How to Repair a Tear in Fabric: Sewing Patches

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Adobe Stock/lynea

When you’re wondering how to repair a tear in fabric or a hole in your clothes, sewing patches can be a creative and profitable answer.

This morning, I rejuvenated a worn-out (but irreplaceable!) shirt, transformed a pair of threadbare jeans into a work of art, and saved some comfortable shorts from the ragbag … all by sewing patches.

I’ve been rescuing clothes this way for years (I even ran a garment-patching business in college), and I find it one of the simplest, least expensive, and most gratifying ways to repair, restore, and embellish worn wearables. Besides, I have fun doing it! Many people don’t seem to understand when I explain that I view each hole, rip, or frayed area as a new and exciting sewing challenge.

Of course I could restrict myself to using unadorned, utilitarian, well-made squares and rectangles, but it stimulates my imagination and my needlework skills to use various shapes and embroidery stitches to make my work individual and, I think, beautiful. The techniques that must be learned in order to tackle this type of sewing are relatively simple, too. In fact, most of you who are reading this article probably already know the basics and may even have many of the supplies you’ll need.

The Necessary Materials and Equipment

  • Updated on Jun 28, 2022
  • Originally Published on May 1, 1983
Tagged with: embroidery, fabric, patching, sewing, sewing business, sewing patches, stitching
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