I have this blue sweater I just love, even though it’s old and getting pilled and some of the buttons are falling off. I recently noticed some holes in the elbows too! But I’m not willing to go down without a fight, so I decided to repair it. Rather than try to do a subtle repair that would match, I decided to have some fun with it with some contrasting floral fabric and a blanket stitched edging. Give it a try on your own damaged sweaters–or even on a sweater that’s intact, just for fun.
You Will Need:
• Sweater
• Fusible adhesive, such as HeatnBond Lite
• Teeshirt or jersey scraps
• Embroidery floss and needle
• Sewing machine
Start off by ironing the fusible adhesive to the wrong side of your jersey (or other stretchy fabric). Grab a coffee cup and trace out two circles onto the paper backing, making sure to choose a cup that will give you a circle large enough to cover up your sweater’s holes. Cut the circles out and peel off the paper backing.
Try your sweater on to double-check where your elbows are when you actually wear it. Place the jersey circles over these spots, adhesive side-down (you can pin them if you need to, or you can mark the spots with a washable fabric marker). Iron to fuse layers together according to manufacturer’s directions. For extra security, you may choose to stitch around the perimeter of the circle using a straight stitch and coordinating thread. Finish off your elbow patches by stitching all around the edges with a blanket stitch (I used three strands of floss when stitching mine). The blanket stitch is very easy to do and is a great way to embellish the edges of patches and appliqués, Primrose Design has a great tutorial here. Wear and enjoy!
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