So I have been a mother for 30 years. I have three of the male sex and four of the female. Can you imagine how many jeans we have had? Can you further imagine how many holes-in-the-knees we have had?
Many, and many.
It's hard to describe to someone who hasn't been through the exigencies of providing that many children with clothing on a tight budget, just how defeating — and yet how very common an occurrence — it is when a child puts a hole in his jeans.
The jeans themselves might have cost you very little (other than the “human toll” of hours spent in a thrift store with babies in tow, careful labeling of boxes in the attic, and reassuring of wary youths that the style and cut of the garment is correct). But their replacement — ugh.
{Rant Break: Jeans that are sold “distressed” and full of holes. How insulting to those of us who truly just need clothing that will look presentable for as long as possible — and to the original jeans-wearers: thrifty people who have holes in their clothes because they are actually doing hard work that would kill a fancy designer outright. I can't stand the thought of handing over good money for such a thing. How the designers must be scorning us all the way to the bank! How stupid they must think we are!}
In all these years, I never really figured out how to patch jeans. I've done them by hand, I've used iron-on patches (most unsatisfactory), and I've just let the children run around being all “holy.”
Honestly, many years I never bought the boys a pair of shorts. In the spring, I just took whatever pants they had and cut them off and hemmed them! Either the pants had holes in the knees or were going to be too otherwise worn out (thus un-pass-down-able) the following year anyway, so that was one solution.
But finally, in the twilight of my mothering career, I have figured out how to put a stinkin' patch on a pair of jeans.
The trick is to break down and open up the seam that isn't double-stitched — the seam on the outside of the leg.
Using your seam ripper and scissors, open it up a good 8″ or more beside the knee. It will have another seam under it, the one that finishes the raw edge inside, so yes, it's a little tedious. Sometimes, once you have made an opening, you can just rip it. But don't rip the fabric!
Now you will be able to sew on your patch. For a girl, any pretty fabric will do. Cut two pieces the same size, allowing extra for ironing under the edges for a neat look.
Yes, you probably need to do both knees, even if the hole is just in one. You know what I mean?
For a boy, keep some old denim around (either cut up a pair of jeans that are truly dead, or pick up a random pair in the same color denim at the thrift store clearance — might as well get an extra large and cut them into as large pieces as you can for your stash). Rather than making a bulky patch by turning under the edge, just use a more solid stitching to finish off the raw edge. It will take a bit longer, but be worth it for comfort.
You see, using that now open seam, I am able to sew not only the verticals of the patch, but also the horizontals! Finally!
Use a setting on your machine that will give you a sort of embroidered but durable double-stitch, or, if your machine is super basic, zigzag.
It won't take but a moment to sew up the seam by turning the pants inside out and pulling them flat.
Just stitch on the line left by the original stitches.
If you are not as hasty as I, you can carefully place the patches so that they are centered.
Laura Jeanne says
This is wonderful, thank you! I'll be using your technique for sure next time some holey jeans appear in my house.
I could never figure out either how to get the patch sewn on nicely.
When my daughter was small, I used to hand-sew on patches shaped like hearts. She like that, but they never laid quite flat and it was tedious work. I like the idea of taking apart the side seam, much easier!
Carol Kennedy says
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I blogged about this a while ago (http://ckenhome.blogspot.com/2010/10/holy-jeans-batman.html)” target=”_blank”> http://ckenhome.blogspot.com/2010/10/holy-jeans-batman.html)” target=”_blank”>(http://ckenhome.blogspot.com/2010/10/holy-jeans-batman.html) and came to the conclusion that I just had to buy jeans at Sears and hope to take advantage of their guarantee. But, I still have a cupboard full of holey jeans! (Did I say Thank you?)
Now, I have a sewing machine (I got it for Christmas and have yet to use it because I am afraid to teach myself and haven't found the time to take a class), so I am even more motivated to use it.
I will post to my blog if I ever actually do this….I am just so glad I know it can be done!
Milkmaid says
Do you know how long I've needed this? Why had I not thought of going in through a side seam before? Brilliant!
Brandi in GA says
I love your tutorials and your experience from the “trenches.” Your been there, done that wisdom has been the reason I love to follow your blog! Thank you so much for ministering in this way. My 12 year old daughter would like to begin sewing. Do you have any recommendations on a machine? I am sewing illiterate! 🙂 Thanks in advance!
Mamalion says
I had to laugh over the comment about the holey jeans for sale. I just went looking for jeans for Small Boy at the resale shop, and I realized that if I slapped a name brand label on the current pairs I was looking to replace, I could sell them, instead of trash them! It's all in the perspective, I guess.
Dyan says
Great idea! Thanks for sharing your long hours of hard work with us.
Hannah says
I'm from a family of 13 so there were many holes to patch! My grandma would rip through the seam like this but she would make the patch extra big to cover the entire width of the jean. The seam parallel to the inside seam would be sewn very close to it and then when sewing the torn seam shut, part of the patch would be sewn on as well. I don't know if this makes any sense in written description, but it made a very durable patch – especially for boys 🙂 I love this blog!
_Leila says
Hannah, that is a very good idea. I think I used to do that — have the patch go across — but without opening the seam, which simply did not seem like an option until the other day!
Going right across would eliminate the need to center the patch just so!
Thanks!
Joy says
I'm in total agreement with your rant. Holey jeans are a way of life with three boys. I keep one or two pairs of old jeans around for patching. I cut the patch to a little bigger than the hole, finish the edge with an overlock stitch and then sew them on. The iron on patches are worthless! Up to now, though, I would struggle and struggle to turn the jeans on the machine. It never occurred to me to undo the seam. Thank you for such a great tip!
I have made more than one pair of pants into summertime shorts, too. Right now my 12yo has holes in his pants because I just haven't found the time to patch them. Sigh. He's the youngest though so I won't feel too bad about making them into shorts this summer since there is no one to pass them down to.
margo says
My friend Rebecca told me about ripping up the side seam and I just can't bring myself to do that work yet. But you are SO RIGHT about outfitting children in clothes – the money, time, and headache of keeping track of everything. And my thoughts on those ding-dang designers is that none of them live in a practical world so they make clothes that can't be washed or dry cleaned or even worn comfortably; they live in Art, unlike the rest of us.
My daughter's jeans sprung a leak yesterday, so I think I will actually open up the seam and give it a go. I am a mender by heritage and nature, after all 🙂
_Leila says
Margo — no, I am the VERY FIRST PERSON EVER to figure this out. An internet search will confirm this. Rebecca shmebecca.
And it's just really not that much work, honestly. I thought it was and that's why I never did it, but it just isn't.
And you are more charitable than I, because I think the designers are evil, not ignorant.
Annie says
GENIUS. Thank you!
dawn says
I like your “designer jeans” much better!! I love those patched jeans. I have three little boys and someone is always blowing a hole in a knee, thank you for the tip I'm sure it will get a lot of use around here!
Mrs.B says
These look cute!
Steph says
In 24 years of parenting 9 children, there have been a lot of holes and a lot of cutoffs…now that I'm down to just a few of the youngers at home I've discovered the best way to get jeans and pants to last, especially for boys who spend a lot of time pushing trucks around on their knees, etc: The Land's End section at Sears. If you buy out of season and they are on sale, a pair of pants is no more than Walmart (sometimes less) and when a hole appears, Sears just hands me a new pair. Up here, thriftshop jeans are $6-$10 so there's no savings in using those instead. Last August I bought 10 pairs of boy pants for $198. So far, Sears has replaced 7 pairs and we've got 5 pairs to haul in there today (yes- that's 12 because they've already blown the knees on two replacement pairs). I buy the boys everything except snow boots there now.
Nadja says
Hi Leila,
an internet search may not bring up much, but I posted a link to this tutorial back in April of 2009: http://sillycondesigns.blogspot.com/2009/02/patch…
I do use this method on otherwise really great jeans, but I do feel it's a bit of work for just any old pair. Of course, my kids are all pretty young, so I have about 11.75 minutes of free time in a day…
I like the idea of using other fabrics for girls' jeans.
sarah says
Genius idea! This is going into use on the next batch of mending. I was the youngest kid in our family, always wore handmedown jeans, and always had holes in the knees. I never gave it a second thought until one friend sniffed that her mother didn't allow her or her brother to keep jeans that developed holes. That left me internally scratching my head – you could get jeans without holes in them? Really? Wow!
Betsy M says
Leila, your patching method will be tried out today in our house. My oldest, I believe, has worn a hole in every pair of jeans she has ever been given. I feel bad for her poor little sisters who are stuck with her handmedowns for ever-day wear. Now they at least will have pretty patches on their knees.
Polly says
This is great. I'm a mender-darner but have not had to tackle jeans….but since my son is nearly 4, it's just a matter of time! I had to laugh at your rant. My grandfather died in the early 70s, just before his youngest son was sent off to a prestigious 'rich kids' college. My grandmother told me how they had little money (uncle was on scholarship, of course) & she felt sort of badly sending him there with his patched jeans. Then he wrote home and told her that the other students in his dorm were wanting to BUY the jeans from him because they were 'cool.' blew my grandmother's mind!
Cheryl says
This is such a WONDERFUL idea! My family hates holes in the teenagers jeans, in fact it is a constant joke because half of them buy the jeans with holes already in them. haha But this is such a trendy and fantastic way to mend jeans with holes. It is so easy to customize the patches to what each person wants too! So cool, Thank you for sharing this!!
http://mother-daughter-communication-2011.blogspo…
Amber says
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
I've long been frustrated with iron ons and hand stitching patches. I'll have to give this a try very soon! I was beginning to wonder if the $4 consignment jeans were worth it, since they only seem to last half a season… Whereas the $10 on sale jeans from Pennys or Old Navy at least last the season… If not necessarily past that!
Thanks again!
Rachel P. says
Genius! I patch my son's jeans and have always been frustrated by the fact that the sewing machine made it such a wrestling match. I just want to share that I buy brand-new jeans for my kids when they go up a size, but they only get three pairs. When the knees blow out I take the jeans from the size down and use the back of the leg to make patches. The denim always matches and makes them look reinforced rather than patched. I will be using this seam-opening advice for certain.
Cynthia says
I needed this reminder! My 4yo just put a hole in her jeans and would love a pretty patch. And I can make some “work jeans” for dh. It is a little cold for air conditioned ones right now!
Patton says
What beautiful fabric! Thanks, Auntie Leila 🙂
JaneC says
*sigh* If only the holes in my jeans were in the knees. Unfortunately, where I wear out my jeans, patches wouldn't be so cute! Great tutorial, though. I will definitely keep it in mind next time my husband wears a hole in the knees of his jeans.
crafty p says
and here I was saving all those holey jeans to make a jean quilt. hmph. Now, I know what to do the next time I get a hole in MY jeans!
Cheryl says
I love it! I made crazy quilt patches for my daughters jeans and the girls at school cornered her asking where she bought her jeans. They said they had shopped and could not find them anywhere.
Imagine the size of my smile when she told me that. :o)
Cheryl
Lindsay says
I am finally going to try this method after, what, two years of procrastinating? We are visiting grandparents, and I'm simply out of options for keeping the 4 boys from looking like complete ragamuffins for a week short of outfitting them all in new play clothes. I haven't forgotten you, Auntie Leila. I did want to share what I've seen as a sensible way to use the iron-on patches (which, as you say, are worthless for actually patching). We got some hand-me-down jeans, and they had ironed the patches on the inside of the knees, full–sized and covering anything that might be remotely considered the knee, when the pants were brand new! It really has kept those jeans from showing wear nearly as quickly as they otherwise would, and should I be responsible and on top of things in the future, I think I will add them to all new pairs of pants as a preventative measure.
marie says
Thank you so much!!! I used to patch my 2 son's jeans by hand.
Now I have 3 Grandsons and 4 pairs of jeans sitting on my sewing table with the knees blown out :).
This is going to save so much time.
Thank You, Thank You !!!!!
marie says
Thank you so much!!! I used to patch my 2 son's jeans by hand.