How to Darn Denim

You can repair torn jeans and give them new life.

A perfectly good pair of jeans or other denim items can be absolutely ruined by a small tear or hole in the wrong place. You can purchase a new pair of jeans, or you can pay to have your jeans professionally repaired, both of which are expensive. If you have basic sewing knowledge, however, you can repair your own jeans quickly and inexpensively and give them new life. Darning your jeans reinforces any weak areas and repairs the hole or tear, making the jeans safe to wear for the long term.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Towel
• Iron-on patch
• Pressing cloth
• Iron
• Coordinating thread
• Sewing machine
• Scrap fabric

Instructions

1. Turn your jeans inside out and locate the hole. Cut around the edges of the hole slowly and carefully, making the hole or tear slight bigger than it was before; this will ensure that the edges of your hole are clean and not frayed.

2. Lay your jeans on a hard surface, such as an ironing board or a kitchen counter. Lay a towel under your jeans. Turn on your iron to its very highest setting. Make sure it is empty of water, as steam will prevent the patch from adhering properly to your jeans.

3. Center the iron-on patch over the hole or tear with the glue side down. Place your pressing cloth on the patch. Place the iron over the pressing cloth, centering it over the patch. Apply firm pressure evenly to the patch for about 40 seconds. Let cool and turn your pants right side out. Place the pressing cloth on the opposite side of the patch and press the iron down for about 40 seconds.

4. Thread your sewing machine; use thread as close to the color of your jeans as possible to ensure your stitches are nearly invisible. Set the stitch to a medium zigzag stitch that is wide enough to capture the ragged edges and close enough to contain any straggling threads. Sew a few lines of test stitches on your scrap fabric to ensure your stitch settings are correct.

5. Sew around the edges of your hole slowly and carefully, using your hands to gently guide your needle around. Each stitch should wrap around the edge of the circle and enclose the raw threads. If you are sewing a straight tear, sew through both sides of the tear with each stitch, enclosing the entire tear in your zigzag stitches to prevent them from fraying or tearing again.

References

• Repro Depot: iron-on applique & patch setting instructions