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Mending & Maintenance

Start with the damage, choose your materials and learn a manageable repair.

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9 articles

Flat sew-through buttons beside thread spools and a safety pin

How to sew a flat button with room for the fabric

Mending & Maintenance

Attach a two- or four-hole button with suitable thread clearance.

Needle and presser foot above fabric at a sewing machine

Open seam or torn fabric? Choose the repair first

Mending & Maintenance

Locate failed stitching versus failed cloth before resewing.

Hands using a needle and thread on pale fabric

Choosing a hand-sewing needle for a small repair

Mending & Maintenance

Match needle point, eye and thickness to the fabric and task.

Colorful thread spools with scissors and measuring tools

Choosing repair thread: strength is only one part

Mending & Maintenance

Balance thread bulk, elasticity and seam use rather than maximizing strength.

Fabric being guided through a sewing machine

Choosing a patch for woven and stretch fabrics

Mending & Maintenance

Match a patch to cloth movement, damaged area and care requirements.

Thread and scissors resting on folded fabric

Running stitch or backstitch? Match the job to the seam

Mending & Maintenance

Choose and execute basic hand stitch paths on practice cloth.

Close view of a sewing needle and fabric handling area

Fixing a loose hem without making it pucker

Mending & Maintenance

Preserve hem depth, slack and garment movement in a localized repair.

Close-up of knitted loops and yarn on needles

A snag is not a loose thread to cut

Mending & Maintenance

Triage a pulled loop without cutting the continuous knitted yarn.

Fabric being worked at a sewing machine

Repair, repurpose or retire? Inspect the fabric around the damage

Mending & Maintenance

Evaluate surrounding cloth and use before committing to another repair.