Originally Posted by grandma nurse
My grandaughter was bringing me things to repair and even brought me jeans of her boyfriend. I told her it might be awhile before I got to them, as I only mend when in the right mood. Well she had broken up with boyfriend before I got his done. I was so glad I had waited.
I would thrift a good sewing book and a small sewing kit and return it with the blanket saying "I am just overwhelmed right now with a big project. I just could not get to this for several months and I know you would not want to wait. Here is a book and a kit so you can do your self or you can go to the local person who mends for a living."
When I was working people would come to me all the time for mending, mostly replacing the zipper in their jeans. I got a bunch of business cards from a local seamstress who made a living with mending. When I got requests I would politely decline and give them one of her cards. Yes, non sewers think we would just love to do their repairs for free....the clue was they would approach me with " I know you love to sew......". I do love to sew but I don't care to mend for anyone outside my family....Even I will repair a popped hem or seam with fusible web.