Darning an L-shaped tear following 1954 mending instructions! (well, almost anyway!)
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- čas přidán 20. 07. 2024
- Watch me make this sneaky (trying to be invisible) mend! I have a huge L-shaped tear that I need to mend and I used instructions from my fav vintage sewing book on mending and I talk you through how I modified it to suit the garment!
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I hope you enjoyed watching the process!
✂️If your ready to learn more and take your sewing to the next level, join me at Vintage Sewing School www.vintagesewingschool.com/
I do plan on joining vintage sewing school, in August, when I cut my hours down. I watch everyone of your videos. Even my 71 year old Husband ( who has not sewn a button on a shirt loves watching too) so thanks again for your enthusiasm, in sewing, it really has been a real help!
That is definitely a win! Well done. Years ago, a mend in your clothing was embarassing. It meant your family was too poor to buy new clothes. Hand me downs were common but the mends had to be extremely well hidden to avoid embarrassment. What a motivation for perfecting one's needlework skills. But now, I think anyone who carefully repairs a small tear to get the longest wear possible out of a garment should consider it a badge of honour. I wouldn't mind one bit if a mend shows a little bit, I would be proud of it and i think all the lovely sewists out there would agree. 😊
I do agree!
Which is exactly the reason for the rise in popularity of visible mending.
There was a time when you sewed clothes to save money. Then the off-the-rack clothes became cheap enough for everybody and we somehow decided that repairing anything other than clothes ripped by active children was a sign of poverty and/or cheapness.
Hell, there are garments from 'way back when that were repaired and patched and repaired again and again, even among the upper classes. Of course, that was back when 'I need a new shirt' meant buying or weaving the cloth, then cutting the pieces, then hand-sewing. You bet they repaired the repairs.
Visible mending can turn a repair into personalization, and even look as if it were made that way. What was once the thousandth item sold by Acme Clothing is now yours.
It is actually a development for the better, one I am very pleased about. I'm proud of every patch and stitch on my clothes.
I used to love machine darning - I would do at least 3 garments a day when I worked doing repairs and alterations and often prided myself on how invisible I was able to get them. A good range of thread colours did help! It’s rare for me to do it these days - maybe twice a year!
I’ve recently had 2 large scores of threads - one when I purchased the whole thread, fabric and haberdashery collection of a lady who had sewn and hand embroidered for over 30 years, all beautifully sorted and organised. Then last week at a garage sale I bought 2 big ice cream tubs full (over 100 reels) of thread (many brand new reels of Gutermann, Coats, Mettler and similar brands) for $10. Adding that to what I already own, I don’t think I will ever need to buy thread again.
Great score Tracey! Yes I think I need to expand my colour collection , I need to have it on hand as I would almost never stop and go to the store! 🙂
Excellent score! I just had my machine serviced. My tech tells me, each time, be sure you’re only using Gutermann because it doesn’t leave much fluff behind to gum the machine up.
@@The_momur I use mostly Gutermann, but find Coats and some of the other European brands quite good quality too. I do know that I end up with more lint in my machine when I use cheaper threads, but I regularly clean it out with a little brush and compressed air. I try to use what I have, or buy secondhand notions where possible as I see so many garage sales etc from deceased estates that have mountains of unused craft and sewing supplies - especially fabric. Sometimes when I calculate the retail cost of what I buy used, I am astounded. My last haul had 25+ brand new reels of Gutermann poly, 7 reels of Gutermann silk, 40+ used reels of Gutermann poly, extra strong and linen, many 90% full. I also bought loads of other habby items, yarn and fabric (inc pure wool in 6m+ lengths - they had tubs full of everything from silks to suede, 80’s prints, linings and furnishing fabric) from the same family. I only bought a small selection of fabric, as I generally only purchase what I know I will use.
So funny. I have a tan gingham comforter that the grandkids tore an "L" shaped hole in just a month or so after I purchased it last summer. I look at it and think how am I going to fix that? Now I know! Thank you so mucn!
I was so disappointed my cotton sleep gown got a tear. Now I’m grateful as it’s allowed me to discover you here on CZcams! Following! 😊
This is so excellently timed! My husband has an L tear in a nice wool Pendleton over-shirt, and just today I was thinking of a way to mend it.
💝✂️ I discovered a way to sew faster and easier even as a beginner, I talk more about it in my channel, I hope it helps those who need it. 💞✂️
Perfect Liz!! I think this method will work nicely! Good luck! 😀
That patch looks pretty good. Over the years I have spent hours mending. I often wondered why the tear was L shaped. Well done!
I must say your sewing room is looking pretty good. I love your matching machine covers!
Brilliant. Very succinct instructions. I’ve restored so many of the old man’s jeans. He is big and tall so his mass produced clothing is inexplicably overpriced and more difficult to source. I always mend before washing because washing before repairing just invites more preventable fray into the job, at least with Jean denim.
Nice it looks great! My sewing machine has a mending stitch, so that’s the only thing I would have done differently.
My oldest boy was professional at holes! The repair I’m most proud of was a large L shaped hole in his winter coat! It was on nylon behind the pocket. I fray checked it, did a hand darn. Then with a cheap polar fleece cut a piece that went from the top of the pocket opening to the side seam carefully placing it to give the illusion that it carried on into the pockets. I did that on both sides and add a bit of fleece to the caller to make it look like it was all tied in and original. With all the holes he made I got very good at mending and patching artistically so that he didn’t look like everything he owned was repaired! Though truthfully everything he wore was repaired!! That boy was a trial even if my mending skills levelled up! I’m really glad his son isn’t taking after his father! I’m sure I could figure it all out again but it’s nice not having too!
I think these types of situations make us become better sewers right!! 😀
It looks great! So nice to see the item not thrown out.
It reminds me of the Japanese concept about restoring broken pottery. Your repair is a statement about care and skill.
I’m working on hand mending a wool & cashmere sweater for a neighbor. It’s a heathered grey that’s been damaged by moths. I did end up having to go out looking for the proper shades of blue/grey #8 pearle cotton to use because the first hole I used what I had; it just wasn’t quite right. I know how precious this sweater is to him. 💕 There are So.Many.Holes.!
Rather than filling in the darned area so densely with the darker navy, I would have left very thin slivers of the paler navy visible (or overlapped the darning with a more paler navy), which would have a more blended look (like the "salt and pepper" of greying hair). It would have still been noticeable, but perhaps not so obvious as a dark splotch which is visible from further away. Mind you, I have 7 different navy colours to choose from in my "blue" box of threads, without having to shop for more.
If I’m going to go through the work of changing the thread for each color, I’d definitely go to the shop to get closer color matches of thread. Looks good though!
Me too.😁
After a fun filled day in my sewing room, I get to sit with my hand quilting and watch you! You are so talented! Thank you for posting this video!
I inherited a wool plaid button-up from my Grandfather, that I wear as a light coat and it has an L-tear. It looks like my Grandmother did the fusible interfacing but not the stitches. It came apart the other day so this video was perfectly timed!
I felt your frustration with not having the correct colours to do the darning. I am forever darning other folks cloths. My trick is that if I can't find the right colour, I get close. Then I use textile pens to shade in the areas that stand out. Once heat set, the inks are permanent. Love your channel! So many good tips and tricks!
I would probably have tried to buy the exact colored threads first. I do have aqua, but I'm a Californian.
I love it when you teach us these things.
Glad I'm not the only one who uses interfacing to back tears. I would have got threads to match.
On my point of view I well treaded like a painting darker color first and light color at the end. great idea to put a backing loved.
I love to see the mending tips! I definitely would get a matching thread color.
Just mended my flat sheet using your advice! Thanks a bunch!
I would say that is a win! And you definitely showed how easy this repair is and definitely not as intimidating as I thought it would be. As far as the colors go... I would have continued with the navy, then probably added a few white stitches by hand to try and blend. Because I can't help but make more work for myself.
Among my reference books is a 1950's Girl Scouts Intermediate (today's equivalent is Junior) handbook. In addition to various vintage sewing/mending tips, there are sections on other aspects of "housekeeping" which makes for an interesting read. As the Girl Scout motto states: Be Prepared.
Well that is good advice! 😀
My daughter just asked me to mend a fitted linen sheet with a large L-shaped tear! Your timing couldn't be better. Oh, and I wouldn't have gone out for different thread for a work shirt. Your darn looks great
Cynthia this is perfect timing! For a soft bed sheet I might not use the interfacing, but would use lots of extra darning stitches as I wouldn't mind to see them on a sheet! 🙂 Good luck!
I never knew it could be this easy! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Aah so perfect! I just happened to have an L shaped tear in my pillowcase and didn't know what to do with it. Mended it just now! I'm so happy! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
I love how specific this! I would love to see you take on more different projects like this
I would LOVE to hear how CZcams unfollows me from so many of my favorite creators!
Thank you so much for this lesson! I'll think of your generous education next time I go to darn one of my own garments :)
My magpie brain LOVES to get different colors of thread so OF COURSE I would have taken the run to the shops for that second navy AND probably the aqua too 😂
Thanks for subscribing, twice! 😀 I know, NOW I wish I had a better colour navy!
There's something so satisfying about completing a good mend.
Great video. I wasn’t aware of the interfacing on back so will add to my mending skills.
I‘m a big fan of visible mending so I go a lil crazy with my colors 😅
Yes!!! Always a good plan B!
Thank you for sharing this technique. I was taught to do this by hand, but learned how on the sewing machine when my boys were little. Jeans were much harder to make almost invisible by hand. The sewing machine makes a much smaller stitch than I can. Thank you again.
I enjoy this video as much as all your other videos !! It’s very helpful and I happen to have a similar fabric dress that has a similar tear. Gotta dust off my sewing machine and start some 2022 sewing tonight
Thank you, Evelyn! This video was very informative! I am definitely going to try this technique out.
I’m pretty particular about colour matching so I have a lot of threads in my stash, I’m sure I could have found something that worked but if not I’d have gotten a new navy lol
Firstly, you're a lifesaver ❤ the car just tore my shirt (and was trying to get her butt tore up by doing so
I recently fixed a similar tear in my daughters top, glad to know my thought pattern was similar to your approach, although I did a zigzag stitch along the tear, I’ll try the darning stitch next time, I need a thicker fusible interfacing too but it was such a lightweight fabric so it worked well just to hold everything in place while I stitched
Yes do try darning next time Melissa, I think you find it might last longer! 😉
Hehe, you weren’t going to win there! Because you stopped with the ‘wrong navy’ the white stands out. If you’d continued with that navy, the navy would have stood out more. What can you do? At least it was neat!
About 10 or so years ago, I was very lucky to be able to purchase a 100 spool Guterman thread …Rack? Stand? Dispenser? Call it what you will, but its a smaller version on the giant ones the sewing stores have. 100 rolls and no teal 🤦🏼♀️😆.
I’ve since bought a few different teals, because its a colour i actually like.
But it also has a selection of different navys!
That rack is a godsend 💖
Dear Evelyn, you're a mind reader! I needed some idea regarding L-shaped tears because one of my husband's favourite pants got teared up, and I want to save that piece. Today I'll try to fix it. Thanks! :)
A really good mend is so often determined by the colour match of the thread. I first thought you might patch it, carefully following the pattern so it matches exactly. BUT I love what you were doing - I must try that some time.
Great work! Thank you
I would have just put an embroidered patch (that is my go to tear mending hack hehe), but having this knowledge is greatly appreciated!
Just finished mending one of my brand new socks (I hate those plastic connectors they use to keep the socks together), an unraveling hole in one pair of undies, and reattaching the elastic on another pair. I was so thankful for my vintage darning egg. I confess, I probably would have put mending the work shirt until I had the right color thread.
Great job Marta! I know, It wasn't until I started sewing with it, that I could see it was too dark! Oh well! 😬
Me! I have loads of aqua, turquoise, teal, etc. It’s my happy color.
Haha The 1954 or so text starts with “Darning is almost a lost art.” 😮 It seams the wasting-polluting culture was already spread back then… Thank you so much for your videos Evelyn ❤. I wonder if you could do one video about mending a large hole on knit fabric, using a concealed/ blended patch. I have done this with a great result based on a user manual for a vintage Bernina machine but I don’t remember the exact instructions. I was thinking it’d be easy to find it online but not really
Very nice! I watched this video because I tore one of my favorite shirts today. Now I have some direction for fixing it.
I would have done exactly what you did on the mend as far as thread colors go. I don’t think it will be noticeable, and so what if it is, right? Still a nice job and not a gaping hole. Lovely channel, thank you.
If it were for me, I'd have used the threads I have. I noticed a hole in the trousers I had on today that I'll darn in navy as they're my work trousers so need to be neatly done, so I hope I can match the navy to the threads I've got! If they were home trousers for walking the dog & gardening - I'll use the thread I've most of, or do a decorative darn to amuse me when I see it.
But if it were for someone else, I'd go & get the closest match I could. I used embroidery wool to darn a jumper for my son, & that was a pain as I had to keep separating the plies of the yarn to get a thin enough yarn.
I love your thought process Lyanne, I'd say I'm very similar! 🙂
"Who has aqua?"
Me. I have aqua. Its one of my favourite colours and i use it quite a bit (i have a lot of aqua and similar coloured items)
What a great mend, I have a work shirt with an L tear in the sleeve. I was going to make into a short sleeve top but perhaps I might have a go at fixing that tear. I also have some aqua colour thread, have I ever used it?! No, I don't have any aqua coloured clothes. Love the dress you are wearing the colour is just brilliant.
I'd either use all clear thread, or gone to the shop. It's a good way to build your thread collection, buying new thread only when the project requires. I would be certain to get the proper colors, especially if I'm mending someone else's clothes. I do love the idea of backing and machine mending, it would be easier to have the reverse stitch connected with a foot pedal tho.
It’s a win. 🥇
That’s how I’ve done it or, depending on the style and tear I might machine embroider a design over it giving a branded look.
If I was going to the trouble to fix the item, I’d spend the money on the thread to get a good match. It still would be cheaper than replacing the shirt.
Thanks for showing how to mend it! I learned something!
As much of an inconvenience as it is to run to store to get one (or more) colors of thread for a project, I just bite the bullet and do it. I figure it adds to my supply for future projects. But I always purchase the smallest spool I can find. Still, I think your mending looked great. I'm sure your friend will be happy to be able to wear that shirt again. I'm looking at a pair of men's corduroy pants in a solid color with that 90 degree angle tear (about 5" x 2") and wondering how to make a repair not so obvious but it's right above the left knee area on the front so I think that's a pipe dream! By the way, I had a customer bring in a vintage swag (drapery) requesting a large pillow sham be made. There was a dime sized hole in it which I had to repair. I looked up how to do that and learned from a video of how the Japanese repair holes in kimonos by cutting a piece and taking the threads out all around making them long enough to weave over the hole. You have to be sure your patch piece pattern is in exact alignment of the pattern where it will be attached. Labor intensive, but it truly does work! I then reinforced on the back with fusible interfacing. It was fascinating, actually.
When I had my mending service I would have taken the garment with me to the store and try to match.
I will try I been trying to find something that doesn’t have to be hand lol great idea I probably do it faster , thanks very nices
I've been hand sewing since I was 12. I'm 50 now. I've always repaired my clothes and at one stage in the early 90s I used to make blanket jackets when they were all the rage for 20£ each. I made a ex's lad who was a hippie type patchwork trousers from all his throw away t shirts with pop art type pics on them..they came out awesome. He wore them daily until they died around a year or so later..lol. I have pics of them. Everyone said u should make them for a living..tho it was for relaxing not for a job. Lol. And took ages to do anything. I also used to make my own Adidas /nike designed clothes using existing decos from old Nike Adidas etc.. had lightweight trousers that were Nike or Adidas labeled and of course u couldn't get as they didn't make so we're completely one offs. The amount of people who remarked on them being cool. I don't bother now as the days of pomp are over at 50 and I no longer have any interest in looking cool.lol
There is something so charming to wear a garment that's been lovingly mended. And wearing it with pizzazz. Mum taught me how to mend this way and it's the only way I know. Mended my grown up son's shorts and my own saree blouses. (Live in India)
Nice. I have a black windbreaker with that type of tear, but it also has a liner. I'm tempted to just sew through the liner since I think I'd have to disassemble it too much to not stitch the liner as well. BTW, scored a Reader's Digest CGS for $15 from 1979, still in the shrink wrap! It was $39 back then.
Or you could just cut a slice in the liner to get to the shell and just accept that you'll have to do one more repair, but one that doesn't matter so much cause it's on the inside of the garment...
Thanks Evelyn
I'd have gone to buy the right color navy because I'm ocd like that!
😅😅
Hi, I would have gone to the shop and found the matching threads. 🥰
If I would have known that I probably wouldn't have turn my clothes into Fabrics I probably would have saved them so thanks for teaching me
Wonderful tutorial! For some reason we get these tears in our bottom (contour) sheets. QUESTION: what did you do with the interfacing on the back? Did you leave it as you installed it or did you trim it down close to your stitching? Thanks!
I would have interfaced with a lightweight woven, pretty much as you did, but seeing as it's checkered, I would have hand darned the repair. I would not have bought more thread, but I would have paid attention to the pattern and alternated the thread colours in the different squares. The colours are secondary, if your repair doesn't break the pattern, it's a lot less noticeable.
I think I'd have tried dabbing blue marker over the white where the navy would have gone lol.
I have used interfacing as a backing for years. I find that rounding the corners gives better adhesion when you press it.
Thank You, @Evelyn__Wood! 💙 I would have made do with thread on hand! I don’t like single item shopping trips because I come home with so much more 😂
Very off topic; hope you don't mind! Memory helping tip I use: Am often mending and altering clothes for my family vs sewing things for myself. Along with that am Frequently (!!) interrupted. Have a piece of tape on my machine. I write the needle size I currently have in the machine. Cross it out and write the new size whenever I change the needle. No more using a magnifying glass to look at the tiny numbers or color stripes on the needles!
Question: My mom always put a soft piece of fabric between the foot and feed dogs, never leaving the foot in the raised position when done sewing. I do the same. Necessary? Good idea?
PS have been learning so much and loving and your videos!!
Going back in time informs us of the real craft. I sew to create costumes for the characters that I create for my narrative paintings. Yes, I’m an artist. Your instruction is what I experienced when I was at Art College in the 70s. Hard skills that have serviced me and allowed me to express myself in a unique way that have rewarded me with an international reputation. Ease of use does not translate to quality
I would have ironed on a larger fusible interfacing and with an amount of cloth backing extending out past the edges of the tear outline. The visible tear is often smaller the weakened threads caused by the action of the tearing. This was afterall a workshirt so the chance is likely that a similar incident might occur in or around the same location.
Was there a collar, or a breast pocket, or interfacing on the button down side, of that shirt? I would first try to find some matching fabric on the garmet to borrow from. I have taken fabric from under a breast pocket to make a matching patch. I had to patch the hole I made under the pocket with fabric that whould not show through the pocket. The back underside of the collar, or the interfacing of the button down side, are also good places to borrow matching fabric; but, you will have to mend the holes you made to borrow the fabric.
When I don't want the mending to show, I do the work by hand. However, on everyday work garments I use scraps of fabric and mend on my sewing machine. Most people love machine patches on their jeans; so, making fancy patches of bright scraps and lace works out very well. But, be careful of who you mend for. Many people will tell others who will then bother you with work you don't want. For those who tell (on send) strangers to me expecting free minding, or alteration, I will not do any work for them ever again.
Salvaging fabric from under the pocket is a great idea!!
Who has aqua? I do. Lots of it. It's a beautiful color. I call it turquoise.
Nice mend. Thanks for the video.
Is there a way to use this method on stretch fabric? Asking as i recently discovered two little L tears in a soft knit t shirt over the bust area and as im quite big on top, i would need the repair to be strong but also flexible
How would you recommend mending a bottom sheet? So that you aren't annoyed by a rough .patch?
I would go for the gold and purchase a small spool of matching thread. You never know when you might need it again and besides, you can never have too much thread!
Whats the white bonding called? Is that gray just cloth? Im trying to repair a 100% polyester work shirt.
My husband has an L-shaped tear in a knit sweatshirt. Is the method the same with knits? The sweatshirt also has a lining on the inside so I can't really get at the underside of the fabric to interface it. Any advice? (It's a barn sweatshirt, it doesn't have to look good but does have to hold up well).
yeah its pretty good
(i use muslin on the underside and zigzag darn)
I'd probably run a few lines of the lighter blue in through the navy to try to lighten it up a bit, might work from a distance...
And no, I would not go to the store to get a colour match for a mend unless it was a very fancy or sentimental garment. If I don't have a colour even from the cheap dollar store multi-coloured repair kits that's at least close enough, I'll go with something completely different, thread that matches a patterned patch under a hole and just OWN the repair...
L with a square tear on the back of the L
Heart break work
it slammed me up against the wall
Fox weather
I have a suggestion: I would love to see updates on what you are sewing and see you mending something - it might be quite a mundane repair but together with a little chat, it would be nice.
Great! Can you show us how to mend tears in jersey knits?
wow!
Would this also work on demin? As in a pair of jeans.
Hi, Yes, backing the tear with iron on interfacing , stitching will be more noticeable as denim's pile is so flat. Maybe embroider a flower or other motif over top.
I back with a piece of denim and try to match the color of the jeans and only sew with the length of the jeans. Mine don’t have to be real neat, the cows and tractors don’t care if the threads don’t match plus I’m not driving 90 miles one way for decent thread. Downtown tailoring has good videos for repairing jeans.
Well, I would have probably gone to get a color that matches more so the darning is invisible. Sorry, Evelyn. But I learned that you must put a backing on it first and that was something I hadn't thought of.
I would have gone to get a closer match in colors - you never know when someone is going to bring you another mend that it will work for.
Right!!! I do need to expand my thread colour collection. I need to have it on hand!
I actually have the aqua! 😘
Who has aqua thread? Haha I do! Because of course I have my favorite color! 😆 Handy for mending my clothes (also in my favorite color. sorry for edit, don't know what happened to the end of this sentence!)
😍👍👍👍
Your machine darning is very neat. However, it's not my forté. I interface the back and add a design element on front...appliqué or patch...by hand.
Cool, thanks. Cool stylish clothes and fashion, is it 30's era (correct me if I'm wrong).
God bless, Rev. 21:4
🇨🇦😃
I must admit to being lazy with everyday clothes and just embroider a Butterfly over the damaged area!
I would not have done it by machine, I would have done it by hand.
Holy shit ...that's terrible lady...haha
That really is shocking. For repairs u really should not be using a sewing machine. Hand stitching is a win. U can't get perfection with a sewing machines brash stitch.. goodness.
The irony is that now visible mending is all the rage. Embroidery as mending is a trendy "new"" fad.
Complete waste. There is only planning and theory. No walk through on how to repair
You cheat with that backing...I can do this without...lol.
You talked too much and taught practically nothing.