On Mending, Celia Pym

On Mending is a beautifully understated meditation on the art of repair, weaving together ten intimate stories of garments, two backpacks, and a rug that have borne the marks of life—and the loving stitches that followed. Not a how‑to guide, this is a collection of personal narratives revealing how threads draw attention to wear, holes, and thinning fabric, mirroring the resilience—and fragility—of the body itself.

The book invites readers into a world where “darning is small acts of care” and mending is far from erasure—rather, it’s “slow work that makes things better,” anchoring traditional repair within emotional, embodied memory. Each object holds story and stitch in equal measure.

About the Author
Celia Pym, a London-based artist with an MA in Constructed Textiles from the Royal College of Art and a BA from Harvard, has explored textile repair since 2007. Her career bridges personal craft and institutional restoration—from museum collections to everyday wear—always centred on the bonds between cloth, touch, and memory.

Publication date: 2022
Publisher: Quickthorn Books
Pages: 96
ISBN: 9781912480586

Moved by these quiet reflections on repair? Discover the simple poetry of darning for yourself with our free illustrated guide to visible mending: read here.

Continue your exploration of thoughtful repair with Selvedge Issue 102: Mend, a special edition devoted to the beauty, skill, and quiet satisfaction of mending.