Holes are common issues in vintage clothing, often caused by factors such as fabric age, wear and tear, bad storage, or misplaced cigarettes. To repair these holes, turn the clothing inside out, carefully arrange nearby threads, and lightly stretch the fabric in all directions. Hand-sewing and patching techniques can be used to repair holes, making the garment almost like it was earlier.
To clean vintage wool garments, apply fabric glue around the hole’s edges, cut a patch from an old fabric, and press it onto the glue. Use stitch witchery or fusible web to cut a piece of fabric the same size as the circle and place it on top of the hole on the backside.
There are various ways to repair holes, including contrasting fabric patches, embroidery, decorative stitching, creative darning, and ancient techniques. The “sewing surgery” needed will depend on the fabric, the size of the hole, and the placement of the hole.
To fix holes in clothes without sewing, use tools such as bo-nash, fuse it powder, piece of fabric for the patch, scissors, ironing board, and Vlieseline or fusible interlining. If holes are very small, discreetly mend them with matching thread, embroidery floss, or yarn.
In summary, repairing holes in vintage clothes is a simple process that can be done using various techniques, such as hand-sewing, patching, embroidery, decorative stitching, and traditional techniques.
📹 How to Fix Large Moth Holes on Vintage Clothes- Learn Vintage Sewing
Watch the video here for the full tutorial I made on how I repaired and patched the large moth holes on this vintage dress, and then …
📹 HOW TO DARN A HOLE IN CLOTHES… Using a 1954 vintage sewing tutorial!
Want to learn how to darn? I show you how to darn a hole in your clothes using a vintage 1954 sewing book tutorial. And take you …
Oh, the heartbreak of moth holes. If I could sew I would totally employ these tricks. I actually posted one of your Thrift to Vintage articles to the Ultimate Fashion History Facebook group the other day because I was overjoyed to see a skilled person doing what I wish I could when I try to augment my wardrobe. It’s all so impressive, as well as the production value on the articles themselves. I subscribed and will keep representing for this website!!!
Hello Evelyn, I’ve finally started to learn how to use my sewing machine and I discovered you and your articles 3 days ago and I can NOT put my laptop down! your such a joy to watch and I’ve leant so much! I live in the UK so have never experience moth holes before, I have a dress I got in a vintage sale, the label says it from the US, It was too small for me but I could not go home without it! it had holes in the bottom that I now realise were moth holes! I wish I found this article 2days ago! I cut the whole section out 9 x 9cm and replace it with fabric I got from a bow I removed from the dress….was this wrong?
I have watched practically all of your articles, and not once have I seen you actually DO/SEW/DEMONSTRATE anything. In this article, you say “I’m going to show you how to machine.” (whatever that’s supposed to mean), but you don’t show how to do anything. Shown here, you hold a pair of scissors to the fabric but we don’t see you actually cut the fabric. The only cutting we see is when you cut to the finished product. What’s up with that?
hello!!! i love the tutorial… do you have any suggestions for a 1920’s dress that ripped right up the back when i went to buckle my shoe? there’s no extra fabric there, but maybe in the hem… i might put a zipper in the back if i can!!! very fragile fabric. also, i have a beautiful beaded(lots of weight) sleeveless 1920’s dress which is having some issues in the shoulders, and i’d like to reinforce them…? thank you for your articles!!!
Instead of the diamond, square or circle, I use a heart shape… Even if you use the ideal matching thread, it’s going to show in the right light. For me, the heart means I love this garment enough to mend it. It means I put my heart and soul into the mend. … Some how, every time I see that little heart it takes the sting of: how stupid was I to put a hole in my favorite garment and turn it into a bit of love and happiness. I do the same with patches. Heart shaped patches (even with matching fabric) will brighten your day every time you see it. 💜🌞🌵😷
Mum loved this sort of mending! After the darning was finished, she’d embroider over it to disguise it further, then turn it into a repeating pattern/motif by doing more embroidery in the same style all over the garment (except on elbows and knees, of course!). Somethings I remember: an epaulet on both shoulders, a rose on a pocket, ivy around a waistband that had the belt carriers removed, a Silver crescent moon on a nightie, cowboy hat on a check shirt, etc. The garment would look so much more expensive than when new!
Watching this helps you appreciate how this really is an art. You can understand why this was a valuable skill to have back when there was no option to throw a garment away as soon as it had damage and replace it with another. The sad thing is how many clothes today are built with the expectation that they aren’t even meant to last more than a year. They’re intended to be disposable, which is one of the many problems with fast fashion. All that being said, not sure if I’m disappointed or amazed that, like with the lessons on ease, you avoided all the possible puns on “darn.” “Let’s do the darn thing!” as for example 😉
Looks like you did a great job to me. If I can fix my shirts and socks half as good as you do I’ll be happy. I definitely learned something today. It looks easy with your tiny little hands. I’m 6′ 3″ 230lbs and my hands are just like big ol clubs at the end of my arms. I’m struggling to hold the little needle and the material to make it look right. You can sew really good. Thanks for the article and have a great day. Hi from a Texas cowboy
😡you have NO IDEA what you’ve just done!!!! I simply sat down and watched this article to fix a small knee hole in my favorite jeans……. and now you’ve got me digging my sons FAVORITE pair of jeans out of the DARN (🤭) trash so I can stay up all night darning them according to this tutorial plus your extra tips…. He is 7 and plays HARD and these jeans are so worn and torn and falling apart! I threw them away just this afternoon ( which made him very sad,, he HATES jeans and only likes sweats EXCEPT this specific pair of 505 Levi’s) now I feel encouraged to fix them up in time for Christmas! All because of you! 🤭😏 So thanks a lot lady . This mama wont be sleeping much tonight lol 🙃
I learnt to darn the way it is described in the book. Although, with a fabric that has a distinct difference between colours of the warp and weft threads, I would have used two colours. If you had changed to a blue thread for the second set of running stitches, that mend would have nearly disappeared. I have also found using a magnifying lamp makes it much easier it do the tiny stitches.
I once had an elderly top loader washing machine chew up a madras check shirt and a plain shirt dress. Given a choice with replacing the machine or the garments I patched a dog leg tear in the dress with fabric pinched from the hem. The madras check also had a dog leg tear too, however this I had to darn with a selection of matching threads. Only one woman noticed and she was very impressed!
Thank you so much for your articles. I love perusal all your articles. I have been mending for years. LOL I was a single dad with three girls and ended up learning to mend there favorite outfits and to make things last longer. I have darned, used patches, appliqués, etc. I still have some of there friends drop off things they want mended. Thank you again for these articles 😀
This would have been good to see yesterday before I spent a boring conference call fixing a couple of holes that had been there for a year in my favorite office sweater. I was close though! I can’t remember if I’ve seen you do a darn/mend on a sweater, but if you haven’t, that’d be a good one to try.
Lovely. I’d suggest that even if you prefer not to leave small loops at the end, be sure not to pull tight. Those of you who are weavers as well as sewists will immediately understand why. As suggested below, some has to do with shrinkage (this will depend greatly on the fabric and thread you choose to use). More importantly you are technically weaving so as you stitch in the cross-wise stitches (like the weft on a loom) you are taking up a small amount of each of the lengthwise threads (equivalent to the warp) as you work your way across and back so you’ll need that extra bit so it won’t pull or pucker. And washing your garment after it’s repaired will allow the darning threads to relax into each other and this will improve the appearance. A good pressing with steam will do the same if your fabric can tolerate that. Thanks! 🙏
The information given in that book, is completely valid and useful to this day. The real problem is the fact that we’ve gotten away from taking care of our stuff and just tossing it, or donate it when we’re tired of it, or if it needs repair. With everybody trying to live more sustainable lives. You’d think that mending would be more popular than what it is. I hope you’ll do some more articles regarding this. Because that’s the crux of what most people do with their sewing. Clothing construction is always fun. But the nuts and bolts of sewing, has been, and will always be mending and repair.
Thank you so much for this article! It is going to be very useful for tackling my large pile of stuff to be mended. 🙂 I have one question about those loops though. I have learned from an Instagram post by Ms. Cathy Hay, that the purpose of these is to allow a space for the new thread to shrink, since the old fabric is already supposed to be shrunk to maximum. Does tightening those loops ever cause any problems for you after washing? Thanks and keep up with these amazing articles! 🙂
My mom, taught me to sew, knit, and a lot of other handcrafts. She told me, that when she was taught how to knit socks, her teacher clipped a hole in the socks, and it was mending time. Luckily for me, my mom didn’t do that to me, but she though me how to mend my garments, when needed. I do hope, that this “newly” trend, will be a more natural thing,that we teach our children. Thank you, for your articles and tutorials 🧵🪡🧶 💐
A fabulous article, as usual! I love Monday Mending. My family is so excited that we are not regifting and thrifting their favorite items anymore. We mend instead. I have yet to brave sock darning, but now I feel equipped to make that happen…right after I finish my next class at your Vintage Sewing School. 😇
I have a beloved pair of slacks that have become fragile with age. Breaks my heart to part with them. This week I’ll rewatch your tutorial and then do my best to mend the multiple tears. Even if my repairs are not perfect, I’ll be happy to get a couple more years wear out of these pants. Thank you!!!
A beginner’s question: which kind of fusible interfacing should I use for a little hole in a white cotton shirt? There are so many types, and weights… How do I choose? Love your articles, especially, as you do in this one, when you acknowledge that there are tedious parts of sewing – somehow you make them fun!
I look forward to every Saturday morning when I see you weekly post. This week’s was, as usual, very interesting. I loved your vintage book and thought I’d let you know that one of your recent posts inspired me to check out the local thrift shops to see what treasures I could find. I was really lucky and found “McCall’s Sewing in Colour. Home dressmaking, tailoring, mending, soft furnishings” first published in London in 1964. Part of it’s journey, prior to landing in my home, was at a school as there is a stamp inside saying it is property of Narrabundah High School. It’s a beautiful thing to be custodian of this book. I’m keeping an eagle eye out for others from time to time.
The loops at the end that you are supposed to leave are to accomodate shrinkage. The garment is old, and has therefor already shrunk in the washing. The thread in new (unless you use threads pulled from the garment to match the colour) and will shrink after you wash the garment. It can get all wrinkly if there is not enough space for the thread to shrink.
I learned darning from that same book! I borrowed a friend’s magnifying-glass lamp and it helped so much (even though it also magnified all the dirt on my hands). PS- I got the book on your recommendation. I couldn’t find a cheap copy online, but I did find a PDF of it which I sent to one of those book-printing companies. There are so many useful techniques in it that I did not know existed.
Thank you! I had to stop the article and laugh, so glad that my grandmother taught me, if I had read that first….not sure if I would have even tried. You did a great job of explaining. What they were saying. Two things. Use a thread of the fabric, and I like a small thin needle. If you can find it starting egg or ! mushroom helps also. As always great to see you
If you want some sort of structure under the fabric while you darn, you can use what is called a darning egg or darning mushroom. The mushroom would be better for flat things like the fabric here. The egg is better for shaped things like the heel of a sock. If you want to blend the darning better, look real close at the fabric and see which way the white threads are going and which way the blue is going (up and down or side to side). Darn the hole with the white threads going in the same direction as the white threads of the fabric. Then weave in the other direction with blue thread to match the direction of the blue threads of the fabric. The darned patch will be less visible.
I just darned a run in a linen shirt. It was about 15 cm long. A few warps had snapped somehow, luckily none of the wefts. It sucked but it’s fixed. I think the little loops are so it doesn’t pucker then when you are finished I assume you stretch it so they disappear. I didn’t leave them and it was fine. Thank you for suggesting not bothering because those little loops annoyed me.
Thank you! I have a pair of beige jeans to repair for grandson ; liked the tip about using interfacing under hole and embroidery thread in the color of jeans! Your amazing! My husband will be as happy as grandson will be . One saves cash; and Vinny gets to be a normal at recess kid! ❤ to you have a great day! 👍 I love Hats and your style of hats our my favorite ! I like the caps in cool fabrics too. I crochet my hats, but I would love to make a few styles too. Ohio Sharon.
I have an old baby dress that I’m trying to mend but I don’t like the looks of the repair. The fabric is a very thin dotted swiss, pale pale pink. The fabric is frayed. I tried a very small running stitch but it’s just not to my liking. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m trying to repair this for a friend. Her Mother passed away last year and this little dress was in her things. It’s probably 80 years old. Thanks in advance
I still remember when my mother decided to stop darning my dads socks. They were not hand knit ones just regular ones from the store. He was so upset. She taught me to darn and I still have her darning egg to use for socks. In fact I used it two days ago because my husband has to have compression socks that are very expensive and One had a hole in the heel. Love your articles and your attitude.
My grandmother had me darning socks years ago but I was basically closing the hole using a (I’m not even sure what you call it) back and forth “zipper”(?) stitch. It would leave behind a ridge like a scar. Uncomfortable. This was a lightbulb moment (although still not sure if it would work with socks). I had a T-Shirt I had just machine embroidered and there was a hole next to one of my satin stitches. I was able to fix the hole before putting on the tender touch backing. Now, maybe, the shirt won’t fall apart after the first washing. 🙂 Thank you for this wonderful article!
This article and your website in general are exactly what I’ve been looking for!! I’ve been sewing since I was 5, but my skills are still rudimentary. I’m familiar with basic embroidery, I grew up having to sew elastics and ribbons to my pointe shoes and darning them, I frequently take in the sides of tank, and spaghetti strap style dresses and shirts, and skirts to make them fit me, made tons of patches for punk jackets and jeans, etc. So there’s still a ton for me to learn and this tutorial is just perfect for what I’m doing! Thank you sm, I’m definitely subscribing
@4:33 it starts with the needle and the thread already in the cloth and no instructions or demonstration of how to get it there or what it was, so I have to skip to another article because if you don’t even describe or explain how you got the needle in the thread into the cloth, and what you did, then how can I follow the next step?
Thank you so much Evelyn! I bought a vintage wool dressing gown (mens, made in Melbourne) as a nod to sustainable clothing and chilly Hobart winters. It had a tiny hole and a gap in the hem. I’ve now fixed the hole, not so neatly, and pretty pleased with the effort. I could not have done it without your tutorial. Cheers, Kaylene
My attempts at darning have never looked very presentable. When appropriate I will embroider a design that works with the garment. Sometimes scattering the design over the garment. My daughter and I often had daisies embroidered on our clothing. I recently tried to darn a tiny hole on the seat of a favorite pair of knit pants. Embroidery was not appropriate and it did not work to just darn them. .
I learned to darn as child in the ’40’s, when people did mend things. Now ? Well apart from a button or maybe a loose pocket, no ! As you get older clothes last longer (don’t as me why, I don’t know) So you just replace your clothes, as you get sick of just seeing the same old ones ! Thanks for the lesson, great to see.
I love this website! The 3 tips sewing machine article was wonderful too. I have my vintage singer treadle machine and am looking for something electric because that old gal can be have quite an attitude sometimes (yes she does have a personality, especially when I haven’t spent time with her for a while)! I also want to do buttonholes without primal screaming myself to death and have more stitch variety for the projects I want to do, many of which involve stretch fabrics. I look forward to learning to see with you!