But recently we’ve had an epidemic of holes-in-knees, to the point where children we running out of jeans-options in their wardrobes. I really didn’t like the thought of buying replacements – especially for the youngest of each gender – just to get us through the last few months of pants-weather.
Start with the iron-on Dritz patches.
Think how cool and chic your kids will be.)
Because it’s a little tricky stitching something in the middle of a pant leg, I suggest rolling the pants up to the knee first. (I know that sounds pretty obvious, but it took me three pant legs to figure that one out, so I thought I’d pass it on, just in case.) It’s also pretty hard to work from the inside of the pant leg, so stick your needle through and pull from the top. (See picture.) It’s tough stitching through that many layers, which is why I strongly suggest a thimble. A little rubber grip to pull your needle, wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Here’s another option. (Actually this was the first one I tried.) This time I used the boring rectangle, but I embellished with a little wool heart. The wool is easy to tack-down and came through the wash beautifully.
Hope that helps anyone out there having an epidemic of their own! I will admit that these patches are kind of ‘girly’ and I haven’t really come up with a good option for my boys. Feel free to share any favorite (or improved) mending tips of your own. My other hurdle is holes in knits (jersey) fabric. Any brilliant suggestions?
29 Comments
Rachel
March 17, 2010 at 5:41 amAwesome idea! Thanks for sharing.<br />Hmm for boys you could do stars or skull and cross bones.<br />A splash type shape, like as if there was mud on his pants hehe.<br />Off to mend my jeans now =D
Jackie
March 17, 2010 at 5:56 amMending is just not my thing either! Don't like it and never will. It is always the last thing I do. You are right, those patches don't stay on by just ironing them. You came up with a perfect solution. Okay, ideas for other rips for the boys… you do know that people pay big bucks now for pre-ripped jeans… LOL! So you are there already.
Denise :)
March 17, 2010 at 6:34 amGood suggestions so far! What about a bull's eye patch for your boys? Of course, I don't know how old they are, and that makes a huge difference, too! Have fun patching! 🙂
Sunshine
March 17, 2010 at 7:32 amVery cute!
The Quilt Buddy
March 17, 2010 at 8:16 amGreat idea! I am sure that this will save a lot of denim out there!<br /><br /> Thanks for sharing.
I Love Baby Quilts!
March 17, 2010 at 8:55 amMan, I thought I was the only one with an epidemic of knee holes! I was just thinking yesterday that the six year old only has one pair of jeans that can be worn to school. I'll have to try the patches.
ktquilts
March 17, 2010 at 9:10 amYup, and its's contagious too! Thanks for the tip and the nudge!!! Blessings,<br /><br />KT
Melissa
March 17, 2010 at 9:16 amOkay, don't laugh… but I mended a pair of my daugthers sweat pants (that had an ink stain)… with underwear (clean & unused of course!)… I blogged it here:<br />http://polkadotchair.blogspot.com/2009/06/ink-stain-fix.html
pinksuedeshoe
March 17, 2010 at 11:26 amMan, I totally mended like 18 pairs of jeans this week. It was mending week in the neighborhood and I apparently am the only one with a sewing machine. ….. Anyway, for one of the adult pants I put a patch on the inside of the leg and just stitched over it with white on the outside going back and forth and side to side over and over and over again (owners request…. he brought in a photo to
Morgan
March 17, 2010 at 11:33 amThose are so cute!<br /><br />I am definitely having a hole epidemic, but I have three boys. Would you suggest just keeping them in the rectangle? I don't want them to look girly! 🙂
Chatty Cricket
March 17, 2010 at 11:35 amhow about numbers for boys? like varsity numbers? you know what I'm saying?
Barb
March 17, 2010 at 12:00 pmThat is very cool. Unfortunately it's my husband and my son who usually need the patched jeans and I don't know that they'd appreciate the heart. LOL
Trisha
March 17, 2010 at 5:44 pmGreat solution and they turned out so cute!
Amy B
March 17, 2010 at 9:07 pmGreat idea! Maybe a football shape and you could stitch the finger grip? Or a truck/car shape? You could stitch little wheels?<br /><br />Sure got me thinking 🙂
Kim Walus
March 18, 2010 at 7:22 amWhat a wonderful idea. Especially the embellishing. Thanks Amy!
Calli Makes Do
March 18, 2010 at 9:47 pmAmy, this is absolutely wonderful! I would love to post it on Make it Do one of these days. It doesn't get more Make Do and Mend or darling than this. You're brilliant.
CMN
March 20, 2010 at 10:28 amHmmm…. well it was MY jeans that needed patching recently, so I put the iron-on patch on the <i>inside</i> of the pants. Which left the outside still looking frayed/ripped, which of course now looks totally cool. {whew!} Like you, I still stitched it down (using regular blue thread so it's 'invisible'). Worked like a charm! Might be just the thing for boys… a few '
blueberrymoon
March 21, 2010 at 11:29 amI love this. It falls in the great minds think alike category I blogged something similar here.<br />http://theblueberrymoon.blogspot.com/2010/02/so-lets-catch-up.html<br /> My girlie busts out knees like no other.
jaybird
March 22, 2010 at 10:08 pmsuper cute idea!!
ezeldabeth
March 23, 2010 at 11:00 amlast year, i had a similar problem – but my son wasnt allowed to wear "patched" jeans to school…so i cut the patches into dinosaur and whale shapes…but i wish i had thought to stitch them because like you, just ironing them- they fell right off…these are really cute!
Pamela
April 1, 2010 at 6:52 pmJust in the last couple months I have thrown out several pairs of my 8 yr olds jeans. He has completely blown out the knee. If I had taken your advice a little sooner I could have made some cute patchs and salvaged a few pairs. I hope it warms up soon and he can start wearing shorts, because I am doing laundry like every other day trying to keep him in clean pants for school.
Ty & Nancy Mackey
April 3, 2010 at 12:56 pmnew to your blog! Thanks so much for this! a couple of years ago I had an epidemic of pants that needed mending, I tried (of c ourse to no avail to hide the mending, with iron on butterflys and the works- took FOREVER, this sounds much better! and oh so cute! Thanks!
Amanda
November 29, 2010 at 5:30 amThis was featured today over at Today's Top Twenty! I'd love if you stopped by! 🙂 <br /><br />Amanda
Anonymous
January 4, 2011 at 7:11 amMy mom takes the inside seam out and lays jeans flat to patch. <br />The only problem is that she has mended one pair so many times she doesn't think there was any original fabric left. <br />I love your patch idea too.<br />Take Care<br />Cindy
Anonymous
January 24, 2011 at 3:01 pmTry learning French re-weaving or Swiss darning to do your knit jersey fabrics. You'll need a darning mushroom or darning egg. (a small glass or jelly jar with a rounded bottom will work), Matching thread (or some pulled from and edge somewhere) a nice ball point darning needle, good eye glasses and some time to sit and hand sew. You basically stitch around the hole to prevent further
Melyssa H.
October 24, 2011 at 12:56 pmLoved this idea! My oldest son had 2 pairs of pants with semi-large to large holes in each leg! I found shapes online that I liked (a star and football for one pair, and a rocket and robot for the other) and printed them to scale, traced the shape onto the patch and went from there. It was so easy and they look SOOO cute! Thanks again for this great idea!!
Sara
February 10, 2012 at 4:00 pmI was researching quilt mending and found an answer to your jersey problem. Check out this…http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/03/how-to_reverse_appliqu.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954<br />It sounds like a practical solution as well as good looking.<br />All kinds of balls will work for your patch patterns, the ball's natural stitching will embelish your outline stitching.<br />Dianne
amy smart
February 10, 2012 at 5:02 pmAwesome! That is so cute. Thank you so much for the link. I even pinned it. 🙂
Tonya Donahue
October 29, 2013 at 7:13 amExcellent idea – and so simple I wonder why I didn't think of doing it… My lovely daughter loves to romp and play pretend being an animal of any sort – cat, dog and horse usually. It leaves her knees threadbare! It doesn't help that it is her enjoyment at recess at school with other like minded girls in her class! I think I will take some bottoms I have cut from previous pants,