How to Easily Repair a Tear in a Knitted Sweater at Home, by Sunny TV on YouTube. 3 min 34 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 34 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Turn the jumper inside out and lay the torn area flat. Push the edges of the hole gently together so the knit lines up again.
Thread the needle with yarn the same colour as the jumper. Cut a length about as long as your forearm and tie a small knot at one end.
Slide a darning mushroom or a smooth round object under the hole. This holds the fabric flat and stops you sewing through the back of the jumper.
Start a few centimetres to one side of the hole and work small running stitches across the gap. Keep the stitches in line with the knitted rows.
Work back and forth across the hole in parallel lines until you cover it. Keep the yarn loose so the repair can stretch with the knit.
Turn the work and weave the needle over and under the lines you just made, running the other way. This fills the gap like a small woven patch.
Finish a few centimetres past the hole and tie off on the inside. Trim the yarn, leaving a short tail.
Turn the jumper right side out and stretch the repair gently. Check that the hole is closed and the stitches sit flat.
Tips and common mistakes
Use yarn the same colour as the jumper so the repair blends in, even though a contrasting colour is easier to see while learning.
Keep your stitches loose. Tight darning pulls the knit out of shape and makes the repair pucker.
For a large hole, darn a few rows at a time and check the fit before you fill the whole gap.
Wash the jumper by hand after darning and dry it flat so the repair does not shrink or stretch.
Questions
Can I fix a hole without matching yarn?
Yes, but a close match hides the repair best. If you have no matching yarn, use a thin thread in a similar shade and keep the stitches small.
Do I need a darning mushroom?
No. A light bulb, a smooth jar or even your hand under the fabric works. The aim is just to keep the area flat and stop the needle catching the back layer.
Will the repair show?
A neat darn in matching yarn is barely visible from a distance. Up close you will see the woven patch, but it keeps the jumper wearable.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
