Checklist when you get a hole

Short answer: Check first where the hole is and how big it is. A small hole in a seam can be sewn with ordinary thread, but a hole in the middle of a knit fabric grows with every wear and should be mended straight away.

Find the hole and look closely

Lay the garment flat on a table in good light and turn it inside out. You will see whether the hole sits in a seam or in the fabric itself, and whether there are other small holes nearby. Feel the fabric around it too. If it is firm, there is something to work with. If it is thin, it is a different story.

A hole in a seam can be sewn

A seam that has come open is the easiest repair there is. The fabric is whole, only the thread has snapped. Sew along the old seam with small stitches and thread in a matching colour, and secure both ends well. On a pair of bamboo sweatpants for women the repair is hardly visible afterwards.

A hole in the fabric grows

A knit fabric is made of loops linked in long rows. When a single loop breaks, the loops next to it start to run, and the hole gets larger every time the garment is worn or washed. That makes a hole in the fabric more urgent than one in a seam. On a bamboo sweatshirt for women it often happens at the elbow.

Mend it straight away

A one centimetre hole is far easier to close than a five centimetre one. The sooner you start, the fewer loops you need to catch and the less visible the repair. Put the garment aside until the hole is closed. This matters most for clothes you wear often, such as a bamboo jogging suit.

Hold the loops in place for now

If you have no time to sew right away, you can still stop the hole from growing. A few stitches around the edge with needle and thread keep the loops in place until you can make a proper repair. It takes a minute and makes the later mending much easier.

Do not wash an open hole

A washing machine pulls and twists the fabric, which is exactly what makes loose loops run. Close the hole or secure the loops before the garment goes in the wash. Wash it inside out and use a laundry bag for repaired pieces, so the seam is not strained more than needed.

Choose thread and stitches with care

Use a fine thread in a colour close to the fabric. Knit stretches, so the stitches need some give too. Sew small, slightly loose stitches rather than tight ones, or the repair will pull on the fabric and create a new weak spot beside it. Stretch the fabric gently afterwards to check that it holds.

When it is not worth it

If the fabric around the hole is worn thin, a repair rarely lasts. The thread finds nothing to grip, and a new hole appears right next to it. Hold the fabric up to the light. If you can see through it in several places, the garment is done as clothing. It can still serve at home or as a cleaning cloth.

Frequently asked questions

Can a hole in knitwear be repaired

Yes, if you are quick. A small hole can be sewn shut, but knit fabric runs and the hole grows with every wear, so the sooner you sew, the better the result.

What is easiest to repair

A seam that has come open. It can be sewn again with ordinary thread, and the repair is hardly visible afterwards because the fabric itself is whole.

When is it not worth repairing

When the fabric around the hole is worn thin. Then the repair will not hold, and a new hole appears right next to the one you just closed.