5 Simple Embroidery Repair Techniques to Try

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If you’re passionate about the environment and love upcycling, why not give a new sense of life to damaged clothing using your embroidery skills? In celebration of Earth Day 2022, this project guide features five simple embroidery repair techniques that can be used to preserve beloved garments in an eco-friendly way.

Perfect for intermediate-level embroiderers, this project is ideal for showing off your favourite embroidery stitches by adding a pop of colour to your wardrobe!

Discover more embroidery projects here >

Project and instructions by Katherine Lucy Creates.

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Bamboo Embroidery Hoop 6 Inches

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Hemline Size 3 to 9 Embroidery Crewel Needles 16 Pack

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Petrol Embroidery Scissors

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DMC Orange Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (721)

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DMC Green Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (912)

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DMC Pink Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (3833)

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DMC Cream Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (3825)

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DMC White Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (Blanc)

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DMC Blue Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (794)

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DMC Cream Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (Ecru)

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DMC Orange Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (351)

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DMC Green Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (164)

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DMC Pink Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (353)

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DMC Orange Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (3328)

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DMC Green Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (991)

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DMC Orange Mouline Special 25 Cotton Thread 8m (3341)

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* Heat erasable pen

Visible Mending using a Woven Pattern Step 1

Identify the hole you want to stitch over, draw a simple flower design, and place the hoop around the fabric.

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Visible Mending using a Woven Pattern Step 2

Using two strands of embroidery thread, stitch straight lines across the middle part of the flower.

Use two strands of a lighter thread colour to weave the stitches, under and over the first straight stitches. Continue until the shape is filled.

Use three strands of the next embroidery thread colour to fill in the petals using satin stitch.

Optional – add two leaf designs, stitch these using three strands of embroidery thread using a Fish Bone stitch.

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Elbow Patching with Flowers Step 1

Measure the elbow space you want to cover and create an oval shaped template. Cut two out of complimentary scrap fabric. Cut two so that the elbows match and place onto the sleeves.

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Elbow Patching with Flowers Step 2

Place a hoop around one of the patches and draw around approx. 0.5cm from the edge – this will be your guide for you blanket stitch. Blanket stitch around the entire edge. Remove the hoop and press.

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Elbow Patching with Flowers Step 3

Using a heat erasable pen draw on some flower guides, we have used woven roses and lazy daisy stitches for ours. Place the hoop back around the design.

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Elbow Patching with Flowers Step 4

Use three strands of embroidery thread for all, starting with a Fish Bone Stitch for the leaves. The move on to Back Stitch for the foliage. Lazy Daisy and French Knots for the smaller flowers and Woven Roses for the larger flowers.

Once you have completed the stitches, remove the hoop and press well. Repeat for the other sleeve.

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Japanese Sashiko Visible Mending Step 1

Identify the hole you want to stitch over and cut a piece of scrap fabric. Turn the garment inside out, place and pin the fabric to it.

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Japanese Sashiko Visible Mending Step 2

Turn the garment back through and place a hoop around it. Trim any excess threads.

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Japanese Sashiko Visible Mending Step 3

Draw a few straight lines with a heat erasable pen in a grid style. Cross stitch where the lines meet in a pattern.

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Japanese Sashiko Visible Mending Step 4

Remove the hoop and press well to remove the pen lines.

Optional – to add to the design of this jumper we also added the to the shoulder. Again, draw lines in a grid and cross stitch.

Remove the hoop and press well.

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Patching Socks Step 1

Identify the hole(s) you want to stitch over and place a hoop around it.

Cut a piece of fabric just big enough to cover the hole and pin. Using two strands of matching embroidery thread, Satin Stitch the whole way around the patch.

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Patching Socks Step 2

Repeat for any other holes in the socks, you can layer up two patches as well.

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Reverse Patching – Ripped Jeans Step 1

Cut a piece of fabric bigger than the hole you want to patch. Sketch on a rough design and place into a hoop – we have gone for an underwater scene!

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Reverse Patching – Ripped Jeans Step 2

Use two strands of thread for each stitch apart from the French Knots which uses all 6 strands of thread. Follow the images to stitch each section listed below:

Feather Stitch for this reed
Back Stitch for the coral
Fly stitch for this reed
Lazy Daisy and Back Stitch for these reeds
French Knots for the seabed
Large Lazy Daisy stitches for the smaller coral
Finally, use Satin Stitch for the small fishes.

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Reverse Patching – Ripped Jeans Step 3

Remove the design from the hoop and iron-away the pen marks.

Trim the fabric and place onto the jeans.

Place inside the hole and pin into place.

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Reverse Patching – Ripped Jeans Step 4

Use matching thread to stitch around the design, make sure the fabric is a little loose within the jeans to allow for wearability.

Remove the hoop and try on.

Create a second patch if needed.

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Rated 4 out of 5 by Chairsandsofas from Lovely ideas for repair Recently darned a hole in my trousers, then found these ideas. Lots of decorative stitching which I am inspired to try. Might I suggest Swiss darning for the socks over those stiched patches. Much less uncomfortable to wear.

Date published: 2022-04-10