Got a split seam in your backpack?
A shirt button you oughta sew back on?
Or, if youre ambitious, a hole in your jeans youd like to patch?
Well start with the easiest things, and work up to repairs that are a bit more difficult.
The basics of hand sewing
Get yourself a needle, some thread and a pair of scissors.
If you have a sewing kit somewhere, its probably good enough in a pinch.
First, cut your thread.
Each side will wrap around the other, stabilizing the thread so it wont snarl.
From there, youre ready to sew.The basic stitches youll need to know are here.
I use a backstitch for most hand sewing and repairs, since its strong and secure.
This is an easy fixif the fabric on both sides is still fully intact.
Same deal if the fabric is still there but worn thin.
Theres no point in putting fresh new stitches into weak fabric thats just going to rip again.
So, the fabric is still good, but the stitching has failed.
Get your thread (as above) and start sewing where the stitching is still good.
Sew a few new stitches over the old ones to lock them in place, then just keep going.
You should be able to see exactly where they old stitches were, so follow that line.
Finish the same way you started, using the new thread to lock the old in place.
If your stitching was straight enough, the repair should be invisible from the outside.
Re-attaching a button
If a button falls off, its pretty easy to replace.
If its too big or too small, it wont work with the buttonhole.
On thick fabric, like a coat, the button needs to sit above the fabric.
That means youll need to make space for the fabric while you sew the button.
Atoothpickor two crossed pins can help.
Lets take a pair of jeans as an example.
Youve worn a hole, maybe two inches wide, at the kneecap.
Chances are, you have to replace the entire knee area.
So, find a large enough piece of fabricideally denim, if youre patching denim.
The second option is the neatest looking.
Whichever approach you chose, sew the patch, making sure your stitches go into good, strong fabric.
