Make Thrift Mend - by Katrina Rodabaugh (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In Make Thrift Mend, slow fashion influencer Katrina Rodabaugh, bestselling author of Mending Matters, teaches readers how to mend, patch, dye, and alter clothing for an environmentally conscious, reimagined wardrobe.

In an era of disposable clothing, Make Thrift Mend offers a transformative alternative. Katrina Rodabaugh presents a holistic 3-step strategy to transition away from fast fashion: Make (creating new pieces with intention), Thrift (curating a second-hand wardrobe), and Mend (honoring and repairing what we already own).

This guide is packed with clear color photographs and instructions, featuring step-by-step tutorials on visible mending and sashiko-inspired stitching. It goes further than her previous work by introducing the world of natural dyes. Rodabaugh demonstrates how to use kitchen scraps and foraged plants to refresh stained or faded garments, giving them a second life.

More than a craft book, it is a manifesto for intentional living. It includes "closet-cleansing" exercises to help readers define their personal style and reduce consumption. By focusing on the beauty of the well-worn and the hand-repaired, Rodabaugh proves that a sustainable wardrobe is not just an environmental necessity, but a deeply rewarding creative practice.

Review Quotes

Staff Pick: Powell's
"A slow fashion book for the thoughtful fashionista. Rodabaugh states: 'Start where you are. Start by looking at the clothes you already own before shopping for new. Can they be mended or remodeled rather than replaced?' This isn't just another closet advice book. Rodabaugh gives us inspiring ideas for rejuvenating our old togs into treasures to be proud of. I was a fan of her first book, Mending Matters, and I'm just as excited about Make Thrift Mend. Recommended by Tracey T.
--Powells.com

"Katrina provides the inspiration, the motivation, and the techniques to put daydreams into practice, whether you want to DIY it or ask a professional to do it for you, and the more you delve into her universe, the more you are compelled to do as she does."

--from the Foreword by Orsola de Castro, co-founder and global creative director, Fashion Revolution

"Katrina's philosophy is masterfully distilled in Make Thrift Mend. She has a gift for making sustainable living into a spiritual practice, while at the same time grounding it in accessible practices. Treading lightly upon the earth does not require a hefty paycheck; anyone can learn how to clothe themselves in alignment with their values with the skills taught in these pages."
--Meg McElwee, Sew Liberated

"When Katrina Rodabaugh gave up 'convenience in fashion, ' she began what she calls 'a relationship with commitment instead.' Circularity, invention, the impulse to create, traditional craft, and modern handwork fuel Katrina's inspiring new book, Make Thrift Mend, indeed."
--Natalie Chanin, The School of Making and Alabama Chanin

About the Author

Katrina Rodabaugh is an award-winning artist, writer, and a leading voice in the sustainable fashion movement. She is the author of three books, including the bestselling Mending Matters and her latest guide to a conscious wardrobe, Make Thrift Mend. With an MFA in Creative Writing and a background in Environmental Studies, Katrina's work sits at the intersection of craft, sustainability, and social practice.

Since 2013, she has lived by her "Make Thrift Mend" philosophy--focusing on mending, natural plant dyes, and ethical fashion. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, and Sunset magazine. Katrina currently lives in a 200-year-old farmhouse in New York's Hudson Valley, where she tends to dye gardens, raises chickens, and teaches workshops in her converted barn studio.