Care & mending

Denim and white thread age together. A little care keeps the patch crisp and the indigo deep for longer.

Washing patched denim

• Turn the garment inside out and wash cold (30 °C) with similar dark colours.
• Wash dark denim separately for the first few washes: indigo can transfer to light fabrics, bags and upholstery, especially when wet.
• Do not tumble dry. Dry flat or hang to dry out of direct sun.
• Iron on medium on the reverse, not directly on the stitched patch.
• No bleach. It weakens the white thread and the cotton around it.

When the thread starts to loosen

Stitches that take a lot of wear (knees, elbows, seats) can loosen over time. Pull a loose loop gently to the inside with a needle and tie it off, or add a few running stitches with the same thread. Our mending kits include the same white cotton thread we use on the garments.

Using a mending kit

1. Choose your patch cloth and pin it in place on the right side (or behind a hole, for a reverse patch).
2. Draw the pattern lines with the chalk, following the pattern card. Keep the spacing even rather than perfect.
3. Thread the long needle with a single strand, about an arm’s length, and knot the end.
4. Load several stitches onto the needle at once, then pull through. Leave the thread a little loose so the fabric does not pucker.
5. Finish each row on the inside with a small knot.

Sashiko needles are long and sharp. Keep the kit out of reach of children and store the needles in the closed pack when you are not stitching.

Iron-on patches

Place the patch, cover it with a thin cotton cloth and press firmly with a dry iron on the cotton setting for about 30 seconds; turn the garment over and press again from the inside. Let it cool before moving it. For patches on knees and elbows, add a few running stitches around the edge so they stay put through washing.