How to mend a small hole in bamboo clothing
Short answer: A small hole is easiest to close with a few stitches from the inside while it is still small. If you wait, the stitches run, and the repair becomes bigger and more visible.
Act early
A hole of a few millimetres can usually be closed so it barely shows. A hole of a centimetre is harder, because the stitches around it have already started to run. Check your clothes when you fold them after washing, and you will catch small holes before they grow.
What you need
A thin sewing needle, thread matching the fabric and a pair of scissors are enough. Polyester thread is strong and easy to work with, but cotton thread works too. If you do not have the right colour, choose a shade slightly darker than the fabric, since it stands out least.
Sew from the inside
Turn the garment inside out and draw the edges together with small stitches in a matching colour. Start a few millimetres before the hole and finish a few millimetres after, so the weak stitches around it are caught too. Do not pull tight, or the fabric will pucker.
Keep the fabric slightly stretched
Jersey is elastic, and the repair needs to be as well. Place the hole over a cup, a darning egg or a glass so the fabric stays slightly stretched while you sew. That stops you sewing too tightly, and the seam can stretch with the rest of the fabric when the garment is worn.
For socks
Holes in socks usually appear at the toe and heel, where wear and pressure are greatest. Here you can darn the hole with a small grid of stitches back and forth. Read also how to avoid holes in your socks.
For underwear
If a hole opens in a seam, it is usually the thread and not the fabric that has gone. It can be resewn with small stitches along the old seam, ideally with a little stretch in it. If the fabric beside it has torn, patch it like any other jersey. See bamboo underwear for men.
When it is not worth it
If the fabric has worn thin all the way round, a new hole will appear right next to the old one, however neatly you sew. Hold the fabric up to the light. If you can see through it in several places, the item is worn out, and your time is better spent finding a new one.
Prevention
Most holes start where the fabric is stretched or exposed to friction. A size that fits lasts longer than one that is too tight. Trim your toenails so socks do not wear from the inside, and take off jewellery before pulling thin items over your head.
After the repair
Wash the repaired garment as usual, but preferably in a laundry bag the first few times so the new seam does not catch. Check the spot after a few washes. If the seam holds, the repair has worked and the item can be worn for a long time yet.
General care
Clothes that are washed gently get fewer holes. Wash at 40 degrees or lower, skip fabric softener and the tumble dryer, and hang clothes to dry. The rest of the rules are in the washing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can bamboo viscose be mended?
Yes. It is sewn like any other jersey, ideally from the inside with small stitches and thread in the same colour. Keep the fabric slightly stretched so the seam can give afterwards.
When is mending not worth it?
When the fabric has worn thin all the way round. A new hole will then appear right next to it, and the item is worn out even if you mend the first one.
What thread should I use?
A thin polyester thread in the same colour as the fabric is a good choice. If you do not have the right colour, pick a shade slightly darker than the fabric.
See our range of Copenhagen Bamboo.
