The side seam has come undone

Sep 20, 2026

Short answer: A seam that opens at the side is usually an end that was not secured, not a weak fabric. It can be closed again in a quarter of an hour and then holds as well as the rest.

Seams open from the ends

A side seam is sewn in one long run, and if the thread is not secured at the end, it unravels from the bottom. It is most often seen at the bottom of bamboo T-shirts for women. The seam therefore opens gradually, and you notice it only when there is a visible gap.

The fabric is usually whole

Look at the edge by the opening. If the fabric is whole and only the thread is gone, there is nothing wrong with the material in the bamboo sweatshirt for women. If the edge is frayed or torn, that is another matter. Check that the stitches are intact before you decide how to fix it. A quick look settles it.

How to close it

Sew from the inside with small stitches and secure both ends well. The same method is used on bamboo socks. Take a thread in the colour of the fabric and sew along the old seam. The whole job takes about a quarter of an hour, and afterwards the seam holds as well as the rest.

Secure both ends well

The ends decide whether the seam holds. Make several small stitches on top of each other at both ends, and pull the thread tight so the knot cannot slip. A loose end is exactly what made the seam open the first time. Take your time to do it properly, so you do not have to do it again.

Sew into the intact seam

Start a couple of centimetres inside the intact part of the seam, so the new thread has something that holds. Then sew across the opening and a couple of centimetres into the whole seam on the other side. That makes the transition strong, and the seam cannot unravel from the end again.

The same method for other things

The method works not only on sweaters, but on all knit with an open seam. A sleeve seam and a side seam can be closed the same way. Once you have tried it, you know how little it takes. It is a simple skill that gives the garment a longer life and saves you from discarding it.

A hand-sewn seam holds in the wash

If you wonder whether a hand-sewn seam holds in the wash, the answer is yes, if the stitches are small and the thread is secured. Turn the garment inside out in the wash, so the seam does not rub against the drum. Check after the first wash that nothing has moved.

When to contact us

If a seam opens within the first months, it is often a claim. Contact customer service and say when you bought the garment. If it opens again and again in the same place despite good securing, it is worth having it looked at. A single open seam is usually a small, easy repair.