For anyone just starting, I would say: don’t be afraid to experiment. Mending doesn't need to be perfect; it’s about creativity, learning, and making something your own."
My name is Celia, and I am originally from Budapest, Hungary, though I have spent the past 15 years living in various corners of Europe. Currently, I call Bristol (UK) home. I am an environmental engineer by trade, but my true eco-epiphany happened about seven years ago when I first learned about the concept of “zero waste living”. Since then, I have embraced a lifestyle focused on using minimal resources and maximizing sustainability for future generations, moving away from materialism and toward circularity and creativity.
I first learned the basics of darning from my grandmother when I was a child, but it wasn't until my 30s that I truly embraced mending as a regular practice. Since then, I've taught myself through online tutorials and offline workshops. My mending process is quite spontaneous; I rarely have a strict plan when I start. Instead, I let the fabric, the damage, and my mood guide the design. I enjoy using bright, bold colours that make the mending stand out, turning it into a highlight rather than something to hide.
Using the Swift Darning Loom was my first experience with a darning loom, and I immediately fell in love with it! It opened up a whole new world of possibilities for my mending projects. Unlike traditional hand-darning, where the stitches can sometimes feel slow and tedious, the loom allowed me to create neat, even patches much more quickly and with more consistency.
One of my favourite projects with the Swift Darning Loom was a high-quality knitted sweater I found abandoned next to a clothes bank, soaked through from a storm. After washing and drying it, I realized it had many holes. I set it aside in my "to-fix" pile, waiting for the right time and tools to tackle it. When it was my turn to use the Swift Darning Loom, I knew this sweater would be the perfect project. The sweater is a deep brown, so I decided to use all the bright, poppy colours I could find to mend it, turning each patch into a little burst of colour. I originally planned to donate the mended sweater, but my partner fell in love with it and has worn it proudly ever since.
Mending, for me, is more than just fixing clothes—it's a form of creative expression and a commitment to sustainability. I find joy in visible mending because it allows me to celebrate the history of each piece of clothing and turn it into something unique and beautiful. Every stitch is a statement against a throwaway culture, a way to challenge the idea that our belongings are disposable. I want my mended clothes to be conversation starters, showcasing vibrant colours and designs that tell a story.
Beyond mending, I love foraging, cooking plant-based food from scratch, knitting, and spending time with my adorable cat, Kimchi. You can find me on Instagram as @regenerative.adventures