wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

My mother taught me to darn in the late 1940s (I am 67). I still darn beautiful hand-knitted socks (some knee-length with cuffs) that I have brought back from Scotland on numerous trips there. At present I'm working on my first pair, bought in 1974.

How good it is to hear that in this throw away society there are people who mend things. I've been darning socks and sweaters for years. I have also been fortunate to have inherited a darning egg.

While I agree that people should be more aware and knowledge about how to mean or repair physical objects, I think this focus on mending physical objects missing what many people do spend times fixing now, which is software.

Many people diagnose, debug and repair software problems on their personal computers, which is mending & repairing just as much as working physical objects.

HEY! really cool subject. I fix everything! It's become a bit of a running challenge. For me. Fixed stuff is much cooler than new stuff.
One of my favorite fixes was dialing in the action on my brother's steinway piano. SO fun! And a little scary.

When my roommate moved out last year, I gutted the apartment - tored down walls, 2 lofts, bathroom, kitchen, everything; and then I rebuilt it all - with the exact same lumber except for a few panels of sheetrock (used the old sheetrock in the walls for soundproofing), exact same equipment, even used the same screws; and wa-la, a brand new apartment!

for $15 i'll buy new sockes!!

CLOSE TO WHAT MASS TRANSIT?

I have 2 mid-1980s Mercedes diesels. One with 235,000 miles and the other with 192,000. Both run excellent and get over 30mpg. I change the oil on a regular schedule and keep the filters clean and adjust the valves. As well as anything else the car needs. Learned my skills in high school. I rarely have need for a mechanic.

This may sound extreme but it's true. Since the financial crisis began I've been reinvigorated in my desire to mend, to fix, to put back on the tracks -- the art world. Traditional diciplines like drawing and painting and sculpting from life will be sought out by a floundering art market. Things like the fixing collective will always be thee, but a new appreciation for high quality art made from permanent, time-tested materials (how radical!) will return!

I love sewing and mending things but often find it to be MORE expensive to sew my own clothing than it is to buy new clothing.

Between these two workshops, What are the 10-20 most important tools to fix the most objects in your home?

1. needle and thread
2. pliers
3. small screwdriver
4. spudger

...

Just wanted to suggest to use "fake eggs" that are used in chicken coops to fool chickens. Also a door knob might work.

Love the show.

I think that the art of mending was lost with the propensity of people to buy large amounts of cheap goods - it was easier and took less time to buy new than to fix. My late mother was a marvelous mender...I wish I had paid more attention, as it is quite an art. Maybe now that there is a need to be thrifty, mending will be making a needed comeback!

Old 4th grade joke:

Hole to sock "I'm coming through!"

Sock to hole "I'll be darned if you do!"

I have all but stopped buying new clothes, preferring to tailor my old clothes, and boots. Jeans in particular are SOOO expensive now-a-days that it's much cheaper. ...and now I have a closet full of custom tailored clothes that fit great.

Growing up we had little money and my mother darned socks, fixed our clothes with a sewing machine, etc. I have kept that up, even with a good salary. It is just wasteful to follow "better to spend, than mend" as Huxley wrote.

I have replaced sinks, changed electrical outlets, and even built a full-wall in an apartment by myself rather than hire another.

In the kitchen making your own versions of prepackaged food saves money, is healthier and tastes better.

All I can say is wood-shop and homeëc really were useful!

Hadn't bothered to darn a sock in decades, but a week or so ago realized I did not need to give up on a favorite pair of socks. With their newly mended toes they are even more special.

"Antique" stores - mostly collectibles, grandma's attic stuff these days - are FULL of darning eggs and the like. I may take it up myself

I recently rebuilt the innards of a 45 year old electric guitar.

we probably should mend the Constitution...but only if American Idol isn't on....