Things You'll Need:
- Sewing needles
- Thread of various colors and thicknesses
- Thimble (optional)
-
Step 1
Turn the garment or sock inside out before beginning. If repairing a curtain or drape, sew from the back (unseen) side.
-
Step 2
Choose a thread of matching color, or as close to matching as you have on hand. Choose a thread of a thickness or tensile strength that is relative to the type of fabric.
-
Step 3
Choose a thin, short needle for thinner fabrics; a thicker, longer needle for coarse, thick fabrics, leather and suede. Thread the needle. Make a loop with and knot both ends for medium-to-heavy fabrics. Leave one end shorter and only knot one end of the thread for thin, delicate fabrics.
-
Step 4
For a small hole, insert the needle at one edge, then go under and across to the other side of the hole, and under and across on that side. Crisscross a few times, as if cutting a pizza, until the hole is securely closed, then knot the thread very close to the fabric and snip with a scissor, leaving 1/16" or so of extra thread above the knot.
-
Step 5
For a larger hole, turn the edges inward and then hold the two sides of the hole together like a sandwich. While sewing the hole, you can either hold the sides together or fasten them with a straight pin or two. This type of hole requires that you weave the needle in and out along the seam, where the two sides are held together.
-
Step 6
Provide additional support for a repaired hole that will be stressed or pulled on during wear by going across the repaired line with a loop stitch, or inserting the needle at the base of the repair line on one side, pulling it out on the other side, looping the needle around and repeating, 1/4 inch or so further up the seam.Knot and snip thread.
