Difficulty

Easy

Steps

9

Time Required

                          10 - 15 minutes

Sections

1

  • How to Repair a Torn Seam in your Patagonia Clothing
  • 9 steps

Flags

Worn Wear

Patagonia and iFixit are celebrating the stories we wear by collaborating to provide guides for Patagonia’s most popular apparel repairs.

  • BackPatagonia Clothing

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              How to Repair a Torn Seam in your Patagonia Clothing
  • Examine the damaged seam in your garment, checking for tears and removing any loose threads.

Examine the damaged seam in your garment, checking for tears and removing any loose threads.

1024

Step 2

  • Flatten out the garment around the torn seam, and align the fabric where the seam used to be.
  • Pin the two layers together. Be sure to catch only the two layers of fabric you wish to sew back together.

Flatten out the garment around the torn seam, and align the fabric where the seam used to be.

Pin the two layers together. Be sure to catch only the two layers of fabric you wish to sew back together.

Step 3

  • Open the garment as much as possible, laying the seam flat.
  • Check your alignment and make sure the two edges of your fabric line up.
  • Put the garment in the machine, starting a few inches before the torn seam to overlap with the stitches.
  • Drop the presser foot. Align the first line of stitches with the needle.

Open the garment as much as possible, laying the seam flat.

Check your alignment and make sure the two edges of your fabric line up.

Put the garment in the machine, starting a few inches before the torn seam to overlap with the stitches.

Drop the presser foot. Align the first line of stitches with the needle.

Step 4

  • Use the balance wheel to sink the needle into the fabric.
  • Only turn the balance wheel in the direction that advances the machine. Turning the wheel the opposite direction can cause tangling or ruin the tension on the machine.

Use the balance wheel to sink the needle into the fabric.

Only turn the balance wheel in the direction that advances the machine. Turning the wheel the opposite direction can cause tangling or ruin the tension on the machine.

Step 5

  • Sew along the first line of stitches, removing the pins before you get to them.
  • If you run over the pins, you risk breaking your needle.

Sew along the first line of stitches, removing the pins before you get to them.

If you run over the pins, you risk breaking your needle.

Step 6

  • When you come to the end of the row of stitches, engage the backstitch function of your machine. Backstitching prevents the seam from unraveling.
  • Backstitch functions vary widely between machines and can come in the form of buttons, levers, and knobs. See your sewing machine manual for instructions on your backstitch function.
  • Depress the pedal slowly. Sew two or three stitches backwards. Release the pedal and disengage the backstitch function.

When you come to the end of the row of stitches, engage the backstitch function of your machine. Backstitching prevents the seam from unraveling.

Backstitch functions vary widely between machines and can come in the form of buttons, levers, and knobs. See your sewing machine manual for instructions on your backstitch function.

Depress the pedal slowly. Sew two or three stitches backwards. Release the pedal and disengage the backstitch function.

Step 7

  • After you’ve completely sewn over the torn seam, clip the threads and free the garment from the machine.

After you’ve completely sewn over the torn seam, clip the threads and free the garment from the machine.

Step 8

  • Some clothes have two rows of stitching, If your garment does, reposition it in the sewing machine. Drop the needle into the second line of stitches at about where you began sewing your previous seam.
  • Repeat steps 3-7 of this guide to resew the second line of stitches.
  • You do not need to pin this seam, because the first seam will hold the garment in place.
  • If your garment only has a single line of stitches, skip this step and proceed to the next step.

Some clothes have two rows of stitching, If your garment does, reposition it in the sewing machine. Drop the needle into the second line of stitches at about where you began sewing your previous seam.

Repeat steps 3-7 of this guide to resew the second line of stitches.

You do not need to pin this seam, because the first seam will hold the garment in place.

If your garment only has a single line of stitches, skip this step and proceed to the next step.

Step 9

  • Check that your stitches are straight and secure.
  • Admire your work.

Check that your stitches are straight and secure.

Admire your work.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      2 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 2 other contributors 


                    Brittany McCrigler

Member since: 03/05/2012

87,796 Reputation

                                      132 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       48







                                                        +45 more badges

AMY - Nov 26, 2013

Reply

You will want to put the pins in (if possible to catch all layers) perpendicular to the seam you are sewing. Then you can sew right over them without breaking your needle. Plus you will not poke yourself as they come at you in the line of travel!