Found in an abandoned shack near the Dan River, north of Greensboro, North Carolina, is a collection of denim clothing thatbelonged to a family of tobacco sharecroppers. The clothing,from the 1930s to the

‘

60s, tells the story of a family who livedin dire poverty. Overalls have been cut into pants, newerdenim has patched old, worn holes, and resourcefulcombinations of patches and hand stitching have createdan unintentional but beautiful, folkloric patchwork.Historians have concluded that all the handwork hasbeen sewn by one person. The clothing brings to lifethe motivation of a homemaker, who worked to

maintain the family’s clothing with respect and

durability, with no means other than a needle andthread.When mending is done with sincere purpose,with a will to survive another season in the fields,it has a unique integrity and beauty all its own. With greatrespect for this nameless family, I have tried to capture theirspirit of resourcefulness and handcraft, and named thistechnique of mending denim:

"Sharecroppers" patches

technique 4

mending and patching jeanswith designer style

Sharecropper patches

by Nancy Minskyfor more jean ideas see N

ancy’s book:

Denim Revolution: Dozens of Ways to to Turn Denim Cast-Offs into Fashion Must-Haves

http://21centurydressmakers.blogspot.com

CHILDREN’S OVERALL CIRCA 1940

(image

–“FOUND: A True Story”)

sharecropper patches

a technique to patch jeans with integrity

The jeans below demonstrate the variety of

sharecropper patches

: hand stitched, machine stitched, re-enforced, patched on top and underneath

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which creates a patchwork of textures, shapes and colors.

the sewing materials

denim scraps for patchesDCM embroidery thread

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match thread to a medium shade of your denimsewing thread

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white and denim

note: choose a shade that blends with the worn area you will be mending. Jeans vary broadly incolors and shades, and well matched thread is important for the look.

general sewing materials including: embroidery scissors; shears; straight pins; iron and ironing board;sewing machine; denim sewing machine needle; hand sewing needle.+ your badly damaged, clean and pressed jeans