Repairing small holes in clothing: How to do it with & without sewing
A small tear in your favourite shirt, a hole in a woollen jumper or a fine run of thread in a silk blouse: such damage is annoying, but by no means a reason to banish our favourite items of clothing from the wardrobe. Simple steps and a little skill are often enough to repair small holes in clothing - depending on the material and personal preference, either in the traditional way with a needle and thread or even without sewing at all. We show you different methods, give tips and reveal when professional help can be useful.
February 19, 2025 • 3 min reading time
Small holes in your clothes? With these tips, you can repair your clothes sustainably and stylishly.
Repairing small holes in textiles is often easier than it looks. Many types of damage can be quickly repaired with a few stitches or with the help of iron-on fusible web.
For larger tears, a patch can become a fashion statement, while holes in fine wool or silk should be carefully darned.
If you want to make bigger holes disappear, you’ll need experience or you should take the garment to a tailor shop. Fabrics such as cashmere and silk are particularly sensitive and require special techniques.
Moth holes in wool or cashmere are particularly annoying – because while the pests tend to stay away from cotton and synthetic materials, wool, cashmere and fur are amongst their favourite foods.
The good news is that if the damage is minor, with the right technique you can darn holes in clothes and restore the original look of your sweater or cardigan. The same goes for coarse cotton or linen. Here’s how it works:
1. Wash the garment gently and let it dry thoroughly so that there are no moth residues or dirt left in the fabric.
2. Choose a thin thread in the colour of your garment and thread it through the needle. Tie a knot.
3. Turn your garment inside out.
4. Now either sew one row crosswise and one row lengthwise over the hole or once around the hole. Only pass the needle through the individual stitches and not through the entire fabric.
5. Make sure not to stretch the fabric too tightly so that it falls naturally after the repair. Finally, gently pull the thread to pull the fabric together. Tie a knot.
‘Visible mending’ tip: If you like to be a little more artistic, you can use threads in different colours and turn the darned area into a real highlight on your favourite item.
Thin cotton T-shirts are often victims of small holes caused by friction. If you want to repair these small holes in your T-shirt, you don’t necessarily need a sewing needle. Here are two alternatives to easily eliminate holes in cotton:
Apply a tiny amount of textile adhesive to the edges of the holes and gently squeeze them together. A piece of baking paper between the front and back of your T-shirt prevents the entire fabric from sticking together while it dries.
Cut out a piece of iron-on fusible web in the colour of your garment slightly larger than the hole. Place the fusible web on the damaged area from the inside, pull the edges of the hole gently together and cover it with the fusible web. Set your iron to the recommended temperature and carefully iron the fusible web. Make sure not to apply too much pressure to prevent the fabric from warping.
Some holes are just too big to be patched inconspicuously. But this doesn’t mean you have to give up your garment. Colourful or subtle patches can not only cover the hole but also create a cool accent. This produces an individual look, especially on jeans or jackets.
Either opt for sticker patches to iron or sew on or use leftover fabrics to create your own patch design. This way, you can turn your damaged garment into a fashion statement and support a sustainable approach to clothing at the same time.
Do you have a fine silk blouse or a high-quality wool dress that suddenly has a large hole? In such fine garments, patches seem out of place and large holes in sensitive garments are often harder to darn.
If this is this case, tailors have special machines and techniques to mend holes so that they become almost invisible. This investment can be especially worthwhile for expensive or cherished textiles!
Repairing tiny holes in your clothing isn’t complicated at all: whether you prefer to sew, glue or work with iron-on fusible web or patches – the options are many and varied. The important thing is that you act quickly and with care to avoid larger damage. With just a few simple steps and the right tips, you can conceal minor damage or even transform it into a stylish detail. Give your favourite item of clothing a second chance!
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