An Easier Way to Repair Your Old Clothes

About Tori Thurmond

Tori Thurmond combines her creative writing background with her marketing experience in her role as the Content Specialist at Brookdale. When she's not writing, she's probably spending time with her two cats or knitting.

a woman stitching a patch onto ripped jeans

Are you someone who likes to repair a piece of clothing instead of getting rid of it? There are plenty of common ways to mend clothes that make repairs nearly unnoticeable if that’s the look you’re going for.

But if you’re looking for something unique that’s easier than finding an exact fabric match or trying to make your repair invisible, take a look at these creative mending methods that may be easier than what you’ve been doing.

Call on Japanese History With Sashiko

Sashiko is a mending practice that some historians trace as far back as the mid-8^th century. Traditionally, the practice consists of stitching white thread on swatches of indigo-dyed fabric to cover rips or holes. This practical way of mending has become popular in the West amongst fiber artists. The point of sashiko isn’t to be invisible but to highlight the mended spots with decorative stitching. There are several types of sashiko that originate from different regions of Japan and many different stitch patterns to choose from depending on the look you’re going for.

If you’d like to get into the art of sashiko, you’ll need some supplies, like a sashiko needle, sashiko thread, a sashiko thimble and some fabric. You can buy shashiko books (or check your local library) to help you learn the practice or search YouTube for tutorials.

Add a Pop of Color With Some Fun Fabric

If you’re a sewist and have fabric scraps that you’re not sure what to do with, this mending idea might be right for you! Take a fabric scrap that’s about the same size as the hole you’re trying to mend and sew it onto your garment. Now you’ll have a fun pop of pattern and color that wasn’t there before. For a more tailored look, turn your garment inside out and sew the patch on from the inside so the edges of the fabric can’t be seen when you’re wearing the piece of clothing. But if you’re into the shabby chic look, you can sew the patch on from the outside of the garment, leaving exposed, raw edges that will add extra character to your clothes. You could even cut your fabric scraps into fun shapes to create even more visual interest. If you want to try this way of mending but don’t have fun fabric lying around, take a trip to your local thrift or second-hand craft store to see if they have any fabric you like.

Create a Fun Design With Embroidery

If embroidery is one of your hobbies, consider using it to spruce up your old clothes. If the holes or tears are small enough, you could embroider a design directly over the blemish. This mending technique can also be good for repairing knitwear that can be more challenging to mend, like in this example from Eileen Fisher. Learn how to make interesting designs, like these flowers, to add even more character to your mended clothes. If you need to mend a larger section of your garment, try patching your clothes with fabric, then adding decorative embroidery to help secure the fabric.

Add on a Patch for Personality

If you don’t consider yourself the crafty type but still want to add some pizazz to your old clothes, try a sew-on or iron-on patch. Just sew or iron the patch over the area that needs mending. The next time you’re on a fun trip, pick up a patch or two as a souvenir and save them for the next time you need to mend a garment. You can also find unique patches online, like these nature embroidered patches on Etsy. Keep in mind: this mending method might work better on thicker, sturdier materials like denim or canvas. Not only will your patch-mended clothes look cool, but each patch comes with the story of where you got it or why you chose it.

For more fashion content like this, check out “6 Countryside Fashion Staples to Add to Your Winter Wardrobe” and “Why You Should Start Dopamine Dressing.”