Repair Café

Inspiration to repair and mend.

Repair Café 29 June from 11-2:00 pm at Ferndale Hall, New Plymouth.

Updated May 21, 2025
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DIY: Repair, Renovate And Decorate
Cassell, Julian.
Paper Book
An updated edition of the best-selling DIY manual you can't afford to be without, with expert know-how for success every time. Whether you need to do a quick fix or a large DIY project, find out how to tackle any DIY task with confidence following this revised and updated step...
The Repair Shop : crafts in the barn : skills, stories and heartwarming restorations
Dowle, Jayne
Paper Book
The second specially photographed book from the BBC's Top Ratings Hit The Repair Shop, in which the experts explain the importance of heirloom restoration crafts. The Repair Shop - with regular viewing figures of 7 million in the UK alone - has cemented itself as a...
How to repair everything : a green guide to fixing stuff
Harper, Nick
Paper Book
With advice on tools, materials and methods and written in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step format, this is a book that makes it easier to say 'No' to our disposable society and make a real difference. Not everything has built-in obsolescence - as this fantastically handy guide to fixing...
Visible mending : repair, renew, reuse the clothes you love
Khounnoraj, Arounna
Paper Book
Covering 12 core techniques, 10 key stitches and 3 projects, explore why we should mend and how to mend a variety of different fabrics using this book. Demystifying the mending techniques through a directory of stitches and clear step-by-steps, from repairing to reusing and...
How To Keep Your Clothes Forever: Simple planet-friendly projects to love your wardrobe back to life, for fans of SEW IT YOURSELF and MENDING MATTERS
Giblin, Leah.
Paper Book
A practical guide to buying less and caring more for your clothing Leah Giblin grew up with the best dress-up collection, spending hours styling and playing with her siblings. She has always loved making clothes and she's also always cared deeply about environmental issues....
Restore
Kirk, Will.
Paper Book
The art of caring for the things you love ... Caring for the items you love around the home is easier - and more rewarding - than you think. In his first book, The Repair Shop's resident woodworking expert Will Kirk takes you on a tour of the basics of wood care and...
Kantha: sustainable textiles and mindful making / Ekta Kaul
Paper Book
A beautiful book on the tradition of kantha, a Bengali embroidery technique with a rich heritage rooted in storytelling and upcycling, with inspiration and techniques for contemporary makers. The word 'kantha' refers to both the style of running stitch, as well as the finished...
100 ways to save the planet / Tom Jordan
Paper Book
100 Ways to Save the Planet is packed with activities to help young eco-warriors make a positive difference. From growing your own veg and learning how to sew to organizing a school seed bank and making a bird box, each colorful page is filled with practical tips,...
Silversmith's secrets : techniques to repair, restore and transform treasured items
West, Brenton
Paper Book
Award-winning silversmith and BBC television personality Brenton West explains how to diagnose the problem, apply the repair, and make good almost any precious items. Aimed at anyone who wants to learn the skills necessary to fix, repair or improve household items - whether for...
DIY Camper and RV Reno: Restoring and Designing Vintage, Retro, and Classic Trailers and RVs with Nailgun Nelly
Payne, Janelle.
Paper Book
Choose and restore a classic RV or camper with expert guidance every step of the way--then hit the road in style! Join popular creator Janelle Payne (a.k.a. Nailgun Nelly) for a journey through everything camper and RV. Whether you're considering a truly vintage home on...
Going fast and fixing things : true stories from the world's most popular DIY repair expert and car aficionado
Benoit, Rich
Paper Book
Rich Benoit went from buying a left-for-dead Tesla to becoming a successful YouTube entrepreneur and launching The Electrified Garage, the nation's first successful EV-only business devoted to repairing Teslas and other electric vehicles.  Today he is the world's most popular DIY expert and...
Man with a Hammer: Taking on Britain's Biggest DIY Project
Penn, Greg.
Paper Book
Many of us dream of a renovation project, but few would be brave enough to take on a 8,200-square-foot, 30-room, 5-storey Georgian mansion on only a shoestring budget. But that's exactly what Greg Penn did, buying the near-derelict Admiral's House and embarking on an ambitious restoration plan....
Less
Grant, Patrick
Paper Book
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTELLER 'Utterly brilliant. We all need to read this book' CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN 'Patrick's book is fascinating and sobering and makes a compelling argument for going back to basics' JOE LYCETT We used to care a lot about our clothes. We didn't...
Auto repair and maintenance for beginners
Stribling, Dave
Paper Book
Your one-stop resource for basic car care and repair. Working on your vehicle can be intimidating with the complicated engines, sophisticated electrical systems and other high-tech components, but with this helpful guide by your side, you learn to fine-tune and identify common...
Creative mending : beautiful darning, patching and stitching techniques
Noguchi, Hikaru
Paper Book
Mend, rethink, transform, recreate! Mending your favorite fabric items--from jeans to sweaters to sofa covers--becomes a true art form in Creative Mending. In this book, mending guru Hikaru Noguchi shows you her entire range of valuable techniques--from embroidery and...
A beginner's guide to kintsugi : the Japanese art of repairing pottery and glass
Hori, Michihiro
Paper Book
**Named a "Best of Ceramic Books" by Book Riot** Old, broken objects can become more beautiful than ever! The thought of throwing away a cherished dish or mug can be heartbreaking. If you've ever wanted to repair a treasured piece rather than tossing it...
Tools : a visual history
Chinea, Dominic
Paper Book
A must-read for makers, tinkerers, fixers and creators, The Repair Shop's Dominic Chinea shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for the history and practical uses of tools. A tool is an object with endless possibilities. Contained within each item is the chance to create, to...
DIY with Jay : how to repair and refresh your home
Blades, Jay
Paper Book
Tips, tricks, and expert DIY advice from Jay Blades MBE, star of the hit BBC One TV The Repair Shop. DIY with Jay is a room-by-room guide to doing it yourself: from laying new kitchen flooring and building your own BBQ to making new sofa covers and choosing the right bedroom...
Stained glass : a maker's guide to creating, installing and repairing leaded glass
D'Souza, Sophie
Paper Book
This practical book explains the art of stained glass for the maker. Focusing on leaded glass, it introduces types of glass, cutting and designing for glass, and the processes involved in building your own panel. It also covers installation and restoration of glass, repairing and rebuilding, and...
Resourceful living : revamp your home with key pieces, vintage finds and creative repurposing
Dawson, Lisa
Paper Book
Revamping and restyling your home on a budget and without waste It's often thought that restyling your space comes with a hefty price tag and unavoidable waste. But in Resourceful Living, award-winning interiors blogger Lisa Dawson shows how with a little...
Sew eco-friendly : 25 reusable projects for sustainable sewing
Shore, Debbie (Writer on sewing)
Paper Book
Sew 25 planet-saving projects to help reduce waste It's never been more important to be mindful of what we consume. This book will help you to make 25 small but meaningful life swaps to help reduce waste. For example, trade in your disposable face wipes and replace them with...
Small engines and outdoor power equipment : a care & repair guide for: lawn mowers, snowblowers & small gas-powered implements
Hunn, Peter
Paper Book
This updated edition of the best-selling Small Engines and Power Equipment is more than a simple engine repair manual. Designed for the beginner with little or no mechanical experience, this book is a graphically appealing, step-by-step guide that covers all of...
Sashiko for making & mending
Iiduka, Saki
Paper Book
Let this book show you the pleasure of repairing, reinforcing and making beloved items using sashiko embroidery! Sashiko for Making and Mending shows you how to use sashiko stitching to mend rips, repair things like fraying cuffs and create original accessories that look...
Basic home repair & maintenance : an illustrated problem solver
Meany, Terry
Paper Book
This book features:Sizing up the problem Tools & how to use them Painting Fixing scratches, squeaks, scrapes, & chips Repairing leaks & clogs Electrical repairs you can do What to do about mold, mildew, moss & dry rot Pets & pests Yard work Energy efficiency Creating a year-round home-maintenance...
The total motorcycle manual
Lindemann, Mark
Paper Book
Allow Mark Lindemann, Cycle World Magazine's resident expert, share the tips and tricks he has gained from riding over 750 different bikes during the past 30 years. This is the perfect guide for beginners or those looking to get back on two wheels after a hiatus. Evolve from...
The practical illustrated guide to furniture repair & restoration
Cook, William
Paper Book
How to repair loose joints, broken chair legs and damaged finishes: this comprehensive book is an essential guide to repairing and conserving your furniture with professional results.
The sewing fix: three practical pillars for a sustainable preloved wardrobe / Anne Phillips
Paper Book
Are you tired of wearing clothes that fall apart after one wash? Or struggling to find second hand clothing that fits? Then Annie Phillips has the solution as not only is mending and altering a better option for our environment, but you'll also be saving a pretty penny in the long run.<...
Sloejd: the Swedish art of wood and textile handicraft / Kerstin Neumueller
Paper Book
A book for anyone who craves making something with their hands. Slojd is Swedish for handicrafts. But it's so much more than making things with your hands. In Sweden, slojd is a compulsory subject taught to all schoolchildren. From a young age, they work with textiles and wood not only to...
Make, sew and mend : traditional techniques to sustainably maintain and refashion your clothes
Banner, Bernadette
Paper Book
Learn the Historically Proven Stitches Every Seamster Needs with Beloved Historical Fashion YouTuber Bernadette Banner Whether you are just getting started with sustainable fashion and need to alter your new secondhand finds, or you want an introduction to sewing techniques for making your own...
Loved clothes last : how the joy of rewearing and repairing your clothes can be a revolutionary act
Castro, Orsola de
Paper Book
Running out of space for the clothes you can't stop buying? Curious about how you can make a difference to the environmental challenges our planet faces? Join Orsola's care revolution and learn to make the clothes you love, last longer. This book will equip you with a myriad of...
Mend it, wear it, love it! : stitch your way to a sustainable wardrobe
Edwards, Zoe (Dressmaker)
Paper Book
A practical tool kit for mending your clothes and upcycling your wardrobe. It's "sew" simple to give your wardrobe an eco-chic edge! With fast fixes and clever techniques, this accessible, fully illustrated sewing book has everything you need to mend, customise and care for...
Mend! : a refashioning manual and manifesto
Sekules, Kate
Paper Book
Sharp and incredibly timely, Mend! is a push for a slow fashion revolution in which we stop to think critically about what we buy, where it comes from, who makes it, and what it is doing to the environment, and is simultaneously a fun, crafty manual that will inspire readers to roll up their...
Sew step by step : how to use your sewing machine to make, mend, and customize
Smith, Alison
Paper Book
Make, mend, and customize your own wardrobe with this highly photographic beginner's guide to machine sewing, featuring more than 200 step-by-step techniques. If you've never used a sewing machine before, or if you want to refresh your skills, Sew Step by Step will...
Sustain : 50 easy tips for a cleaner, greener, plastic-free home
Strutt, Christina
Paper Book
How to live a more sustainable life and create a calmer, healthier, eco-friendly home without using plastics. Making small lifestyle changes can make a big difference to our planet. Sustain is full of advice and information to help you take a more eco-friendly path....
Mending with boro : Japanese running stitch & patching techniques
Horiuchi, Harumi
Paper Book
One simple stitch can bring new life to hundreds of your favorite things! Boro is the Japanese straight stitch used to repair and reinforce fabrics that is the basis for Sashiko. It is a favorite among visible mending enthusiasts because of its simplicity and...
Simple hand sewing : 35 slow stitching and mindful mending projects
Strutt, Laura
Paper Book
Feel the benefits of sewing by hand for your wellbeing and for the planet with these mindful and sustainable makes. Hand sewing is a great way to practise mindfulness through craft. Laura Strutt has designed these 35 projects specially to develop your hand-sewing skills, but...
How to sew sustainably : recycling, reusing, and remaking with fabric
Ward, Wendy (Fashion designer)
Paper Book
A technique-led guide to creating clothes and homeware, using fabric scraps from other projects, discarded home textiles, and used clothing. Wendy Ward teaches you all the skills you need to refashion garments and reuse fabric from existing pieces you already own, plus ways to...
Joyful mending : visible repairs for the perfectly imperfect things we love!
Misumi, Noriko
Paper Book
Joyful Mending shows you how to repair and improve old items of clothing by turning tears and flaws into beautiful features. Simply by applying a few easy sewing, darning, felting, or crocheting techniques, as well as some sashiko and other favorite embroidery...
Mending matters : stitch, patch, and repair your favorite denim & more
Rodabaugh, Katrina
Paper Book
Join the Slow Fashion movement and make mending your jeans and other garments an artful, joyful, and empowering act of sustainability and renewal, for both you and your favorite clothes with award-winning crafter KatrinaRodabaugh's Mending Matters.
The reassembler
May, James
Paper Book
'A typically Mayesque celebration of classic engineering ... May is extraordinarily good at explaining what a carburettor is or outlining how a governor works... It's charming, transfixing and surprisingly intimate...It might be the best thing he's ever done.' - Guardian [review of BBC4...
Sarah Beeny's 100 DIY jobs : the essentials made simple
Beeny, Sarah
Paper Book
Sarah Beeny's practical good sense and expert eye, combined with her natural warmth and energy, are familiar to fans of her hugely popular TV programs. Her down-to-earth attitude and expert knowledge, gained at the coalface of house renovation, inform her approach to DIY and, in 100 DIY Jobs, she...
Every tool's a hammer : life is what you make it
Savage, Adam
Paper Book
MythBusters' Adam Savage--Discovery Channel star and one of the most beloved figures in science and tech--shares his golden rules of creativity, from finding inspiration to following through and successfully turning your idea into reality.
Better Than New : Tips for Upcycling and Refinishing Furniture
Kempster, Chloe.
Paper Book
Give old furniture a new lease of life, save money and help the planet with this beautifully illustrated guide to upcycling. Renovating tired old furniture can make it look as good as new - or even better! It can be a cost-effective and more sustainable solution than buying...
Man with a van : my story
Pritchard, Drew
Paper Book
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'When I see something old, that I think is beautiful, special, valuable, it's not about the money. It's about being in another time and place.' Star of TV's Salvage Hunters, Drew Pritchard will go to the greatest lengths...
Stuff : upholstery, fabric, frame
Osborne, Lorraine (Upholsterer)
Paper Book
Look at 15 projects through new eyes, re-creating old furniture in your own imaginative style. Top upholsterer Lorraine Osborne guides you through her simple processes for salvaging and fabulously renovating old, unloved chairs. Far too much furniture is thrown away and with it the perfectly...
Big blue book of bicycle repair : a do-it-yourself bicycle repair guide from Park Tool
Jones, C. Calvin
Paper Book
Ultimate guide to furniture repair & refinishing : restore, rebuild, and renew wooden furniture
Hingley, Brian D.
Paper Book
Whether you've received a beloved family heirloom that needs fixing up or want to repair and renovate bargain furniture, this Ultimate Guide to Furniture Repair & Refinishing is packed with detailed information to help you get the job done right! With more than 500 color step-by-step...
The repair shop : a make do and mend guide to caring for the things you love
Farrington, Karen
Paper Book
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND OFFICIAL COMPANION TO THE HIT BBC SERIES BBC's The Repair Shop is a place where Britain's most skilled and caring craftspeople rescue and resurrect items that owners thought were beyond saving. Their shared love of craft has helped hundreds of people...
Rescue, restore, redecorate : Amy Howard's guide to refinishing furniture and accessories
Howard, Amy
Paper Book
Welcome to Amy Howard's Rescue Restore Redecorate lifestyle! Whether you dream of restoring an heirloom to its former beauty or just want to modernize a flea market treasure, Howard has the design and refinishing secrets you need. Here are all the furniture...

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