Patch Repair
Patch Repair
A patch is a piece of fabric you can place over a rip or hole. This is necessary on places on the garment where there is movement and friction going on like the knees, elbow, crotch or butt and therefore needs a bit more strength.
Making a patch
Our favourite way of patching is making a patch out of fabric scraps or leftovers from other sewing projects. Keep a box of leftover fabrics as you can always reuse them for filling material or patches. There are only a few things to consider when selecting your patch material.
Tips for patching
- Every patch you add affects the garment. It is best to choose a patch material that is similar to the weight and characteristics of the garment you are repairing, especially when repairing a lightweight garment. This way the fit and comfort of the garment remains the same. For instance, when patching jeans, a piece of similarly strong and durable fabric, like canvas or denim is perfect. If you repair it with a lightweight fabric it can easily rip the next day again.
- The best suitable patching material also depends on the location of the rip. For instance, if the rip is located where there is a lot of movement or friction and has a higher chance of ripping or fraying, your patch fabric should be strong to combat this.
- When cutting a patch, it needs to be 2 to 3 cm bigger on both sides of the rip. If the whole area around the rip is quite thin and worn out then cut the patch, 2 to 3 cm around the worn-out area, to avoid ripping above the patch.
Here we would like to point to three different ways of patching:
Patch repair by hand, For repairs that are on places with less friction Watch video
Patch repair by machine, For repairs on places with a lot of friction like knees, elbows or crotch Watch video (Note: In the main Repair video, we explain the Zigzag repair. A patch by machine was placed underneath and stitched with a zigzag stitch. This can also be done with a straight stitch but requires more stitching, this will be shown in the patch-by-machine video.)
Sashiko, A repair by hand but more decorative and durable repair. Watch video (Note: Original Sashiko thread is 100% cotton and it is going to shrink a little when washed. The texture of the thread is a sashiko aesthetic. If the stitch becomes too tight the fit and the design will change and can cause the yarn to snap. Plus the repair won't look nice.)
More videos for a Patch Repair
If you have any questions about this topic sure to visit our community chat on Discord. Many skilled and likeminded people are in there :)