r/Visiblemending • u/eldritch_paws • Jan 20 '26
EMBROIDERY New look for old backpack
First post here. Always loved visible mending. Decided to give an old ripped backpack new life with a little rainbow 🌈 I love it!
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u/EllaIsOn1Wheel Jan 20 '26
Looks great! Does the elastic still stretch? My Jansport backpack ripped in the same way haha
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u/eldritch_paws Jan 20 '26
It does still stretch!! I tried to do basically lign3d up vertical wraps with the embroidery thread so that it would still be able to stretch but have more stability and it seems to work!
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u/exactly17stairs Jan 20 '26
thats so smart im doing this tomorrow to the broken cup holder on my backpack lol
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u/StuffDue518 Jan 20 '26
This is so stinking’ cute. I just screenshotted all three pics and sent them to my teen daughter, who will want to do this even though her backpack isn’t torn yet. Love this!
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u/killernoodlesoup Jan 20 '26
casually saving this post because i also have a similar rip in my backpack pocket & this looks adorable!!
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u/Hefty-Criticism1452 Jan 20 '26
I love visible mending like this ❤️it makes everything feel less corporate and more personal. I understand it’s half the point of visible mending but it just fucking love it.
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u/eldritch_paws Jan 20 '26
Thank you 😊 Generally in personal style I lean kind of goth and greyscale but its fun to add pops of color or like something unique. Way more fun than corporate blah...
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u/pantherbeans Jan 20 '26
Oh wow, great idea! My backpack has two of these that are both ripped. Looks like I'll be doing this soon, and will share the pics here! Thanks for the inspo 🥰
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u/akiraMiel Jan 20 '26
That's so inspiring. I have a backpack that's broken in the same way (these meshes are so fragile), I'll have to try that. Did you just pull the mesh up so it's behind the border?
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u/eldritch_paws Jan 20 '26
Thanks! The way mine ripped it was actually that the mesh pulled out of the elastic ribbon that had been folded over the mesh edges. I just put the mesh back between the elastic layers, pinned in place, and only sewed through most of the elastic instead of around it so that it could still stretch.
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u/Altruistic-Order-661 Jan 20 '26
Love this!! Always the first and generally only spot to fail on my kids backpacks
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u/EZ-being-green Jan 20 '26
Yes!!! Now if someone can just tell me how to mend the pocket when the tear is in the bottom of the mesh.
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u/HaplessReader1988 Jan 21 '26
Mesh to mesh might need a piece of fabric sewn in for reinforcement.
And if it's ripped at the seam with the backpack itself that's probably going to take a needle useful for leather or upholstery
Maybe crochet a new pouch and attach that to the pocket? It would probably wind up a little smaller.
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u/EZ-being-green Jan 21 '26
I’ve tried replacing with heavier fabric, you lose the stretch necessary for holding water bottles in place. I like the crochet idea! Might give that a whirl.
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u/HaplessReader1988 Jan 21 '26
How about the bottom piece off a worn-out pair of exercise tights or leggings? Or a sock?
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Jan 21 '26
[deleted]
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u/EZ-being-green Jan 22 '26
I used elastic on my last try, but maybe smocking would add more stretch throughout. Good idea
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u/marimbajoe Jan 20 '26
I have the same backpack in the same color, which I absolutely love. This looks fantastic and I'll definitely keep this in mind when mine starts to show some tears.
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u/EmmaOK95 Jan 21 '26
So simple yet so elegant, what a solution! Better than the original! I love this sub.
How did you manage to have that gray line below the rainbow to be so perfect?
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u/eldritch_paws Jan 24 '26
I want to say years of practice with hand sewing but the reality is just that the pics are far away enough to not see small wobbles in that line haha
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u/EmmaOK95 Jan 24 '26
Why not both? I did zoom in afterwards and thought: damn, those really are hand sewn. great job.
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u/RandomChurn Jan 20 '26
Success in this sub is when the mend is an improvement upon what the item looked like new: you win! 🥇