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 will use and how you want your jeans to look.
I used mercerized* cotton yarn in dark blue. The yarn is thicker than embroidery thread, which makes it easier to cover the worn area but not too thick. As you can see (below), 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 generally used for knitting or crocheting. It is also more durable than embroidery thread or floss.
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.
