Smart and quick way to repair a hole

🪡 🧵 Time to fix that hole? 🪡 🧵

Sometimes, unfortunately, garments get damaged—you might snag them on something, wear them down, or tear them. But more often than not, it's not a big deal and can be easily fixed! If you repair a hole quickly, you significantly reduce the risk of it growing bigger and becoming unmanageable. So, make it a habit to fix it as soon as possible!

Repairing and mending clothes is something we used to be really skilled at, back when fabrics, sewing, and garments were valued much more than they are today. But there's a lot of time, money, and resources to be saved by reviving this age-old tradition! That’s why we’ve put together a simple step-by-step guide on a clever way to mend a hole.

Watch the instructional video, or follow each step in text and images below.

Good luck!

YOU WILL NEED:

• A garment with at least one hole
• Suitable fabric for patching, e.g. similar thickness/colour
• Fusible web with adhesive on both sides, such as double-sided Vlieseline
• Scissors
• Iron
• Thread in a matching colour
• Sewing machine—a standard household machine works perfectly! If you don’t have one and there’s no tool library nearby, perhaps a neighbour or your gran might be happy to lend you theirs!

STEP ONE

Cut out patches from a suitable fabric, slightly larger than the hole you are repairing. Also, cut out double-sided fusible web (such as double-sided Vlieseline) in the same size and shape as the fabric patches.

This will not only reinforce the hole but also help keep the patch securely in place when you sew—smart, right?

STEP TWO

Sew a zigzag stitch around the edges of the fabric patch to prevent it from fraying.

There is a slight risk that the fusible web (Vlieseline) could tangle and get stuck in the machine if included at this stage, so we chose not to sew it in place just yet.

STEP THREE

Place the patch and fusible web on the inside of the trousers, directly underneath the hole, with the fusible web in the middle—sandwiched between the trousers and the patch.

Press the patch in place with an iron. If the hole is large or has loose threads, it's a good idea to place a thin fabric or pattern paper between the iron and the trousers to prevent glue from sticking to the iron.

STEP FOUR

Sew multiple parallel straight stitches across the hole—first horizontally, then vertically—to create a decorative grid pattern.

Finally, trim any loose threads.

STEP FIVE

DONE! Your garment is now ready to be worn again, and you’ve minimised the risk of it developing into a large hole.

Give yourself some well-deserved praise—be proud of your effort and the fact that you’ve extended the life of your garment! 🎉