When it comes to sewing, there are a few emergency fixes everyone should know. They save you money at the tailor’s, time waiting for the fix, and the trouble of re-working your wardrobe when your favorite piece of clothing is down for the count. With a needle and thread you can repair most wardrobe malfunctions, you just need to know how.
1. Buttons. Re-sewing a button is one of the simplest fixes out there, but it’s surprising how many people have never done it. All you really need is the right button and strong thread. Tie the ends of the thread together before you begin for extra strength, and make sure you’re sewing the new button exactly where the old one was.
2. Tears. Rips and tears happen, but usually they’re an easy fix. If a seam popped, turn the garment inside out and resew the seam exactly where it was. If the tear is not on a seam, start your thread on the inside of the garment but sew from the outside so you can see exactly what it will look like, tucking spare threads in as you go.
3. Patches. This one is an addendum to tears- sometimes an iron-patch is as good as or better than a mending by hand. Use a pre-packaged patch or for heavier duty items, use fusible web such as our Heat N’ Bond to make your own patch.
4. Hemming. This fix involves a bit more skill but is one of the most useful out there. The trick is to match the right hem to the garment. Dress pants and trousers usually have a finished ‘blind hem,’ khakis often have an obvious hem or cuff, and jeans demand a specific technique. The ability to sew a good hem is invaluable though- especially if you’re on the short side. Just make sure both legs are the same length- you don’t want this to happen to you!
So there’s a few things everyone needs to know. This is just a start, so feel free to add anything I might’ve left out!
-by Becky Kauffman
