Do you fall into despair every time you discover a small hole in your shirt? Come on, it's not that bad: you don't need to throw away your shirt; with needle, thread and, in the worst cases, a piece of fabric of similar color, the hole will disappear. In some cases, however, a little creativity will also be required, or perhaps the intervention of a professional tailor, to obtain a satisfactory result.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Hand Mending the Hole
Step 1. Choose a yarn in the color of the shirt
Using a thread of the same color will make the work less noticeable. You can also opt for a transparent thread, which will be completely invisible on the shirt.
- Check if you already have a thread of the color you need, if not look for it in a haberdashery; bring your t-shirt with you so you can choose it in the closest color possible.
- If you don't find a matching thread, choose a darker one. A darker color will more easily blend with that of the fabric, while a lighter color will stand out too much.
- Use dull yarn and avoid shiny or shiny yarns. A dull thread will be less noticeable.
Step 2. Thread a needle with your chosen thread
Using scissors, cut about 60 cm of thread from the spool and insert one end into the eye of the needle. Run the thread through the eye until both ends are the same length. Tie the two ends of the thread together by making a knot.
If you can't thread the needle, try wetting the end of the thread by placing it between your lips
Step 3. Start sewing from the inside of the shirt
Push the needle through the inside of the fabric, starting at the top right of the hole. Leave a margin of about half an inch, as if you sew too close to the hole, the fabric may fray, making every seam useless.
Keep pulling the needle until you feel the knot at the end of the thread is touching the fabric
Step 4. Push the needle down through the hole and then pull it back up through the fabric
Place the needle on the left, exactly opposite of the first stitch you made. The stitches should be as close together as possible to ensure a secure mending when you have finished sewing. This procedure will allow you to bring the edges of the hole closer together.
The aim is to make stitches close together so that the sides of the hole are rejoined
Step 5. Continue to alternate stitches to the right and left of the hole
Repeat the stitches back and forth through the hole. Bring the needle down through the hole in the shirt and then push it up through the fabric directly to the side of the first stitch you made. Do this around the entire perimeter of the hole. As you sew back and forth along the hole, its sides should come together gradually.
- Remember to tighten each stitch well by pulling the needle so that the thread does not stay loose.
- Stop sewing when you close the last stitch and the hole will be completely closed.
Step 6. Bring the needle inside the shirt and tie several knots with the thread
Tie the knots so that they are in direct contact with the fabric inside the shirt. To make the knots, hold the needle between two fingers and wind the thread that comes out of the fabric three times over it, then pull the needle up through the three loops and continue pulling until all the thread is past.
Repeat this to create more knots to make sure the stitches stay secure and in place
Step 7. Cut the remaining thread
After tying the knots, cut the remaining thread with scissors, then carefully examine the darning to make sure it is secure.
Your shirt is now ready to wear
Method 2 of 3: Patch the Hole
Step 1. Find a fabric similar to that of the sweater
If the hole in your shirt is large enough, say about 4-5 cm, it is advisable to fix it with the help of a patch. If the blouse is in a solid color, look for a fabric of that color, if it has a bright pattern, then look for a fabric that matches it. If you have to choose between a lighter or darker shade, choose the darker one, as it will be less noticeable on the garment.
- You can look for the fabric in a fabric store, or you could make it from some old garment you no longer use.
- If the shirt has a pocket, you may want to cut the fabric inside; it will be identical to the rest of the garment. Then you will still have to patch the inside of the pocket, but since it will remain hidden, you will not have the problem of looking for an identical fabric.
- Choose the fabric you will use for the patch that is similar in structure and weight to that of the shirt.
Step 2. Cut a piece of fabric slightly larger than the hole
Try to leave a margin of approximately 1.5 cm all the way around the patch. With a ruler, take the measurements of the hole carefully to know how much fabric you will need to cut. With a pencil draw the outline of the patch on the fabric, then cut it with scissors.
Step 3. Cut out a piece of thermo-adhesive interlining that is the same size as the patch
The interlining is a very thin adhesive strip that will help adhere the patch fabric to the inside of the shirt. Put the piece of fabric you cut out on a sheet of thermo-adhesive interlining and mark the outline with the pencil, then remove the fabric and with scissors cut out the lap following the marked trace.
You can find interlining in haberdashery or online
Step 4. Cut out the center of the interlining
You will only need the thermo-adhesive tab where the patch fabric will touch that of the shirt, while it will not be needed on the hole you are covering. Place the interlining over the hole so that it is perfectly centered then, with a pen or pencil, mark the outline. Cut the lapel with scissors following the design you just traced.
Take the outer part of the interlining resulting from the cut. You should now have about half an inch of lapel around the edge of the hole. You can keep the core you deleted for future work
Step 5. Turn the shirt inside out and place the patch and tab over the hole
The interlining will have to stay between the hole and the patch fabric. Make sure the lap is aligned over the hole in the shirt so that it is not visible through it. The patch fabric, inside the shirt, will have to expose the reverse side.
Step 6. Secure the patch and thermo-adhesive tab to the shirt with the iron
Push the iron onto the patch and the tab to secure it well. Do not iron back and forth, otherwise the patch may move. Hold the iron over the patch for about 10 seconds.
- Read the instructions that you will find with the interlining regarding the melting temperature and time.
- Generally, set your iron to a slightly higher temperature than you would normally use to iron the garment.
- When you're done with the iron, turn the shirt over and … the hole should be gone!
Method 3 of 3: Creative Alternatives
Step 1. Repair the shirt creatively with embroidery or decorative patches
If you have a shirt that you especially love, but that has several holes, you could make it reusable (and at the same time unique) by using a little creativity. For example, you could decorate the hole by making a nice embroidery around it. The stitches around the hole will stabilize the fabric while adding a creative touch.
You can also put applications on the hole. Putting a decorative appliqué, instead of a patch to match the fabric, will restore polish to a faded garment
Step 2. Use glue to repair an inconspicuous hole
If you don't know how to sew, or don't feel like sewing, there are other options for repairing your garment. There are many types of fabric glue on the market that you can use to fix the shirt. In fact, if the hole is located on a seam or somewhere inconspicuous, using glue may be the quickest way to fix it.
- Look for products suitable for gluing fabric on fabric in a haberdashery or tailor shop.
- Depending on the product you will use, the area treated with the glue may discolor, and it may also harden the fabric.
- Follow the instructions on the product packaging you will use to repair the shirt. Each glue has different drying times and application techniques, so it is important to carefully follow the specific instructions.
Step 3. Turn a gone t-shirt into a creative project
There comes a time when the holes are so many as to make the garment unpresentable and therefore unusable. If the shirt is now in tatters or has a myriad of holes and holes, it's time to let it go! But you can always turn it into a fun project.
If you really love a shirt, because you like the fabric or for sentimental reasons, you could use it to make a quilt or other souvenir item. This way you will continue to use it, even if in a different form
Step 4. Have your shirt repaired by a professional if you are unable to do it yourself
If the garment has a really large hole, or if you're afraid of ruining it by trying to fix it, take it to a tailor's shop. A professional tailor will be able to repair the holes making them practically invisible.
- When you take the shirt for repair, explain your expectations to the professional and try to get them to explain what they can do about it. Clear instructions and detailed answers about the type of repair that will be possible will give you the opportunity to understand what result you will be able to achieve.
- A tailoring and repair shop should be able to help you. If you don't know any in your area, search the internet to find one.
