Got my visibly mended cardigan back and I LOVE it! It’s even better than when it was new. Thank you so much”
“It is just beautiful, I love it. Your work is exquisite.”
“It’s so special and so finely finished-so pleased I got you to mend it. I’ve been wearing it non stop ever since it arrived back. It’s a little work of art”
“I am overjoyed at the rejuvenation of my knitwear. You are a complete Scottish treasure.”
Visible Mending Workshops 2023
If you can’t make one of my workshops, you can find instructions for all the techniques I use in my book, "‘Visible creative mending for knitwear’, and I have a selection of the yarns I use available too:
An elbow hole before mending.
Work in progress to mend the hole.
The finished elbow mend, covering the hole and strengthening the surrounding area.
Caring for Your Knitwear
If you’d like some tips for caring for your knitwear I have written a few journal posts about it:
5 Tips on how to care for your knitwear
Washing your lambswool knitwear
You can also find a selection of blogs about visible mending, with examples of projects from start to finish.
There is a big issue with waste in the fashion and textile industry, so visibly mending your knitwear is a great way to help reduce the amount of clothing heading to landfill.