How to Patch Ripped/Torn Jeans
Jeans can be torn or ripped once they become broken in, worn or exposed to an accident such as a fall or snag. Although your ripped jeans may seemed ruined, don't throw them out. They can be repaired with a patch made from scrap fabric. Patching damaged jeans saves you from having to spend money on a new pair for replacement.
Things You'll Need
- Scissors
- Scrap denim fabric
- Straight pins
- Sewing needle
- Thread
- Sewing machine
- Seam ripper
Instructions
-
-
1
Clip the frayed and loose strings from around the tear or hole with a pair of scissors.
-
2
Lay the jeans on a flat surface with the torn portion facing upward. Measure the length and width of the tear.
-
-
3
Cut a patch from a piece of scrap denim fabric that is 1 to 2 inches longer and wider than the tear. Place the patch right side up underneath the surface of the torn fabric. Position the patch so that it is centered underneath the tear and is laying flat. Adjust the edges of the tear so that they are touching.
-
4
Pin through the torn layer of fabric and the patch with straight pins to hold the layers together.
-
5
Thread a sewing needle with thread and sew a basting stitch around the tear, 1/2 inch from its edges. Sew the stitch in the torn layer and the patch only. Create long, straight, loose stitches so that they can easily be removed later.
-
6
Tie a knot in the end of the thread and clip its excess ends. Remove the pins from the fabric.
-
7
Thread a sewing machine with thread that matches the color of the jeans. Set the machine to a zigzag stitch. Begin sewing at one end of the tear. Work your way slowly along the tear as you sew a zigzag stitch across the width of the tear in a "W" pattern. Clip the loose threads after sewing the entire length of the tear.
-
8
Cut through the basting stitches with a seam ripper. Pull the cut threads from the fabric and discard them.
-
9
Sew a second zigzag stitch over the first in the same manner as before to strengthen the seam. Clip the loose threads.
-
10
Turn the jeans inside out. Trim around the loose edges of the patch with a pair of scissors to remove them.
-
11
Turn the jeans right side out and pull the fabric on either side of the stitched tear to test its strength. Look for weak parts in the seam that may pull apart. Sew a third stitch over any weak parts and clip the loose threads.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
