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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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 the...
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.<...
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...
Mend it, wear it, love it! : stitch your way to a sustainable wardrobe
Edwards, Zoe (Dressmaker)
Paper Book
A practical tool kit for mending 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, customize and care for your clothes. ...
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. Discover how to read a pattern, use a sewing machine, and sew basic stitches, seams, and hems. Explore how to put those skills to use to create, personalize, upcycle, and...
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...
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...
Mending matters : stitch, patch, and repair your favorite denim & more
Rodabaugh, Katrina
Paper Book
Mending Matters explores sewing on two levels: First, it includes more than 20 hands-on projects that showcase current trends in visible mending that are edgy, modern, and bold-but draw on traditional stitching. It does all this through just four very simple mending techniques: exterior...
Every tool's a hammer : life is what you make it
Savage, Adam
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "An imperative how-to for creativity." --Nick Offerman Adam Savage--star of Discovery Channel's Mythbusters and one of the most beloved figures in science and tech--shares his golden rules of creativity, from...
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...
Rescue, restore, redecorate : Amy Howard's guide to refinishing furniture and accessories
Howard, Amy
Paper Book
Whether you dream of restoring an heirloom to its former beauty, or just want to modernize a flea market treasure, Amy Howard has the design and refinishing secrets you need. Here are all the furniture finishing recipes, techniques, and tips that have made Howard's beloved classes sold-out success...

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