DIY

How to Fix a Hole in a Sweater with Thread

Beth

I have a feeling fixing a hole in a sweater is one of those universal things that everyone knows how to do. Except me. I cut up a sweater for rags a year ago because it was holey, and I didn’t know how to fix it. And I really liked that sweater.

I also really wanted to title this post ‘How to Fix a Hole in a Sweater with Thread, Matchsticks, and a Q-Tip’ so I’d sound more like MacGuyver, but I restrained myself.

Anyway. Take your sweater and find the hole. Turn the sweater inside out. Grab matching thread. Or almost-matching.

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Thread a regular sewing needle (affiliate link). Start threading your way across the hole, beginning at the bottom. You only want to push the needle through the topmost bits of material, you don’t want to push all the way through. If you do, you’ll see the thread the next time you wear your sweater.

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Pass through once, then turn the needle around and go back the other way. Again, just catch a few of the topmost bits of fabric.
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As you weave back and forth, very gently begin to tighten the thread. Don’t tighten too much too fast, or you’ll end up with a knobby bump in the fabric. When you’ve gone all the way across the hole, turn the needle around and go back the other direction.

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When you’re done, it will look like a little woven patch. Tie your thread off, and you’re done! Turn the sweater right-side out again, and ta-da!

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The hole is gone.

Get ye gone, and save thine garments!

17 thoughts on “How to Fix a Hole in a Sweater with Thread”

  1. Great tutorial! Thank you so much!I had a sweater in my closet with a hole in it for years and now I can wear it again!

  2. so happy to find this post — I just found a hole in one of my children's sweaters – only wore it once. I knew there had to be a way to do it without 'knitting'.YAY! Thank you 🙂

  3. Mine doesn't look quite as good as yours, but a definite improvement and wearable for sure! Thanks for your help! 🙂

  6. I know this post is pretty old, but I wanted to thank you for this tutorial! It seems that my cats always catch a claw on my *favourite* sweaters – I'm so pleased that I can salvage them! Thank you thank you thank you!!

  8. I just successfully tried this method on a cashmere sweater I saved from a thrift shop. Double win! (I often get the knobby bump in the fabric you mention. I must learn to be more l o o s e in my stitching.) Many thanks!

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