Podcast Summary: Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCarty

Episode 244: Mending is a Radical Act, with Jeanna and Mary

Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Amanda Lee McCarty
Guests: Jeanna Wager & Mary Morton
Episode Focus: Exploring the radical and practical power of mending, featuring insights from the co-authors of Stitch It, Don't Ditch It.

Episode Overview

This episode takes a timely pause from the ongoing “I’m With The Brand” series to celebrate "Secondhand September" and the importance of extending the life of our clothes through mending, rather than discarding them. Host Amanda Lee McCarty is joined by Jeanna (Gina) Wager and Mary Morton—transatlantic mending advocates and co-authors of the new book Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It. Together, they demystify the value, barriers, and deep satisfaction of garment repair, making a case for why mending is not only a practical skill, but a political and environmental act.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Community and Optimism ([00:16]–[09:43])

Amanda recaps a recent "crafternoon" event—a joyful gathering focused on crafting with secondhand materials. The event becomes a springboard for discussing community, optimism, and the impact of coming together offline in difficult times.
Event attendees share what is keeping them optimistic:
- Live community events, music, nature, crafts, children, and personal creativity (various attendees, [04:22]–[06:42]).
Amanda:

“Just getting out there and being with the people in your community will recharge you and keep you strong.” ([07:08])

2. Introducing Gina and Mary—the Menders ([09:43]–[11:09])

Gina Wager: Quilter, mender, and writer living in Spain.
Mary Morton: Sewing volunteer in Edinburgh, runs garment repair workshops for beginners with Shrub Co-op, and founder of the Edinburgh Street Stitchers.
Both recently co-authored Stitch It, Don't Ditch It.

3. The Surprising Origin of the Book ([11:22]–[16:50])

Mary’s involvement in Edinburgh’s public street stitching inspired a publisher to reach out after BBC coverage.
Seeking support, Mary invited Gina—whom she discovered via a podcast—to co-author, having never met in person.
Mary ([14:45]):

“I thought, could I send somebody that I follow on Instagram a message to say, would you like to co-author a book? And it turns out, you can.”
Gina had been “starting to write this book for… four years”. The collaboration was catalyzed by timing and shared passion.

4. Why Now? Why Mending? ([16:50]–[22:28])

For Mary, it was an unexpected new chapter in life. For Gina, mending is an approachable, concrete action anyone can take.
Both see mending as deeply satisfying—a refreshing contrast to digital- and consumption-driven lifestyles.
Amanda ([19:23]):

“So many things that we do in our day to day life right now are fundamentally kind of dissatisfying… mending is so similar [to cooking]: you put in some time, some work, some creativity, and then you get… satisfaction that you might not get from anything else you’ve done that day.”

5. Mending as a Tool for Wellbeing & Agency ([20:43]–[24:04])

Mending provides both immediate satisfaction and long-term meaning, helping alleviate climate anxiety and giving a sense of agency.
It is meditative and creative—similar in benefit to embroidery, knitting, and other hands-on crafts.
Mary ([24:13]):

“When you’re faced with damage, there’s lots of different ways that you can mend it… that decision-making process and creativity… is very enriching as well.”

6. Mending and Learning: Book vs. Internet ([24:31]–[29:56])

Amanda asks how they approached teaching mending in book format amid the prevalence of online tutorials.
The book focuses on foundational, accessible skills, not intimidating perfection.
Gina ([27:40]):

“If you were brand new to mending… the internet is great, but it can kind of be a black hole if you don’t know where to start.”
Mary ([29:13]):

“I was involved in writing very clear instructions… [we tried to make this] very easy to follow.”

7. Designing Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It ([30:41]–[33:12])

The book is illustration-based (not photos) to avoid intimidating readers with professional-level examples and encourage beginners.
Focus: how to identify garment parts, understand fabrics, and choose suitable mending techniques.

8. The Social, Political, and Environmental Impact of Mending ([35:18]–[42:40])

Mending is gaining traction because of increased climate awareness, the cost-of-living crisis, and discontent with capitalist systems.
Gina ([36:36]):

“Repair… is a way to kind of give a middle finger to, you know, the billionaires out there and the… system.”
Young people are motivated by workers’ rights, not just climate.
Title origins: The publisher chose “Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It”—a phrase with activist history and global resonance.

9. Skills, Barriers, and Culture—Why Don’t People Mend? ([56:11]–[66:50])

Skills gap: Generational loss of sewing tradition; most people (especially in US/UK) were not taught how to mend.
Cheap clothing has devalued textiles; people discard garments they could easily fix.
Time and mental bandwidth are real barriers; people feel too busy or lack the know-how.
Gina ([63:29]):

“Set the bar really, really low for yourself. Just the next time you see a wobbly button, sew that back on. Start there.”
Tips: Keep supplies accessible (e.g., in a basket by the couch); break tasks into small, manageable steps.

10. Is Mending Fast Fashion Worth It? ([71:27]–[79:24])

Mending is always worth considering—even on cheap or fast fashion pieces—because of the massive amount of resources already invested in textiles, regardless of cost.
Mary ([72:36]):

“I wasn’t looking at it from the point of view of money. I think money is the wrong lens… once we start looking at them and understanding how they came to be there, it changes how you value them.”
Every garment mended prevents future waste; even “unfixable” items can often be upcycled or repurposed (e.g., into patches, draft excluders, or stuffing).

11. Practical Getting Started Guide ([84:07]–[87:22])

Essential Tools:

Needle and thread
Scissors
Optional: pins, safety pins, seam ripper, scrap fabric for patches

Tips:

Reuse fabric from old clothes as patch material.
Gather supplies in one spot for easy access.
Test thrifted thread for strength before use.

12. Mending Resources ([88:16]–[94:02])

Top Recommendation:
- Repair What You Wear—step-by-step overviews, beginner-friendly videos.
Learn Sashiko from Atsushi Futatsuya (@sashikostory), a Japanese Sashiko artisan teaching in English.
Host or join a local mending meetup, library group, or repair event.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Mary ([14:45], on asking Gina to co-author):

“Could I send somebody that I follow on Instagram a message to say, would you like to co-author a book? And it turns out, you can.”
Gina ([36:36]):

“Repair is a radical act. Repair is political… a way to kind of take some agency and take initiative.”
Amanda ([75:16], on value):

“We need to stop thinking about the value of clothing… just on the basis of the price, because we know that these prices are an illusion.”
Mary ([96:24]):

“So often it’s something that’s really simple and you show them how to do it and they have it finished before the end of the session and they’re so pleased with themselves… regardless of how impossible people think that it might be, it might not be at all impossible. And give it a go. What’s the worst that can happen?”
Gina ([97:07]):

“You probably aren’t going to make it any worse. Mending is a really good place to start. Like, just try it.”

Timestamped Highlights

[00:16] Amanda’s musings on getting more radical with age; episode purpose/goals
[04:22] Community voices: staying optimistic in dark times
[09:43] Meet Gina & Mary
[14:45] The Instagram DM that led to co-authoring
[19:23] The unique satisfaction of mending vs. toxic digital habits
[24:31] Why books still matter for learning hands-on skills
[36:36] Mending as resistance and reclaiming agency
[71:27] Is fast fashion worth mending?
[84:07] Getting started: minimum supplies for mending
[88:16] Best resources and how to grow your skills/local community
[96:24] Final encouragement: “What’s the worst that can happen? Give it a go…”

Final Messages & Calls to Action

Mending is for everyone: You don’t need to be perfect or skilled to start. Even the simplest repairs are valuable.
Mending is radical: It pushes back against wasteful, exploitative systems—“Your money is as powerful as your vote.”
Build and share community: Whether online, in person, or with family, teaching and learning mending spreads empowerment.
Check out Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It at your local library or bookstore; use “Repair What You Wear” for tutorials; and seek out others in your community who want to learn with you.

Stay Radical. Repair, resist, and make mending part of your activism.

Podcast Summary: Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCarty

Episode 244: Mending is a Radical Act, with Jeanna and Mary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Community and Optimism ([00:16]–[09:43])

Amanda recaps a recent "crafternoon" event—a joyful gathering focused on crafting with secondhand materials. The event becomes a springboard for discussing community, optimism, and the impact of coming together offline in difficult times.
Event attendees share what is keeping them optimistic:
- Live community events, music, nature, crafts, children, and personal creativity (various attendees, [04:22]–[06:42]).
Amanda:

“Just getting out there and being with the people in your community will recharge you and keep you strong.” ([07:08])

2. Introducing Gina and Mary—the Menders ([09:43]–[11:09])

Gina Wager: Quilter, mender, and writer living in Spain.
Mary Morton: Sewing volunteer in Edinburgh, runs garment repair workshops for beginners with Shrub Co-op, and founder of the Edinburgh Street Stitchers.
Both recently co-authored Stitch It, Don't Ditch It.

3. The Surprising Origin of the Book ([11:22]–[16:50])

Mary’s involvement in Edinburgh’s public street stitching inspired a publisher to reach out after BBC coverage.
Seeking support, Mary invited Gina—whom she discovered via a podcast—to co-author, having never met in person.
Mary ([14:45]):

“I thought, could I send somebody that I follow on Instagram a message to say, would you like to co-author a book? And it turns out, you can.”
Gina had been “starting to write this book for… four years”. The collaboration was catalyzed by timing and shared passion.

4. Why Now? Why Mending? ([16:50]–[22:28])

For Mary, it was an unexpected new chapter in life. For Gina, mending is an approachable, concrete action anyone can take.
Both see mending as deeply satisfying—a refreshing contrast to digital- and consumption-driven lifestyles.
Amanda ([19:23]):

“So many things that we do in our day to day life right now are fundamentally kind of dissatisfying… mending is so similar [to cooking]: you put in some time, some work, some creativity, and then you get… satisfaction that you might not get from anything else you’ve done that day.”

5. Mending as a Tool for Wellbeing & Agency ([20:43]–[24:04])

Mending provides both immediate satisfaction and long-term meaning, helping alleviate climate anxiety and giving a sense of agency.
It is meditative and creative—similar in benefit to embroidery, knitting, and other hands-on crafts.
Mary ([24:13]):

“When you’re faced with damage, there’s lots of different ways that you can mend it… that decision-making process and creativity… is very enriching as well.”

6. Mending and Learning: Book vs. Internet ([24:31]–[29:56])

Amanda asks how they approached teaching mending in book format amid the prevalence of online tutorials.
The book focuses on foundational, accessible skills, not intimidating perfection.
Gina ([27:40]):

“If you were brand new to mending… the internet is great, but it can kind of be a black hole if you don’t know where to start.”
Mary ([29:13]):

“I was involved in writing very clear instructions… [we tried to make this] very easy to follow.”

7. Designing Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It ([30:41]–[33:12])

The book is illustration-based (not photos) to avoid intimidating readers with professional-level examples and encourage beginners.
Focus: how to identify garment parts, understand fabrics, and choose suitable mending techniques.

8. The Social, Political, and Environmental Impact of Mending ([35:18]–[42:40])

Mending is gaining traction because of increased climate awareness, the cost-of-living crisis, and discontent with capitalist systems.
Gina ([36:36]):

“Repair… is a way to kind of give a middle finger to, you know, the billionaires out there and the… system.”
Young people are motivated by workers’ rights, not just climate.
Title origins: The publisher chose “Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It”—a phrase with activist history and global resonance.

9. Skills, Barriers, and Culture—Why Don’t People Mend? ([56:11]–[66:50])

Skills gap: Generational loss of sewing tradition; most people (especially in US/UK) were not taught how to mend.
Cheap clothing has devalued textiles; people discard garments they could easily fix.
Time and mental bandwidth are real barriers; people feel too busy or lack the know-how.
Gina ([63:29]):

“Set the bar really, really low for yourself. Just the next time you see a wobbly button, sew that back on. Start there.”
Tips: Keep supplies accessible (e.g., in a basket by the couch); break tasks into small, manageable steps.

10. Is Mending Fast Fashion Worth It? ([71:27]–[79:24])

Mending is always worth considering—even on cheap or fast fashion pieces—because of the massive amount of resources already invested in textiles, regardless of cost.
Mary ([72:36]):

“I wasn’t looking at it from the point of view of money. I think money is the wrong lens… once we start looking at them and understanding how they came to be there, it changes how you value them.”
Every garment mended prevents future waste; even “unfixable” items can often be upcycled or repurposed (e.g., into patches, draft excluders, or stuffing).

11. Practical Getting Started Guide ([84:07]–[87:22])

Essential Tools:

Needle and thread
Scissors
Optional: pins, safety pins, seam ripper, scrap fabric for patches

Tips:

Reuse fabric from old clothes as patch material.
Gather supplies in one spot for easy access.
Test thrifted thread for strength before use.

12. Mending Resources ([88:16]–[94:02])

Top Recommendation:
- Repair What You Wear—step-by-step overviews, beginner-friendly videos.
Learn Sashiko from Atsushi Futatsuya (@sashikostory), a Japanese Sashiko artisan teaching in English.
Host or join a local mending meetup, library group, or repair event.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Mary ([14:45], on asking Gina to co-author):

“Could I send somebody that I follow on Instagram a message to say, would you like to co-author a book? And it turns out, you can.”
Gina ([36:36]):

“Repair is a radical act. Repair is political… a way to kind of take some agency and take initiative.”
Amanda ([75:16], on value):

“We need to stop thinking about the value of clothing… just on the basis of the price, because we know that these prices are an illusion.”
Mary ([96:24]):

“So often it’s something that’s really simple and you show them how to do it and they have it finished before the end of the session and they’re so pleased with themselves… regardless of how impossible people think that it might be, it might not be at all impossible. And give it a go. What’s the worst that can happen?”
Gina ([97:07]):

“You probably aren’t going to make it any worse. Mending is a really good place to start. Like, just try it.”

Timestamped Highlights

[00:16] Amanda’s musings on getting more radical with age; episode purpose/goals
[04:22] Community voices: staying optimistic in dark times
[09:43] Meet Gina & Mary
[14:45] The Instagram DM that led to co-authoring
[19:23] The unique satisfaction of mending vs. toxic digital habits
[24:31] Why books still matter for learning hands-on skills
[36:36] Mending as resistance and reclaiming agency
[71:27] Is fast fashion worth mending?
[84:07] Getting started: minimum supplies for mending
[88:16] Best resources and how to grow your skills/local community
[96:24] Final encouragement: “What’s the worst that can happen? Give it a go…”

Final Messages & Calls to Action

Mending is for everyone: You don’t need to be perfect or skilled to start. Even the simplest repairs are valuable.
Mending is radical: It pushes back against wasteful, exploitative systems—“Your money is as powerful as your vote.”
Build and share community: Whether online, in person, or with family, teaching and learning mending spreads empowerment.
Check out Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It at your local library or bookstore; use “Repair What You Wear” for tutorials; and seek out others in your community who want to learn with you.

Stay Radical. Repair, resist, and make mending part of your activism.

Episode 244: Mending is a radical act, with Jeanna and Mary

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Summary

Podcast Summary: Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCarty

Episode 244: Mending is a Radical Act, with Jeanna and Mary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Community and Optimism ([00:16]–[09:43])

2. Introducing Gina and Mary—the Menders ([09:43]–[11:09])

3. The Surprising Origin of the Book ([11:22]–[16:50])

4. Why Now? Why Mending? ([16:50]–[22:28])

5. Mending as a Tool for Wellbeing & Agency ([20:43]–[24:04])

6. Mending and Learning: Book vs. Internet ([24:31]–[29:56])

7. Designing Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It ([30:41]–[33:12])

8. The Social, Political, and Environmental Impact of Mending ([35:18]–[42:40])

9. Skills, Barriers, and Culture—Why Don’t People Mend? ([56:11]–[66:50])

10. Is Mending Fast Fashion Worth It? ([71:27]–[79:24])

11. Practical Getting Started Guide ([84:07]–[87:22])

12. Mending Resources ([88:16]–[94:02])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamped Highlights

Final Messages & Calls to Action

Summary

Podcast Summary: Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCarty

Episode 244: Mending is a Radical Act, with Jeanna and Mary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Community and Optimism ([00:16]–[09:43])

2. Introducing Gina and Mary—the Menders ([09:43]–[11:09])

3. The Surprising Origin of the Book ([11:22]–[16:50])

4. Why Now? Why Mending? ([16:50]–[22:28])

5. Mending as a Tool for Wellbeing & Agency ([20:43]–[24:04])

6. Mending and Learning: Book vs. Internet ([24:31]–[29:56])

7. Designing Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It ([30:41]–[33:12])

8. The Social, Political, and Environmental Impact of Mending ([35:18]–[42:40])

9. Skills, Barriers, and Culture—Why Don’t People Mend? ([56:11]–[66:50])

10. Is Mending Fast Fashion Worth It? ([71:27]–[79:24])

11. Practical Getting Started Guide ([84:07]–[87:22])

12. Mending Resources ([88:16]–[94:02])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamped Highlights

Final Messages & Calls to Action