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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/22/how-to-mend-a-ripped-seam
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| How to mend a ripped seam | How to mend a ripped seam |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| You will need:pinsneedle threadthimbleiron | You will need:pinsneedle threadthimbleiron |
| Firstly, turn the garment inside out and iron the ripped area so it is nice and flat to work with. Pin the seam back together, keeping the fabric as flat as possible. | Firstly, turn the garment inside out and iron the ripped area so it is nice and flat to work with. Pin the seam back together, keeping the fabric as flat as possible. |
| Using a sewing machine | Using a sewing machine |
| If you know how to use a sewing machine then, using a straight stitch, start slightly before the rip, stitching on the existing seam line. Backstitch to secure the seam and then sew along the unravelled section of the seam until you meet the stitching on the other side of the tear. Backstitch to secure again. You may then want to run a zigzag stitch along the seam allowance to prevent further fraying. | If you know how to use a sewing machine then, using a straight stitch, start slightly before the rip, stitching on the existing seam line. Backstitch to secure the seam and then sew along the unravelled section of the seam until you meet the stitching on the other side of the tear. Backstitch to secure again. You may then want to run a zigzag stitch along the seam allowance to prevent further fraying. |
| If part of the fabric has frayed beyond the seam allowance (the extra fabric that sits inside of the seam) then you will need to stitch further into the garment to ensure you are sewing on stable fabric, otherwise it will just come apart. Carefully pull the frayed seam over the original seam line and pin in place. | If part of the fabric has frayed beyond the seam allowance (the extra fabric that sits inside of the seam) then you will need to stitch further into the garment to ensure you are sewing on stable fabric, otherwise it will just come apart. Carefully pull the frayed seam over the original seam line and pin in place. |
| Start stitching on the existing seam line before gradually sewing over the pinned, stable fabric, then guide the stitching back towards the original seam line in a smooth line. | Start stitching on the existing seam line before gradually sewing over the pinned, stable fabric, then guide the stitching back towards the original seam line in a smooth line. |
| Sewing by hand | Sewing by hand |
| If you are sewing by hand, then the best hand stitch is the backstitch. Using a double thread (this means the two ends of the thread are knotted together) sew one stitch. Bring the needle up again as if you are about to sew another stitch (5mm in front of the previous stitch), but take the needle back to meet the end of the previous stitch and repeat. | If you are sewing by hand, then the best hand stitch is the backstitch. Using a double thread (this means the two ends of the thread are knotted together) sew one stitch. Bring the needle up again as if you are about to sew another stitch (5mm in front of the previous stitch), but take the needle back to meet the end of the previous stitch and repeat. |
| Again, if the fabric is frayed less than 5mm beyond the seam allowance, pin the frayed fabric over the seam line then start stitching further back, gradually sewing over the stable fabric before joining the original seam line. | Again, if the fabric is frayed less than 5mm beyond the seam allowance, pin the frayed fabric over the seam line then start stitching further back, gradually sewing over the stable fabric before joining the original seam line. |
| If the fraying is more than 5mm from the seam, then you should use an iron-on patch. Iron the patch on to the inside of the garment and reinforce the area with machine or hand stitching. | If the fraying is more than 5mm from the seam, then you should use an iron-on patch. Iron the patch on to the inside of the garment and reinforce the area with machine or hand stitching. |
| Lisa Comfort is the founder of sewing cafe Sew Over It, and author of Sew It, Wear It, Love It, an introduction to sewing for beginners. Sew Over It has its own range of dressmaking patterns and kits for sale in John Lewis. Twitter: @sewoverit | Lisa Comfort is the founder of sewing cafe Sew Over It, and author of Sew It, Wear It, Love It, an introduction to sewing for beginners. Sew Over It has its own range of dressmaking patterns and kits for sale in John Lewis. Twitter: @sewoverit |
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