The Japanese Art of Visible Repair

Mending with Sashiko by Kerstin Neumüller and Takao “Momi” Momiyama is a thorough guide to sashiko — the Japanese hand-sewing tradition that uses simple running stitches to repair and reinforce textiles, turning damage into decoration. The technique works on clothing, bed covers, tablecloths, and most other textiles, and the book covers both simple and advanced patterns to suit different skill levels.

The three core techniques — hitomezashi, moyozashi, and koginsashi — are each explained with guidance on which works best for which materials. Practical repair instructions cover jeans, shirts, socks, and more, as well as larger projects like patchwork quilts.

A significant part of the book is devoted to Momi’s archive: garments he has repaired repeatedly with sashiko over decades — in some cases up to forty years. Seeing how continuous cycles of wear, tear, and repair transform a piece of clothing over that kind of timeframe is rare, and it makes a compelling case for mending as a long-term practice rather than a one-off fix.

Also by Kerstin Neumüller: Slöjd.