Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Is there a way to "patch" up a tear in my jeans?

raeanna74 · 12-16-2004, 06:28 PM

I dont' quite get the picture of how long versus how wide the whole is. Is it 1 1/4" LONG but not wide at all?? If it's not wide you can just stitch across from one side of the tear to the other and you don't need a patch. Though a patch would reinforce things better. A couple other questions too. Since these are comfortable jeans are they well worn? Have you had them quite a while and washed them many times?? If so and you simply sew up the whole the new thread will be much stronger and less stretchy than the old material and will rip you out a new whole. Then you most definately need a patch from the inside. You should also find yourself a somewhat larger needle since as your mom said the material is tougher. I have broken needles. Here's a suggestion for you. Go to your local Jo-Ann Fabric store and go to one of the counters where they cut fabric for you. Ask them if they could advise you how to fix your jeans. Take your jeans with you even. You'll be surprised. Most of the ladies who work at those counters are somewhat knowledgeable about sewing and crafts and can direct you to the best tools for the job. If you're too self conscious about doing that it might help if you can post a pic here of the whole. Put some white paper inside your jeans so we can see exactly where the whole is against the backdrop of white.

As one other person mentioned - if this does seem to be a lost cause or you don't want to go too all that work you can duct tape it from inside.

Iron on patches work well but in a place where the material is bent and stretched often the edges will begin to peal up on you. If you can stitch over the edges it would help prevent that. Iron it on and then go back and sew over the edges. One little tip - if the needle doesn't slide well you can rub it on your scalp. The oil from your scalp will lube it up and it'll slide through the fabric more smoothly.

I can't think of anything else that might help. I do quite a bit of sewing and have made clothes from scratch. I'll be happy to answer any other questions you might have.

12-16-2004, 06:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I dont' quite get the picture of how long versus how wide the whole is. Is it 1 1/4" LONG but not wide at all?? If it's not wide you can just stitch across from one side of the tear to the other and you don't need a patch. Though a patch would reinforce things better. A couple other questions too. Since these are comfortable jeans are they well worn? Have you had them quite a while and washed them many times?? If so and you simply sew up the whole the new thread will be much stronger and less stretchy than the old material and will rip you out a new whole. Then you most definately need a patch from the inside. You should also find yourself a somewhat larger needle since as your mom said the material is tougher. I have broken needles. Here's a suggestion for you. Go to your local Jo-Ann Fabric store and go to one of the counters where they cut fabric for you. Ask them if they could advise you how to fix your jeans. Take your jeans with you even. You'll be surprised. Most of the ladies who work at those counters are somewhat knowledgeable about sewing and crafts and can direct you to the best tools for the job. If you're too self conscious about doing that it might help if you can post a pic here of the whole. Put some white paper inside your jeans so we can see exactly where the whole is against the backdrop of white. As one other person mentioned - if this does seem to be a lost cause or you don't want to go too all that work you can duct tape it from inside. Iron on patches work well but in a place where the material is bent and stretched often the edges will begin to peal up on you. If you can stitch over the edges it would help prevent that. Iron it on and then go back and sew over the edges. One little tip - if the needle doesn't slide well you can rub it on your scalp. The oil from your scalp will lube it up and it'll slide through the fabric more smoothly. I can't think of anything else that might help. I do quite a bit of sewing and have made clothes from scratch. I'll be happy to answer any other questions you might have. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.