Bamboo clothing and what to do about a hole or a loose seam
Short answer: Sew a loose seam straight away, before it runs further. A small hole in jersey is closed from the inside with small stitches. Both take only a few minutes and add noticeably to the life of the garment, whereas a slack waistband can rarely be saved in practice.
Sew the seam straight away
A seam that starts to come apart keeps opening with every wash, because the tumbling pulls the thread out. Sew it while the gap is small and the repair will hold, with no one able to see it. Wait, and a one centimetre gap can become a long stretch that is much harder to sew neatly. See bamboo underwear for men.
A hole in jersey
Jersey does not run like knitwear, but a hole grows with pulling, especially where the fabric stretches as you put it on. Turn the item inside out and sew the hole closed from the inside with small stitches in the same colour. Do not pull the thread too tight, so the fabric can still give. The repair will be almost invisible from the outside.
The right tools
You do not need much. A fine needle, thread in a colour close to the fabric and small scissors cover most repairs. For stretch fabrics like bamboo jersey, polyester thread is better than cotton because it gives a little. Good light and a calm moment do more for the result than expensive equipment.
A hole in a sock
A small hole in a sock can be darned, and it really does hold. Darn it with thread that resembles the yarn, weaving across the hole in both directions to form a small net. It is most worth the effort on a thick sock, where you will not feel the darn underfoot. See all bamboo socks for men.
What cannot be repaired
A slack waistband cannot realistically be replaced, because the elastic is sewn into a channel all the way round. Unpicking it and sewing in a new one takes time and a sewing machine, and the result is rarely as good as the original. Once the waistband has lost its stretch, the item is effectively done. See bamboo underwear for women.
Prevent the next holes
Most holes come from friction or from something sharp snagging the fabric. Close zips and hooks before washing so they do not catch soft fabrics. Trim toenails regularly so socks do not wear through at the toes. And turn clothes inside out to protect the surface in the machine.
Wash repaired items gently
A new seam is weaker than the original, because it is sewn by hand rather than locked like a machine seam. Wash repaired items in a laundry bag from now on and avoid high spin speeds. The repair lasts longer, and the fabric around it is not pulled out of shape. See washing and care.
When it is time for new
When the fabric has worn thin over a larger area, or new holes keep appearing beside the old ones, the effort is often no longer worth it. The fibres are worn down and the fabric will give way again. An item with a single hole and otherwise good fabric, on the other hand, is worth saving.
Frequently asked questions
Can jersey be repaired
Yes. Turn the item inside out and sew the hole closed from the inside with small stitches in the same colour. Do not pull the thread too tight.
Can a slack waistband be repaired
Not in practice. The elastic is sewn into a channel all the way round, and replacing it takes time and a sewing machine, rarely with a good result.
Does a darned sock hold
Yes, if the hole is small and the darn is woven in both directions. It is most worth doing on thick socks, where you will not feel the darn underfoot.
See our range of Copenhagen Bamboo.
