Fixer Uppers - Patches to Make Holes Whole

Let's Get Started!

For this type of patch fixation, we laid out our sleeve and cut pieces of the tape to go all around the hole. Press pieces of tape firmly so it makes full contact with the fabric. Remove the paper to expose the other side of the tape. Place your patch over the hole and press firmly down. Afterwards, check the edges; if you can fold over any part of your patch, cut some pieces of the tape and repeat the process to stick them down.

Option 1 - Aleene’s Fabric Fusion Tape - Double Sided Tape

Option 2 - Steam-A-Seam Double Stick Fusible Web

This process requires an iron.

Cut out shapes from a sheet of the Steam-A-Seam sheet. You can make any shape you want. We went with a heart for one shirt as well as some rectangles and squares just to have them ready for future mending needs.

Peel off one side of the paper. Using your iron on the cotton steam setting, iron it to the fabric you are making the patch with. Our patch fabric is a tie-dye shirt. This is a great way to use up good parts of shirts, etc., that you don’t want to fix.

Cut out the shape around the webbing, leave a little edge of fabric if you want a raw edge look; otherwise, you can cut right up against the edge.

Lay out your sleeve/garment so you can position the patch. If the hole is very large/open, you might need to put a piece of fabric on the inside as well so the patch doesn’t end up sticking the sleeve together. We just put a little rectangle of the same shirt underneath. Peel off the other side of paper covering the webbing and position the patch. Iron again with the high cotton setting and some steam.

Some basic rectangles with rounded edges:

It is recommended that you sew the edges with this method, by hand or machine. We used some embroidery thread and a simple running stitch for a decorative and practical effect on the hearts.

Option 3 - Glues

While we didn’t use any glue this time, any of the Aleene’s glues listed would work. Just cut out a patch from some scrap fabric, run a line of the glue around the patch edge, and position it. Leave to dry. If you want extra insurance or to stop the hole from fraying, you can also run a line of glue around the hole before putting the patch on.

Now you can keep wearing your favorite threads, get the kids a little more wear from their pants, or even preemptively add some protection to elbows and knees if you know you are likely to wear them out quickly.