How to Patch Jeans: A Detailed Guide

Denim jeans are one of the most popular pieces of clothing in the world. It is highly versatile as it can be worn with long sleeves, casual tops, and dressy tops. Its durability is also one of the reasons why it is a must-have in anyone’s closet. Jeans, after all, was created for laborers as the fabric is tough. Unfortunately, despite the denim’s durability, one may still experience having the pants rip off or having holes on them. Fortunately, one can learn how to patch jeans so that he or she can continue using the apparel despite being slightly damaged.

Patching jeans are no rocket science. All it takes is some creativity and patience for stitching to get the work done. There is no need to go to a seamstress for the repair as one does not need advanced sewing skills to repair the jeans himself or herself. The steps for covering the holes and rips of the denim are quite straightforward anyway.

Step 1: Gather the Supplies

It does not take much to repair jeans as the materials needed are available easily at home or in some shops.

The first step in patching your jeans is to gather the needed materials. These would include matching thread, a pair of scissors, scrap fabric, lightweight fusible, a sewing machine or hard needle, iron and ironing board.

Many people are unfamiliar with fusible. This is simply a non-woven webbing that is lightweight. It can hold two pieces of fabric together when ironed. This means the fusible will be used to hold the scrap fabric by placing it at the back of the jean’s hole.

Step 2: Place the jeans on the ironing board

Now grab that pair of jeans in need of repair and place it on the ironing board. This will make the task of patching the pants a lot easier.

Step 3: Cut the Frayed Edges

Patching a pair of jeans requires having a clean edge on the hole. Grab the scissors then cut off the part of the frayed area. Doing so will allow for the easy stitching of the scrap fabric to be used.

Turn the pants inside out after cutting clean the frayed edges. Then place the apparel on the ironing board again.

Step 4: Prepare the Scrap

Grab the scrap fabric you have selected to cover the rip or hole. The kind of fabric will depend on the user’s preferences as there are no hard and fast rules on which fabric to use.

One can choose to have denim to cover the holes or have patches made from cotton instead. Just make sure that the fabric is durable and isn’t prone to ripping easily.

Grab the scissors and start cutting the scrap fabric. Make sure it is big enough to cover the damaged part of the jeans with some extra inches that will extend a bit away from the hole.

Step 5: Use the Fusible

You also need to cut the fusible so that it can create a ring around the damaged area. Just make sure not to get fusible over the edge so that it will not be seen on the exterior side of the jeans.

Step 6: Position the Scrap Fabric

Place the scrap over the hole. One should be careful that the fabric is in the center and does not have too much on just one side.

Step 7: Use the Iron

Plug the iron and iron the back part of the scrap fabric. The steam setting should be used. Now, hold the iron against the fabric for a few seconds so that the fusible will stick.

Step 8: Choose the Thread Color

Now, it’s time to use the sewing machine, which starts by placing the thread.

Unfortunately, many people are unsure of what color to use. One can select a thread that has the same color as the denim. There is also the option of using a lighter shade for the more worn areas as well as darker colors for less worn portions. Choosing the right thread color will help in blending the patch with the jeans.

Step 9: Stitch It

Turn the denim jeans inside out again. Now, place the needle on the area that needs to be stitched.

Stitch forward from the outside of the hole until you cover the entire damaged area. Repeat this stitching movement several times. There is no need for fancy stitches such as the zigzag. The regular straight stick will do.

One also has the option of stitching by hand if there is no available sewing machine. Using the manual method may take more time than using the sewing machine, but it will also get the job done. Just make sure that the needle is large and sturdy to handle the denim fabric, which is tougher than other fabric types. Also, ensure that the stitches are uniform in size.

Step 9: Tackle the Loose Fiber

After stitching the entire perimeter of the hole, then it is time to tackle the loose fibers. Just look at where they are and do some sewing on them so that they are stitched against the denim. Do not pull or cut them out as that may cause the stitches to be undone.

Step 10: Cut the Extra Threads

Turn the jeans inside and out after all the stitching has been completed. Now, cut or snip those extra threads with the use of the scissors.

Step 11: Cut the Excess Fabric

If there is some excess scrap fabric, then you can trim them off. This is necessary to avoid the excess scrap fabric from curling up when the jeans are washed or worn.

One has the option of using the pinking shears to trim off the excess fabric. The pinking shears are better than regular scissors as they cause less fraying on the scrap fabric.

How to Patch Jeans: Saving Your Denim

Everyone knows that denim jeans can be durable and will last for many years. After all, jeans were created for the use of manual laborers like those in the construction trade.

Do not fret if there are holes or rips on apparel. It can easily be repaired by knowing how to patch jeans. You only need a couple of materials to cover the holes or tears with scrap fabric.