Prefer audio? Listen to this episode on iTunes! 

Ever scrutinize old photos + pick apart your outfits of decades past?

I do.

My first thought: “Ugh what was I thinking wearing THAT?”

My second thought: “Where’s that outfit now?”

– *Spoiler Alert* – All your outfits of decades-past are SOMEwhere. (The landfill, probably.)

These days, we toss clothes at the first sign of wear + tear. That’s because timeless skills like mending + darning are thrown to the wayside in favor of convenience.

I want to change that.

Here are 5 easy clothing repairs anyone can do without a sewing machine. 

Easy Clothing Repairs

1. Mend a torn seam

Split seam? Mend it in 10 minutes or less.

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Sew it closed with a running stitch, followed by an overstitch. 

Difficulty Level: 2

2. Patch a big hole

Daunted by large holes? Never again.

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Solution 1: Sew it closed.

Difficulty Level: 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ULhv5dNeew

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Solution 2:  Patch it with an iron-on patch. 

Difficulty Level: 0

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Solution 3: Patch by sewing on fabric either of the same color as the garment OR with a fun, completely opposite color/pattern.

Difficulty Level: 3

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Note: The hole’s placement + the fabric of the garment determines which patching strategy to use.  A hole in a child’s jeans at the knee would probably require a fabric patch, for example, while you would hand-sew a hole in a knit blouse.

Did you know?

The world consumes 80 billion pieces of clothing per year. 

3. Hide a Snag

Earring get caught on your outfit? These annoying snags are *so* easy to repair.

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Lasso the pull with a piece of thread and pull it to the back of the garment. 

Difficulty Level: 1

4. Restore a zipper to its former glory

Most zipper problems have to do with the slider, which can loosen over time.

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Solution 1: Tighten the slider with pliers 

Difficulty Level: 0

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Solution 2: Snip off the slider with wire cutters + replace

Difficulty Level: 1

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Solution 3: Replace the entire zipper.

Difficulty Level: 5+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV0_6d_Yv3Q

Helpful Hint: Run a graphite pencil the length of your zipper on both sides to smooth zippers that stick.

5. Repair a tiny hole in knit fabrics

Your favorite cotton shirt has a pin-hole-sized hole in the worst possible place. Don’t you hate that?

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Solution 1: (No Sewing Necessary!) Use lightweight fusible bonding web + stabilizer (Read: glue) atop parchment paper. 

Difficulty Level: 1

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Solution 2: Sew closed with a needle + thread. (It’s basically the same technique as patching a big hole discussed earlier, just smaller and therefore quicker.)

Difficulty Level: 2

Genius Hacks for Ruined Shoes + Clothing

On episode 5 of the podcast I offer countless suggestions for keeping your clothes looking pristine.

But – despite our best efforts! –  life often gets in the way + ruins our clothing anyway.

Here are 4 genius hacks for clothing that has (somehow + definitely!) already been ruined. 

1. Halt red wine staining.  

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Pour white wine over the stain.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, heck no. I just spilled my red wine. I’m not going to waste white wine by pouring it over the spill.

Just trust me. 

The stain will NOT lift immediately, but it WILL LIFT in your next wash cycle. The sooner you get the white wine on top of the red the better. 

Seltzer works, too, but if you don’t have any seltzer nearby, head for the white wine. 

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2. Stop sweater shedding.

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Got yourself a cashmere or wool sweater that won’t stop shedding?

Toss it in the freezer the night before you plan to wear it to prevent additional shedding.

3. Remove lipstick stains. 

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Spray the fabric with hairspray + let it sit for a few minutes. 

Dab the stain + toss it in the washer (just make sure the fabric isn’t Dry Clean Only).

4. Fix all shoe problems. 

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For patent leather:  Fix a scuff with a cotton swab and some petroleum jelly.

For leather: Scrub off water stains on leather boots with a soft toothbrush and vinegar. 

For suede: Clean off stubborn dirt by rubbing stain with a nail file.

– A final friendly reminder –

If you find yourself needing alterations beyond your skill level, don’t head to the mall. 

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Head to your local seamstress instead. 

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When it comes to sustainable living, buying new is ALWAYS a last resort, while repairing should be part of your repertoire.

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