Back Pocket Mend
This mend needs to be strong. So, a fabric patch must be placed under the rip and held in place with plenty of stitching.
This area on a pair of jeans has a lot of stress. I used a piece of denim in this case, but any substantial, thicker cotton fabric patch could also be used. The patch needs to be bigger than the rip.
I pin and then usually tack** the patch into place for stitching. This, for me, is quicker and easier than stitching around pins, which (even with my experience) tends to catch the thread or yarn while I’m working. I want my mend-darn-patch to be a pleasant experience. But, like everything, it’s entirely up to you. Some people use fabric glue for a temporary fix and then stitch. The fabric glue is soft enough to stitch through but not strong enough to hold a patch; it will wash out. Only use purpose-made fabric glue.
I used a red mercerised cotton yarn for this repair and added plenty of stitches to strengthen the area.
It’s worth considering not stitching on the pocket itself. I stitched on the seam of the pocket with three rows, making the repair very strong without impeding the pocket’s function with any stitches. Again, it’s up to you; maybe you don’t need the pocket, so it doesn’t matter.
As you can see, the stitching is simple, with a straightforward running stitch. Celebrate the imperfect visible stitch. The century-old Japanese art of repair, Boro, used a simple running stitch with patches to strengthen the worn or torn fabric. Boro and Sashiko, what do they mean?
If you wish, you could unstitch the left side of the pocket and put a patch under the pocket but over the rip—in other words, between the rip and the pocket. There are no rules. It’s all about expressing yourself and doing whatever you want.
Side Seam Mend
Unlike the above repair, I put the patch on top of the rip for this mend/repair. I wanted to hide this rip, so I cut out a circle bigger than the rip, pinned it, and tacked it into place. I used a simple, imperfect running stitch with a durable vintage mercerised cotton thread in pale yellow for this visible mend.
This simple stitch is perfect for anyone, even if you are a complete beginner or more advanced. These stitches, plus a patch, will strengthen any area efficiently without needing experience or perfection. Remember, have fun with your newfound hobby while saving your favourite stuff.
Tip: Even though I have been sewing for decades, I still like to tack things into place. It’s easier and quicker to stitch without pins in situ. I find the thread or yarn gets caught up in the pins all too often, which can be annoying when the whole process is meant to be relaxing and fun. For this reason, I like to tack my patches into place easily and quickly.
**Tacking is large, loose running stitches made with ordinary sewing thread that is removed when your work is finished.
Mend-Darn-Patch Jeans – Knee Area
Mend-Darn-Patch Jeans – Front Pocket
“Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world. We need to change that.” – Emma Watson
Emma Watson is an actress and sustainable fashion advocate.
