How To Repair a Hole In Knit Fabric
Now that summer is over and autumn has crept upon us, it's more than likely that you'll be digging your winter woollies out of storage. But what if you find your favourite jumper has fallen victim to the greatest enemy of all knitwear - clothes moths?!
The good news is that moth holes can be repaired. If the damage is minimal and the hole is smaller than 5 millimetres, then you can use fusible bonding web to fix the hole. If the hole is larger, you can use a darning technique to mend the fabric by interweaving with a needle and thread. Here's how to darn a hole in knit fabric, shown by video tutorial and our written guide.
Repair Holes While They're Still Small
We recommend that you repair as soon as you notice the first sign of damage, as if you leave them they'll get bigger, and bigger holes are more challenging to repair.
You will need: darning needle, yarn in a matching colour and the same thickness as the surrounding material, or a contrasting yarn, a darning support, and sewing scissors.
Clothes Doctor's new Darning Support is a true work of art; each one handmade in a British workshop by a skilled artisan. Our Darning Needle Set, with ten needles perfect for every hole, you'll have the basics to get you started on any darning project. Pair with our Brass Handled Scissors to make your fixing as pain free as possible!
Watch our video tutorial to see the step-by-step guide to darning for the first time, or follow our written guide underneath.
1. Place the darning mushroom under the hole and pull the garment over so that the hole is centred
2. Sew a few stitches in the undamaged surrounding fabric to secure the thread
3. Stitch across the hole horizontally starting and ending close to the circle of running stitches
4. Next weave a series of stitches going perpendicular, working the thread over and under your stitches
5. Continue this up and down weaving until you have created a grid that completely covers the hole
6. Make sure that you leave a long end on the thread when you are finished so that you can weave it into the repair, rather than securing it with a knot. If you would like to secure it with a knot, ensure that you do not pull on the thread or it may end up puckering
7. To finish, gently press to flatten and blend the darn.
Protect Your Knitwear from Future Damage
For more information on how to protect your knitwear from future damage by getting rid of the clothes moths in your closet, read our blog.
We hope you managed to bring new life to your treasured knitwear by following our darning guide. For more help with caring for your knitwear, including our anti-moth products, and specialist wool detergent, check out the rest of our range:
At Clothes Doctor, moth protection is not our speciality! We also have a range of mists, tools and accessories that extend the life and improve the look, feel and smell, of your wardrobe favourites.
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