Thursday, Sept 19

Dear Reader,

You might have heard Dot lately, muttering about my fridge thermostat that’s stuck at -1° and therefore turning all liquids to slush. Or cursing about the sole of one of my favorite boots, which has come loose. What’s more, my vacuum is on the blink, and my outdoor broom handle keeps coming loose. In short, I have a long list of items that need repairing.

And my guess, based on the overwhelming reader response Bluedot Toronto got when we published a story about the city’s Repair Cafes or the determined push for Right to Repair legislation, is that a whole lot of you have long lists of items that need repairing, too. 

If your list includes clothes that require mending or tailoring, you’ll want to follow Bluedot’s Second-Hand Sisters, who, (along with testing and assessing sites such as Poshmark, ThredUp, Facebook Marketplace, and others that offer previously loved items), will be providing how-to videos on repairs, including sewing on a button or taking in a waistband. 

Because, of course, the greenest item is the one you don’t have to replace … but can repair instead.

Handily,

Dot