reparation
Repair or buy new
Short answer: Repair if the rest of the garment has at least a year left and the repair takes under half an hour. Oth...
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Why tape on clothes always ends badly
Short answer: The glue works its way into the fibres and stays after the tape is removed. The result is a sticky mark...
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What a safety pin can and cannot do
Short answer: It can hold something together for hours. It cannot replace a seam, and it leaves holes in the fabric i...
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Emergency repairs when you are out
Short answer: A safety pin, a strip of tape on the wrong side or a staple solves almost anything until you get home. ...
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What you can repair with no sewing machine at all
Short answer: A needle, thread and scissors cover most things: buttons, holes, seams that have split, elastic and hem...
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Sewing machine or hand for a small repair
Short answer: Under ten centimetres, hand sewing is usually quicker, because you skip setting up the machine. Over te...
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Why zigzag works and straight stitch does not
Short answer: A zigzag lays more thread over the same distance. That extra thread is the reserve the fabric uses when...
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Which stitch works in knitted fabric
Short answer: Use zigzag or a stitch with built-in stretch on knitted fabric. Straight stitches break the first time ...
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How to choose the right needle
Short answer: For knitted fabric use a needle with a round point, and for woven fabric a needle with a sharp point. T...
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How to choose the right thread
Short answer: The thread should be slightly weaker than the fabric. If it is stronger, it tears the fabric instead of...
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When a visible repair is better
Short answer: A visible patch lasts longer than an invisible one, because it can be sewn from the right side all the ...
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How to make a repair invisible
Short answer: Sew from the wrong side, use thread in exactly the same colour and follow the fabric's own lines. Those...
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