Save your favourite pair of jeans. A little more unusual repair than a rip in the knee is the edge of the front pocket. This pocket has frayed quite a lot; it would have been prudent if I had done this repair sooner.
Tip – as a rule and a good habit to get into mend-darn-patch your things sooner rather than later. The damage will inevitably get bigger and maybe more difficult to repair. This repair below has been left a little too long but still salvageable.
Decide what colour thread or threads you are going to use, how do you want your jeans to look?
I used a mercerized* cotton yarn in dark blue. The yarn is thicker than embroidery thread, which made it easier to cover the worn area but not too thick. As you can see, I used all blue for this repair, but you could use one, two or three of your favourite colours or a rainbow of colours.
Mercerized* cotton is stronger and more durable than the cotton yarn normally used for knitting or crocheting.
Embrace and celebrate the visible imperfect stitch. Remember, anyone can mend-darn-patch; you don’t need to be an expert or perfect. It only takes a little practice; anyone can repair their clothes. It will become fun and relaxing.
Become part of a trend, a movement that reignites a passion for preserving and personalizing clothing – the imperfect, beautiful, visible mend-darn-patch. Stand up to the fast fashion mania and extend the life of your clothes.
NB All the threads, yarns, and fabrics I use or sell are vintage, rescued, upcycled, recycled, and end-of-mill range. However, the British-made needles, scissors, and tin containers are new. Just about everything I find, use, or buy is sustainable.
Different ways to mend-darn-patch rips in the knee area of your jeans
“Sustainability is about being responsible for the impact of our actions on the environment, on society, and on future generations.” – Christina Dean
Christina Dean is the founder of the Redress fashion brand and a sustainable fashion advocate.
