A garment hole, a missing button, a frayed hem…want to save yourself a trip to a tailor or seamstress? Let’s look at a few easy mends you can totally handle yourself – all you need is a needle and thread!
Sewing a Button
(image via sewing.com)
Losing a button is never fun – especially if that button is necessary for keeping your garment from falling off! But the good news is that sewing on a button is easy!
To repair, first, make sure you have a replacement button. (We recommend holding onto those extra buttons you get with certain garments, as they come in handy when you least expect it!) Next, choose a thread that is as close to the color thread of your garment as possible. Then, find the spot where your button was, take the threaded needle, and push up from under the fabric, pulling the thread through one of the buttonholes. Then, poke your threaded needle through the other hole, coming through the top this time. Continue this process until your button is on securely. Finish by wrapping the thread around your button two or three times. Create a knot by pulling your needle through your thread three times, then trim any excess. This process is for a two-hole button. If you have a four-hole button, stitch in the shape of an X. Watch the video tutorial here.
Fixing a Hem
(image via amy nicole studio)
Ahh, the earth-shattering moment when a hem falls. Okay, we’re being dramatic, but it can put a damper on your ’fit. To fix yourself, find some looser threads where your hem has fallen; pull your needle through, securing your thread. Then, take your needle and move about a quarter of an inch to the left and down. Stitch through the top layer of fabric so that your needle is sandwiched between two layers of fabric. Before you pull your needle through, pull it through the thread loop, then pull it all the way through to complete your stitch. Repeat this stitch until your hem is fixed! Watch the video tutorial here.
Visibly Mend
(image via carlyn clark)
This mending hack allows room for creativity and error. Visible mending is when you fix a tiny hole or loose hem, but you don’t even try to hide it – it’s more of an art form that resembles embroidery. Start by putting a patch behind the hole or rip. Then grab your favorite colored thread and let the creative juices flow! Visible mending is fun and allows you to create unique pieces. Watch the video tutorial here.