With each clothing, we have various design options at our disposal: contrasting color of the patch and thread, directional lines of the patch and stitches, patch size in relation to the garment, patch value… and the list goes on. But we may also concentrate on the rip itself and allow that form guide our mending and sewing. The stitches surrounding the rip may truly shine if the outside lines of the patch are kept simple—just a running stitch to bind the borders to the fabric. We may use a simple design approach while yet achieving great visual appeal by tacking down the edge of the hole and showing a high-contrast patch. This is one of my go-to quick cures.
MATERIALS
mending a garment
Ironic (optional)
Ruler or tape measure
Fabric shears
discarded fabric
Straight or safety pins?
Fabric marker that is washable, such as tailor’s chalk or a quilter’s pen
Thread sashiko
Needles for Sashiko
Pliers with a needle-nose (optional)
Embroidery scissors or snips for thread cutting (optional)
squeak (optional)
1 Place the clothing on your work table flat. If necessary, iron.
Add 12 to 1 inch (1.3–2.5 cm) to all edges of the hole or rip. Build a generous patch: it’s preferable to make a patch that’s too large than one that’s too little. If your rip is 1 inch (2.5 cm) broad, make a patch 2 or 3 inches (5–7.5 cm) wide. This will enable you to stitch your patch into sturdy fabric and cover the hole as well as the damaged, torn, or weakening regions surrounding it.
2 Using the dimensions from Step 1, cut the patch from your spare cloth.
3 Place the patch into the ripped clothing.
The patch for this project fits inside the trouser leg since it patches a hole near the knee. Pin the patch simply to the top of the pant leg to avoid sewing the leg shut (after all, you want to wear the pants). Using a fabric marker, trace the patch.
4 Thread needle, knot thread at one end, and enter needle from the bottom of the garment, knot concealed behind.
Stitch around the circumference of the patch with a running stitch (see this page) until all under edges are stitched down. Tie off thread on the bottom of the garment.
5 Trim the fray from the inside of the hole. This will provide a crisp edge for the subsequent stitches.
Fold and pin the trimmed hole edges. This results in the cleanest, most basic repair for a ripped hole. This approach is fantastic.
6 Thread a needle, knot one end of the thread, and enter the needle from the inside of the garment, keeping the knot concealed underneath.
Insert the needle approximately 14 inch (6 mm) from the hole’s edge and sew a running stitch (see this page) along the perimeter of the hole until all edges are stitched down. These stitches will provide a completed edge where the hole previously was, concealing any frayed edges and resulting in a polished minimum repair.
