The collection

Mending and Alterations

Practical repairs and fitting changes that extend the life of clothing, from darning holes and sewing on buttons to hemming and deciding what is worth fixing.

Checklist for deciding whether a garment is worth mending

A damaged favorite is worth mending when the fabric around the damage is sound, the repair suits the garment and the time involved is reasonable. This checklist shows how to judge.

Mending and Alterations

Darning a small hole in a knitted garment

Darning closes a small hole in a sweater with matching yarn. Choose a woven darn for strength or Swiss darning for a discreet finish, and learn how to set up each one.

Mending and Alterations

Hand or machine hemming for trousers, compared

Hand and machine hems both finish trouser legs well, but they differ in time, flexibility and how easily the length can be changed later, so the choice depends on the fabric.

Mending and Alterations

Patching a worn knee from the inside

A patch stitched behind a worn trouser knee is mostly out of sight, and matching the fabric weight and grain keeps the repair comfortable and flat.

Mending and Alterations

Sewing on a button that stays secure

Strong thread, a thread shank that lets the button clear the fabric and a secure knot on the reverse keep a sewn-on button attached through regular wear.

Mending and Alterations

What to know before altering a garment

Before you take in or let out a garment, check the seam allowances, the fabric and construction, how the garment fits now and whether a tailor would serve the job better.