Erin Eggenburg's Mending Blog — how to

Mending Project: Wide Legged Levi's & Kimono Scraps

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Mending Project: Wide Legged Levi's & Kimono Scraps

This is a pair of Levi's 569 32 X 30. The legs were so wide, I wanted to give them more of a feminine feel with the visible mending. 

Before I start any denim mend, I cut off all of the excess strings and fluff, leaving a clean denim edge. This often makes the rips appear much larger, so make sure not to cut your patches until you have cut away all of the damaged denim. 

After cutting off all of the excess, I cut patches 1/2"- 3/4"  larger than the hole you are repairing. Then, secure the patch by pinning all the way around the hole. 

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A Mending Story of Unmentionable Areas (Upper Thigh Denim Repair)

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A Mending Story of Unmentionable Areas (Upper Thigh Denim Repair)

I teach workshops on visible mending regularly, and by far, the most requested mend is the dreaded crotch repair. 

If you are like me, jeans are my favorite article of clothing to wear. And a well fitting pair of jeans is magic, and also tragic when they are in need of repair. And it seems that the upper thigh/crotch area is the first to go. 

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Visible Mending and Whimsical Patching

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Visible Mending and Whimsical Patching

A visible mending project, demonstrating several patching options for stained and torn denim. Read on for tips on stitching a patching by hand.

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Simple Denim Repair with Visible Mending

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Simple Denim Repair with Visible Mending

Repairing denim with underpatching. This type of mending will work for both small and large holes. It's a simple and fast way to patch jeans with denim patches and hand stitching. 

All you need for this type of denim repair is some extra denim, thread, and a needle. Simple, quick, and a sturdy repair. 

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Repairing Jeans with Oversize Knee Patches and Sashiko Stitching

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Repairing Jeans with Oversize Knee Patches and Sashiko Stitching

This pair of Carhartt jeans was weak in the knees. I added some oversize patches with sashiko style stitching to repair and give this pair of jeans new life.

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