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Most of us own clothes we do not wear because of a loose button, a dropped hem or a small hole. Learning a few repairs costs almost nothing and keeps those garments in use. This guide covers why it matters and the basic skills worth learning first.
Why repair is worth learning
The charity WRAP, which ran the UK’s Love Your Clothes campaign, reported that about 30% of the clothing in wardrobes had not been worn for at least a year. Four in five people said they had clothes they did not wear because they no longer fit or needed alterations. Over half of women and nearly a quarter of men said they would like to learn how to repair clothes. WRAP also estimated that changes to how the UK supplies, uses and disposes of clothing could cut the carbon, water and waste footprints of clothing by 10–20% each. Those are WRAP’s figures from its archived campaign page; I have not checked the underlying surveys.
The simple point is that a garment you keep wearing does not need replacing. Repair is one of the cheapest ways to do that, and it sits alongside buying better in the first place; see my guide to cost per wear.
What you need
- A small sewing kit: needles in a few sizes, strong thread in black, white and a neutral, small scissors and pins.
- A thimble if you sew thick fabric by hand.
- A seam ripper for unpicking stitches cleanly.
- Iron-on or sew-in patches and a few spare buttons (many garments come with one).
- A darning mushroom or a smooth jar for socks and knitwear.
These are standard basic sewing tools. Nothing here needs to be expensive.
Five repairs to learn first
1. Sewing on a button
- Thread a needle with doubled thread and knot the end.
- Bring the needle up from the back of the fabric where the button sits.
- Pass it through a hole, then down through the opposite hole, several times.
- Place a matchstick or pin under the button as you sew so the stitches stay slightly loose, then remove it.
- Wind the thread around the stitches under the button to make a short stem, and knot at the back.
2. Fixing a dropped hem
Fold the hem back to its original line, pin it, and sew small, even stitches along the fold, catching only a thread or two of the outer fabric so the stitches barely show. Press it flat afterwards.
3. Closing a split seam
Turn the garment inside out, line up the two edges and sew a few stitches beyond each end of the split so the repair does not tear again. A backstitch is stronger than a simple running stitch where the seam takes strain.
4. Darning a small hole in knitwear or socks
Stitch rows of parallel running stitches across the hole, extending a little into the sound fabric on each side. Then weave thread across them at right angles, over and under, to rebuild a patch. Use thread close in fibre and colour to the original, or choose a contrasting colour if you want the repair to be a feature.
5. Patching a worn knee or elbow
Cut a patch of similar-weight fabric slightly larger than the worn area, pin it on the inside, and sew round the edges. Iron-on patches are quicker but can peel after repeated washing, so stitching round the edge makes them last.
When to take it to someone else
Some jobs are worth paying for: re-lining a coat, replacing a zip, resizing a tailored jacket or repairing leather. A local tailor or repair shop can often do these for less than the cost of a replacement. Ask for a price first.
Prevent damage in the first place
Many tears start with how clothes are washed and stored. My guides on washing clothes more sustainably and storing clothes so they last longer cover the habits that reduce wear. When something is beyond repair, see how to donate or recycle old clothes in the UK.
What I could not verify
- The surveys behind the WRAP figures; I only read the archived campaign page.
- Comparative durability of different mending methods, which I have not tested.
Source
- WRAP: Love Your Clothes guide (archived 31 March 2023)
The step-by-step instructions are standard hand-sewing technique rather than claims from a single source.
This article is general information, not professional advice. I have not tested any products. Figures are quoted from the sources above and may have changed.