Darning an L-shaped tear following 1954 mending instructions! (well, almost anyway!)

Watch me make this sneaky (trying to be invisible) mend! I have a huge L-shaped tear that I need to mend and I used instructions from my fav vintage sewing book on mending and I talk you through how I modified it to suit the garment!

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// WHAT TO WATCH NEXT:

MENDING CLOTHES… HOW TO KNOW WHAT TO DO to fix your clothes! Should I darn or should I patch?

HOW TO DARN A HOLE IN CLOTHES... Using a 1954 vintage sewing tutorial!

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REMOVE THE 5 MOST COMMON SEWING BARRIERS, so you can actually get yourself in front of the machine!

4 Sewing things NOT to copy from experienced sewist!

5 sewing 'hacks' that will ACTUALLY make your sewing life better!

3 MUST-HAVE INGREDIENTS TO ANY SUCCESSFUL SEWING JOURNEY, and your own success learning to sew!

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Until next time
Evelyn

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#evelynwood #learntosew #mending

[Evelyn__Wood]

I hope you enjoyed watching the process!

[odetteboudreau]

That is definitely a win! Well done. Years ago, a mend in your clothing was embarassing. It meant your family was too poor to buy new clothes. Hand me downs were common but the mends had to be extremely well hidden to avoid embarrassment. What a motivation for perfecting one's needlework skills. But now, I think anyone who carefully repairs a small tear to get the longest wear possible out of a garment should consider it a badge of honour. I wouldn't mind one bit if a mend shows a little bit, I would be proud of it and i think all the lovely sewists out there would agree. 😊

[traceybradshaw]

I used to love machine darning - I would do at least 3 garments a day when I worked doing repairs and alterations and often prided myself on how invisible I was able to get them. A good range of thread colours did help! It’s rare for me to do it these days - maybe twice a year!
I’ve recently had 2 large scores of threads - one when I purchased the whole thread, fabric and haberdashery collection of a lady who had sewn and hand embroidered for over 30 years, all beautifully sorted and organised. Then last week at a garage sale I bought 2 big ice cream tubs full (over 100 reels) of thread (many brand new reels of Gutermann, Coats, Mettler and similar brands) for $10. Adding that to what I already own, I don’t think I will ever need to buy thread again.

[mauimarianne]

I was so disappointed my cotton sleep gown got a tear. Now I’m grateful as it’s allowed me to discover you here on YouTube! Following! 😊

[lizhumble]

This is so excellently timed! My husband has an L tear in a nice wool Pendleton over-shirt, and just today I was thinking of a way to mend it.

[cgjok]

There's something so satisfying about completing a good mend.

[robintheparttimesewer]

Nice it looks great! My sewing machine has a mending stitch, so that’s the only thing I would have done differently.

My oldest boy was professional at holes! The repair I’m most proud of was a large L shaped hole in his winter coat! It was on nylon behind the pocket. I fray checked it, did a hand darn. Then with a cheap polar fleece cut a piece that went from the top of the pocket opening to the side seam carefully placing it to give the illusion that it carried on into the pockets. I did that on both sides and add a bit of fleece to the caller to make it look like it was all tied in and original. With all the holes he made I got very good at mending and patching artistically so that he didn’t look like everything he owned was repaired! Though truthfully everything he wore was repaired!! That boy was a trial even if my mending skills levelled up! I’m really glad his son isn’t taking after his father! I’m sure I could figure it all out again but it’s nice not having too!

[mauimarianne]

It looks great! So nice to see the item not thrown out.
It reminds me of the Japanese concept about restoring broken pottery. Your repair is a statement about care and skill.

[janecampbell]

That patch looks pretty good. Over the years I have spent hours mending. I often wondered why the tear was L shaped. Well done!
I must say your sewing room is looking pretty good. I love your matching machine covers!

[lynnshepard]

I’m working on hand mending a wool & cashmere sweater for a neighbor. It’s a heathered grey that’s been damaged by moths. I did end up having to go out looking for the proper shades of blue/grey #8 pearle cotton to use because the first hole I used what I had; it just wasn’t quite right. I know how precious this sweater is to him. 💕 There are So.Many.Holes.!

[The_momur]

Brilliant. Very succinct instructions. I’ve restored so many of the old man’s jeans. He is big and tall so his mass produced clothing is inexplicably overpriced and more difficult to source. I always mend before washing because washing before repairing just invites more preventable fray into the job, at least with Jean denim.

[conqueringmountscrapmorewi]

After a fun filled day in my sewing room, I get to sit with my hand quilting and watch you! You are so talented! Thank you for posting this video!

[kathibarnard]

So funny. I have a tan gingham comforter that the grandkids tore an "L" shaped hole in just a month or so after I purchased it last summer. I look at it and think how am I going to fix that? Now I know! Thank you so mucn!

[bludeetu]

I felt your frustration with not having the correct colours to do the darning. I am forever darning other folks cloths. My trick is that if I can't find the right colour, I get close. Then I use textile pens to shade in the areas that stand out. Once heat set, the inks are permanent. Love your channel! So many good tips and tricks!

[evelyneca]

Aah so perfect! I just happened to have an L shaped tear in my pillowcase and didn't know what to do with it. Mended it just now! I'm so happy! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[rebekahslyter]

I inherited a wool plaid button-up from my Grandfather, that I wear as a light coat and it has an L-tear. It looks like my Grandmother did the fusible interfacing but not the stitches. It came apart the other day so this video was perfectly timed!

[cynthiasloan]

My daughter just asked me to mend a fitted linen sheet with a large L-shaped tear! Your timing couldn't be better. Oh, and I wouldn't have gone out for different thread for a work shirt. Your darn looks great

[margiecook]

Thank you for sharing this technique. I was taught to do this by hand, but learned how on the sewing machine when my boys were little. Jeans were much harder to make almost invisible by hand. The sewing machine makes a much smaller stitch than I can. Thank you again.

[yvonnejrichards]

Glad I'm not the only one who uses interfacing to back tears. I would have got threads to match.

[heatherbaker]

I would probably have tried to buy the exact colored threads first. I do have aqua, but I'm a Californian.
I love it when you teach us these things.