How to mend a hole – 20+ creative inspiration & tutorials for modern visible mending!
I admit, I’m a little excited when I come across holes in clothes these days because I get to be creative! I love visual inspiration and wanted to collect hole-mending ideas all in one spot to share. I’ve gotten some really high quality clothes from thrift stores with tiny holes that were dirt cheap and easy to mend too. Do you have any common mending issues that I haven’t shared a fix for below, leave a comment!
If you like this post, check these others out while you’re here!
- 20+ creative ways to hide stains on clothes
- Five tips for thrift shopping to upcycle & refashion
- Beginner sewing supplies list – what to buy on a budget!
- Sewing tips for beginners -15 mistakes to avoid!
Some other resources that you might be interested in:
- The Modern Mending facebook group is a great community to ask questions & brainstorm!
- A list of mending books, if you like analog resources
- Some supplies for mending:
- Thin wool for darning
- Where I bought my speedweve that I haven’t used yet
- Stick n’ Stitch for hand embroidery
- Heat N Bond for patching
- Sashiko mending kit
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How to mend a hole – creative inspiration & tutorials
This is a mix of tutorials & inspiration photos! Please don’t hesitate to click through and leave compliments on the instagram posts 🙂
This is a different twist on reverse applique with clean edges, and any fun fabric can peek through!
I combined needle felting & embroidery to add some sweet flowers to a hat that developed holes, and have a full tutorial for trying it! This will only work on wool and wool blends.
See hwo to hand stitch a cute little beetle!
I confess I have a speedweve little loom but haven't used it yet! Look how beautiful this weaving-mend is from Nicole in the Modern Mending facebook group.
I have an e-book with several photo tutorials & patterns!
Candy has a beautiful feed full of mending and stitching projects, I was really drawn to this organic hand stitched mend job, isn't it lovely!
A freebie tutorial, adding a kitty knee patch to hole-y jeans.
I love mushrooms and this is the cutest idea for a cuff mend, as seen on Facebook!
Some patches for the nerds, a bunch of fun star wars designs.
Isn't this absolutely gorgeous!! Such a whimsical woodland idea - I saw it in the facebook group Slow Stitch, crafted by Francoise Saverot.
Another patching tutorial with simple shark silhouettes.
Sarah has the sweetest reverse applique mend, look at the bear peeking out!
This is my favorite way to patch - with old tshirt designs! A full tutorial here.
Meg is a knitter, and I love how she darned holes in her jeans! Check out her shop at No Frills Knitting.
Here I used dye to camouflage stains and added a patch!
Rachel mended this knit cardigan with sweet little patches, aren't they beautiful!
No machine needed with this hand mending tutorial and free pattern.
Minttu made the prettiest little mend, what a lovely surprise to see flowers in this spot!
Another simple tutorial with free pattern, one of my favorite shapes!
For those back pocket holes!
Cover up a hole with a pocket! These are kid-sized but easily enlarged for adults.
A fun rainbow tutorial with sashiko.
Use iron on to camouflage holes!
Unpictured
- Sweet flowers covering up a worn hem, on instagram.
- Lots of darning tutorials and online resources at Collingwood-Norris Design.