SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Torn Item of Clothing in Need of Mending
- Ribbon in Various Thicknesses, Colors, and Textures
- Embroidery Floss in Various Colors
- Embroidery Needle
- Water Soluble Marker
- Scissors
- Pins
- Iron
- Optional: Scrap Cardboard
DIRECTIONS:
- With the scissors, trim any extra threads that may be covering the hole to be mended.
- If using a ribbon thicker than the size of the hole, cut a piece of ribbon about an inch larger than the hole. Place the ribbon behind the hole like a patch. Pin it in place.
- If using several thicknesses of ribbon, cut the ribbons to a width an inch larger than the hole. Use the embroidery floss and a running stitch to stitch together pieces of ribbon until there is a piece stitched together that is a half an inch larger than the hole to be patched. Place the ribbons behind the hole. Pin it in place.
- With the water soluble marker draw a design to be stitched over the fabric and ribbons. This can be lines running across the hole, lines around the edge of the hole, small X shapes, or other designs that can be stitched.
- Use the embroidery thread to stitch the ribbon patch in place. Good stitches to use are the running stitch, blanket stitch, cross stitches, or any other decorative stitch.
- It may be helpful to place a small scrap of cardboard behind the patch to make sure the stitching isn't worked through the back of the piece of clothing.
- To make a surface patch, cut lengths of ribbon 1" longer than the length of the hole to be patched. Then cut ribbons 1" wider than the width of the hole. Weave these ribbons to create a solid patch. It may be helpful to pin the piece in several places to keep it from coming apart. Fold the edge ribbons back 1/4" and iron flat. Stitch the patch on top of the clothing item, covering the hole.
JOANN HACKS:
- For this project, we wove the ribbon together to create a plaid pattern. You can weave the ribbon or do stripes, as well. This is a free-form patch, so experiment to see that you like best.