Best way to repair cashmere? - YouLookFab Forum

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Best way to repair cashmere?

Gigi

Veteran

A hole has developed on the inside arm of one of my cashmere sweaters. It is quite small, about 1/4" x 1/16". I see various suggestions online about how to repair holes, but it's quite overwhelming for this sewing novice! (I'm not very good at anything requiring sewing. I can barely sew a button on.) The cashmere is cheap--I got it for about $35 last season--and it is already pilling, but I do like the shape and color of the sweater and would like to save it if it's not too expensive. Any ideas on the best way to fix the hole?

General

15 replies

Latest reply was from Chiara

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I used to take mine to my seamstress and she could do invisible (sort of) mending on it. If I had any of the yarn from the sweater, so much the better (companies sometimes give you a little bit of thread when you buy) -- but even if I couldn't supply that, she could do an ok job assuming it was not front and centre. I have several mended sweaters.

nuancedream

Veteran

Gigi, this article may help you. The repair doesn't sound like it's difficult and DIY is far less expensive than sending the sweater to a textile weaver. I've had some success in DIY repair on cashmere, but the hole was small and on a sleeve.

https://www.beesandbubbles.com.....re-sweater

bj1111

Veteran

Sashiko —visible repair techniques https://spinoffmagazine.com/vi.....-know-sew/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/w.....n-movement

Kintsugi ceramic repair techniques have been applied to clothing. Repairs are done in gold thread to make the repair a feature

Also see https://www.woolfiller.com/

Cee

Veteran

I've taken them to a tailor/seamstress with good results.

LAR101

You might have a 'reweaving studio' close by.
Search online

Chiara

I recently taught myself to darn- it really is not that difficult, and I have now saved so many socks!
I came across this website in researching how to darn and mend- it may not be what you want for this sweater, but lovely to know about anyways.
https://www.sewingsmith.co.uk/

Staysfit

Veteran

It may seem like a daunting task, but it should be fairly simple. Sometimes there is some extra yarn along the seams, enough to use for a repair, if not, I have made use of close enough yarn from other sweaters that come with some extra. I save it all in a shoebox....categorized by color.....

Liz

Veteran

Like Staysfit said, this should be fairly simple. To get comfortable darning it, practice first on an old sock -- snip a few holes in it if you need to.

SarahD8

Veteran

I've done this a bunch of times. Won't claim the result is perfect (I could probably make it better if I were more diligent/careful) but it's totally serviceable.

My advice is to place one hand behind the hole and sort of gently spread (not stretch) it out as you sew with the other hand. This will make it easier to see the true contours of the hole and weave the thread through in an effective way.

Also, when you pull the edges of the hole together be gentle -- don't pull too tight or you'll get puckering.

Minaminu

Veteran

I am sorry, my sewing skills are very limited. I have added this thread to my favourites as the suggestions are very good!!!!

Style Fan

Veteran

I have also added this thread to my favourites. I have a well-loved cashmere sweater that has a small hole front and centre. My sewing skills are okay, but not that okay. Lots of great suggestions.

Gigi

Veteran

Thank you for all the suggestions! I checked the sweater, and there is no additional yarn supplied (no surprise considering the $35 price tag!). I'm not sure how to get any out of the seams, which have been serged. I'm not sure I have any suitable yarn. I have some quilting 100% cotton thread that's not too bad of a color match. Would this work?

JAileen

Veteran

I repaired a cashmere sweater using regular sewing thread. I picked up loose stitches from above and below, and kind of wove them together. The key was not pulling them too tight, so the mended area was completely flat and a bit lax.

Chiara

To draw the hole closed, potentially creating a little pucker, cotton thread will be fine.
If you want to darn, which is where you stabilise the hole and weave a new surface (so this means no puckering, but potentially you’ll see colour/texture difference) then something like a wool crewel embroidery yarn should work.

Chiara

Wanted to add- I recently took a much loved cashmere jumper (which is at least 15 years old, and was very expensive when I bought it) to a professional dressmaker, to repair holes in the elbows. She did a wonderful job, patching, and I love wearing the jumper, I get a real buzz by knowing that I’ve got a few more years out it!