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After making the waistband bigger on an old pair of jeans, I needed to patch a few holes, so let’s learn how to fix a hole in jeans using a patch and simple sashhiko stitching.
What is Sashiko?
Sashiko is a Japanese mending/stitching method (that literally means “little stabs”) that uses running stitches to make lines and geometric shapes on fabric.
It can be purely decorative, but it’s also used to reinforce fabric, as when you need to mend a hole in jeans, pants, shirts, etc.
It’s become popular around the world as a form of visible mending, and I like it because it doesn’t require any particular skill and it is really helpful for securing a patch and keeping the fabric surrounding the hole intact.
Patching a Hole in Jeans
These old jeans had holes below the back pockets on both sides, but one was bigger than the other. For now I’ve patched both of them but only sewed over the larger one to reinforce it.
To add the patches I basically did what I talked about in this post about mending a small hole. I used regular fabric rather than T-shirt material, though.
Cut out a piece of fabric larger than your hole.
Line the edges or cover the fabric with Stitch Witchery and iron the patch on both sides using a hot iron until the patch is secure.
If you’re going to sew over the patch you could just pin it in and sew over it, but I like the extra security of ironing it on. Also these patches go up into the pocket area where I’m not sewing so I want to make sure the fabric there stays where I want it.
This is really all you need to do to fix a hole in jeans, but it’s fun and more durable if you add a little stitching, too.
How to Fix a Hole in Jeans with Stitching
It’s up to you how much you want the stitching on your fixed hole to stand out and what color thread you choose. Here I’m using a light gray sashiko thread from Olympus, which is a Japanese brand. You can use any 100 percent cotton thread or embroidery floss for this purpose.
I also used a sashiko needle since they are sharp and strong enough to go through denim, but you can use whatever heavy duty needle you have on hand.
Cut a length of thread about as long as your arm, thread the needle and tie a knot at the end.
Take your needle through the fabric from back to front a little wide of the edge of your patch or the hole, depending on how your patch is aligned.
Work running stitches across the fabric until you reach the other side of the hole. Work to about the same distance from the edge of the hole on this side as you did on the other side. End the row by taking the needle back to the back/inside of the pants.
Bring your needle back through the fabric from back to front a little down from where the last row ended. Work running stitches across.
Continue in this manner until you’ve covered the whole hole. On the edge of the hole try to catch as much of the fabric of the jeans as you can.
I worked one more row beyond the hole just to reinforce the patch. You can also work stitches in the other direction if you like.
When you’re done, take the needle back to the back/inside of the pants, tie a knot and cut off any excess thread.
I opted to leave the threads from the hole in the jeans, but if you want your patch to be more visible you can cut them out before or after sewing.
Knowing how to fix a hole in jeans or other clothing will help your clothes last longer and add a personal touch. You can even do this kind of patching and stitching on clothes without holes if you want!
