You Can DIY It

Patch Up an Awkward Hole

Oh great, there goes another one of your favorite pieces of clothing right? Not so fast! Not only can we get it looking almost as good as new, it poses an opportunity to be enhanced, redefined and personalized.

A woman in a thick woven sweater and ripped jeans sits cross-legged on a wooden floor — Well, ripped jeans are in fashion after all, who could tell what rip is or isn't intentional anyway?
Photo credits to Imani Clovis on Unsplash

Patchwork can allow the modification of any article of clothing for the better, be it in need of repair or in great shape! One may select embroidered patches or fabrics that interest them and use them to cover up those undesired gaps in your garments. There are also means of creating a patch-like area on a garment using beads, sequins and stitches!

The procedure for adding suede patches to the elbows of a sweater is illustrated — Who would've figured elbow patch designs could be so interesting?
Photo credits to Pretty Designs

The procedure for adding sequin patches to the elbows of a sweater is illustrated — Who would've figured elbow patch designs could be so interesting?
Photo credits to Pretty Designs

When repairing an actual tear or hole in a garment, it is important to prepare it before attaching a patch:

If possible, carefully trim off fraying strands on the edges of the hole. Reshape the hole if it may aid the application of a patch.
Prevent further fraying around the hole by stitching about 0.5cm away from the edges and around the hole.
To further prevent fraying, try out a button or stitch as described in the Sewing page.