I offer creative visible mending, invisible (or discreet) mending, and restoration services.

I’ll honor the style and color palette you want, and use my expertise to determine the best techniques to use. These techniques include: patching, woven darning, Swiss darning (“duplicate stitch” for knitwear), machine darning (durable repairs for jeans and other mid-to heavy weight fabrics), embroidered elements, sashiko, parachute stitch, bias binding (for covering frayed edges), lining and cuff replacement and so many more.

Check out the mending services page for photos and descriptions of each technique!

I don’t do alterations or reworks; this includes things like hemming pants, cinching waistlines, and turning jumpsuits into shirts. Inquire at your local dry cleaners for alterations, and reach out to your local fashion designers for reworks!

I’m also not an expert in leather and fur repairs, or reweaving. Check out Without a Trace for damaged purses, leather jackets, furs, and truly invisible reweaving! They’re also based in Chicago and accept mail-in orders.

I offer embroidered elements in my mends, but if you’re looking for decorative, illustrative embroidery, check out chainstitch embroidery vendors like Vichcraft, Mister Baby, and J.Woska Custom Chainstitch in Chicago.

For now, my home is my studio, so I won’t be meeting you in person for mending services. Send me an email at lucydreamsof@gmail.com if you’d like to hop on a video call for a quick 15 minute consult! You will, however, find me in person at any of my upcoming workshops and events.

As for mending drop-offs, stop by The Notch after you fill out the Mending Intake Form! They’re located at 4021 N. Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618. The Notch is open Mondays 10-3pm, Wednesdays 10-7pm, Fridays 10-3pm, and other select dates and times that change month-to-month.

Absolutely! Select “Shipping” when you fill out the Mending Intake Form and add your zip code. I’ll get back to you with my shipping address, and cover the cost of shipping on orders greater than $120 (excluding the cost of international shipping).

Mending quotes are dependent on severity of damage to the garment, chosen techniques, and color matching. I’ll almost always send a range (e.g. $45-60), as the final cost is determined by the time and labor the mend takes to complete—I’ll never charge you more than the higher end of the quote. If the quote is cost prohibitive to you, I offer layaway on mends higher than $200.

I’m currently working on a comprehensive pricing list. Expect to see it on this website sometime this winter!

If you’re dropping off in person, you’ll pay $15 to The Notch at dropoff, and I’ll invoice you virtually for the remaining cost upon completion of the mend. There will be no charge at pickup.

I will cover the cost of shipping on orders greater than $120 within the US. International shipping will always be an added cost.

It’s no question that clothes are cheap! People choose to mend their clothes for all different reasons.

I choose to mend my own clothes because I am extremely sentimental about my belongings, and I believe that with the skills and knowledge I’ve collected over 15 years in the fashion industry, I have a responsibility to the earth and to people of the global majority to do so.

There is a cost to everything; if it takes me $60 to cut and sew a t-shirt for just myself, paying myself a living wage and ethically sourcing quality materials, consider who isn’t getting paid when a company sells a t-shirt for $20 with the added cost of retail and marketing.

I totally understand that the cost of mending and buying new, ethically and sustainably made clothing is inaccessible to many people! And it is not a moral failing to buy new, cheaper clothes. If you do get new clothes for yourself, I encourage you to find them by thrifting and trading with your local community at clothing swaps.

As for the clothes you already have, I encourage you to learn how to mend and better care for them! Take a class with me or learn from the many zines and free resources available online. I recommend checking out A Hot Girl’s Guide to Caring for your Clothes to start.

I offer visible mending, woven darning, swiss darning, and patch making workshops. Check out my guide for what to expect from each class!

Fill out the general Contact Form or send me an email at lucydreamsof@gmail.com! I’m always looking to collaborate with business owners for workshops and pop-up events, photographers, and other artists. You don’t necessarily need to be in Chicago! If you’re an artist with a similar ethos, I want to meet you :)