Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Repair a crack
• Method 2 of 3: Fix a torn seam
• Method 3 of 3: Close a hole with a piece of cloth
• Tips
• Warnings

Jeans are generally stronger than other types of clothing. However, that does not mean that jeans will not wear out over time. It can be quite daunting if one of your favorite jeans gets damaged. Fortunately, you can fix your jeans quite easily so you don't have to throw them away. Whether it's a cut seam or a hole, there are solutions available.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Repair a crack

1. Trim the frayed edges. Before you can properly mend your jeans, you will need to trim the loose threads and frayed edges created by the tear. Grab a pair of scissors and try to cut the loose threads and fraying fairly close to the fabric. The goal is to remove the protruding material, but not remove any material that is still salvageable.
2. Sew the tear closed. If not much material has been lost, you can usually repair smaller tears without using patches. Turn your jeans inside out first. The new seams you sew will then be less noticeable. Grab a needle and some yarn, and sew back and forth until the tear is closed. Try to make the stitches so close together.
   • If possible, use the same yarn used to sew the seams on the rest of the jeans. Usually this is white or black yarn. If the tear is in a prominent place and there are no seams around, it is recommended that you choose the color that best matches the color of your jeans. Usually this is blue or black.
3. Trim off any excess yarn and the rest of the loose threads and fraying. When you have sewn up the tear, you can cut off the excess material. Make sure to cut the yarn as close to the fabric as possible. If you still see frayed edges that you missed before, cut them now.
4. Iron your jeans. Now that you've completed the repair, you can tidy up your jeans with an iron. This way you smooth out all creases and folds and your jeans look like new again.

Method 2 of 3: Fix a torn seam

1. Recognize the differences between the types of cracks. You repair a torn seam in a different way than a normal tear. The fabric of your jeans is usually sewn more firmly at the seams than at the rest of the legs. As a result, repairing a torn seam can be trickier than sewing up a regular tear, but a repaired seam will look a lot neater in the end. If you sew the seam correctly, you will hardly be able to see that the seam was torn afterwards.
2. Check out the damage and get a piece of yarn. In most cases, the seam in question is torn at most a few centimeters. Unless the tear is very small or a lot bigger, it is generally a good idea to cut a piece of yarn that is about the length of your arm. The stitches in a seam are usually very close together and the thread will run out faster than you might think. If you have a piece of yarn left when you finish sewing, you can always cut that piece.
   • Make sure to choose yarn that is as close to the yarn of the seam as possible. The yarn does not always have the same color as the fabric of your pants. Some jeans brands prefer gold colored yarn. By choosing a color that closely resembles the color of the old yarn, the repair will be less noticeable.
3. Sew the torn seam, making the stitches close together. Hold the fabric and the broken seam together and slowly sew them back together. It is strongly recommended that you follow the existing stitch pattern of the seam. The better you can recreate that pattern, the more difficult it will be to see that the pants have been repaired in that area.
   • You need a stronger needle to get through the thicker fabric in the seam.
4. Cut off the excess yarn afterwards. When you have sewn the tear completely closed, take a pair of scissors and cut the excess yarn as close to the fabric as possible.
5. Iron the seam. It is always a good idea to iron the seam when you are done sewing. This way you smooth out all folds and creases in the seam and your repair is less noticeable.

Method 3 of 3: Close a hole with a piece of cloth

1. Find a patch that matches the style of your jeans and the size of the hole. If you have a larger hole in your jeans that you can't fix by just sewing it shut, you should look for a patch. This is an extra piece of fabric that you can sew onto your jeans to close the hole. You can buy patches at craft stores, sewing supply stores and specialty clothing stores. Buy a patch in a color that is as close as possible to the color of your jeans. Make sure to buy a patch that is slightly larger than the hole you are closing. That way you have some extra room for mistakes.
   • A denim patch is the safest option if you want to properly repair your jeans, but you can also see the damage as an opportunity to decorate your jeans with a brightly colored or flannel patch. By using a patch that stands out clearly with the rest of your clothing, your outfit will get a sober look. Denim and similar fabrics are best sewn on the inside of your jeans, but sewing patches in different fabrics on the outside of your jeans make them stand out more.
   • If you'd rather not spend money, you can cut patches from jeans you no longer wear.
2. Trim frayed edges. If you have a large hole that needs to be closed with a patch, it is still important to trim the frayed edges. Even though it may seem like you are deliberately cutting away material, the frayed edges will not help with the repair, so it is best to trim them so that you get a neat-edged hole. Grab a pair of scissors and cut any loose threads and fraying around the hole. When you're done, there should be no more threads sticking out of the hole.
3. Turn your pants inside out. Especially with patches, it is recommended to turn your jeans inside out for the repair. That way, the seams you sew won't show on the outside. You also have more room to make mistakes.
   • It is usually better to sew a piece of denim on the inside. The patch is less noticeable and covers the stitches that are most noticeable.
4. Sew on the patch and make the stitches close together. When you have turned the jeans inside out, take a needle and thread and sew on the patch. Try to make the stitches as close together as possible so that the patch is less noticeable against the rest of your pants.
5. Iron the cloth. Ironing your pants after sewing on a patch is a lot more important than ironing a small tear. This will help make the patch wrinkle free and make it less noticeable.

Tips

• Sew on an ironing board. This gives you a safe surface to work on without damaging the fabric. This is especially true if you are going to iron the fabric afterwards.
• You can buy a special sewing kit for repairing denim for about ten euros. You can buy these sets at specialist clothing stores and tailors.
• Jeans that are worn often will wear out more quickly.

Warnings

• Do not delay the repair too long. It can take as little as four weeks for a small crack to grow into a reasonable hole, and the damage is getting bigger and harder to repair. Tackle issues right away and you'll save yourself a lot of hassle in the long run.
• Be careful not to injure yourself with the needle. If necessary, use a thimble.