DIY

HOW TO REPAIR A HOLE IN THE BACK POCKET OF YOUR JEANS

DIYS
November 2020

REPAIR HOLE IN DENIM WITH NEEDLE AND THREADREPAIR HOLE IN DENIM WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD

Has the back pocket of your favorite jeans developed a hole from years of faithfully housing your wallet and keys? Has your once-trusty pocket become the Bermuda Triangle of coins and chapstick? Fret not! Repairing that hole is easy and all it takes is some common objects you probably have lying around the house.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Needle

Thread

Scissors

Fabric for the patch (we wear repairs as badges of honor and recommend something that’ll stand out, but you can go for something more subtle)

Straight pins

And of course, the jeans that need repairing

supplies and denim jean with hole close up

STEP ONE

Trim around the edge of the hole.

scissors trimming hole on denim jeans

STEP TWO

Cut the fabric into a patch. It’s okay if it skews large—you can always trim it again.

cutting fabric into a patch

STEP THREE

Place the patch inside the back pocket.

patch being placed inside of pocket

STEP FOUR

Pin the patch into place, making sure the pins only catch the outer pocket fabric and the patch fabric.

pin patch into place

STEP FIVE

Thread both ends of the thread through a needle, leaving a loop on one side.

threading with a needle

STEP SIX

Anchor the stitch in the denim of the pocket.

pulling thread through hole close up

STEP SEVEN

Stitch around the hole with a zig zag pattern by alternating between stitching outside the hole and into the patch, making sure to always sew through the patch fabric.

stitching hole with thread and needle gif

There you have it! You’ve just successfully repaired your first hole. It’s not good as new—it’s good as used, which is even better.

For more DIY projects, check out our Tailor Tutorial series.