How to Mend a Torn Wool Sweater

Learning to fix wool sweaters by hand can save you money.

Although wool sweaters are thick and sturdy, they can be damaged by moths or wear and tear. It is common to see tears or holes occur over time, especially in the elbows, where pressure can cause the wool to wear away. With some basic materials, you can mend tears in your wool sweaters without spending a fortune to have a tailor fix them.

Things You'll Need

• 2 felting needles
• Scissors
• Foam or needle-felting mat
• Spray bottle filled with water
• Iron

Instructions

1. Locate the tear in the sweater. Place the needle-felting mat or foam underneath the tear. If the tear is on the sleeve, trim the foam so it is small enough to fit inside the sleeve.

2. Press the sides of the tear together, or overlap them slightly. Stick one needle into the top of the tear so the needle goes through to the foam on the other side. Hold the bottom of the tear shut with your finger.

3. Use your other hand to pick up the second needle. Push the tip of the needle down gently into the overlapping sides of the tear. Use the needle to catch the fibers from the bottom layer and pull them up to the top so the fibers transfer from side to side.

4. Repeat up and down for the length of the tear.

5. Spritz both sides with water.

6. Set your iron to the wool setting and press over the newly repaired area.

Tips & Warnings

• If you wish to add another color or pattern to your sweater, you can use a different shade of wool roving to felt the tear back together. If you prefer a pattern, download a template to trace onto your sweater with disappearing ink before you start felting the tear. You can also purchase adhesive patches to cover the tear.

• If you choose to use an adhesive patch rather than felt the tear, be sure to check the instructions regarding dry cleaning.

References

• Martha Stewart; Stylish Repairs: Felted Sweater Patches
• Craftzine.com; How-To: Repair a Wool Sweater with Felting; Brookelynn Morris
• You Tube; Sweater Repair