How to repair denim

Denim jeans and jackets are timeless pieces of clothing that suit plenty of styles and go with most outfits. Despite it’s durability, over time you can end up with holes in your jeans and jackets, especially if it’s one of your go-to pieces to wear! So, how can you repair denim yourself? In this article we’ll take you through it.

You’ll need:

- A needle and thread

- Scissors

- Safety pins

- Denim fabric (optional)

- Sewing machine (optional)

Denim is a material that can be hard to patch. The reason for this is because it’s is often very thick and stiff, which makes it difficult to sew. To make it easier to repair, use a needle with a very short point. This will allow you to get through the fabric much easier.

One way to fix a hole in denim jeans is by using the "needle-turn" technique. This technique requires you to cut away any excess fabric around the hole before sewing it back together again with an overcast stitch or blind stitch.

With lots of wear comes plenty of chances to get all kinds of stains on your clothes. Although most light marks will come out with a regular machine wash, some stains can be a bit tougher. Anything from oil and grease to permanent markers and paint can make its way on to your denim and they’re all a bit harder to clean off.

The problem with these it that they’re usually oil-based and are not soluble in water, so you may need something extra mixed in to have a better chance of cleaning the stain.

So, how do you remove these marks from denim?

Firstly, it’s important to try cleaning your clothing sooner rather than later, as the longer you leave it, the longer the stain has to set in to the fabric. Don’t try to clean or rinse it with water just yet; blot the oil-based stain with a paper towel, then try out some of these combinations for cleaning:

Mix some rubbing alcohol with water and soak the cotton ball or cloth in it. Rub the material on the denim until all of the stain disappears. You can then wash your garment normally to remove any residue left behind by the alcohol mixture.

Dabbing some white vinegar onto the stain can help to remove it, especially with older stains that are more set in. This should also get rid of any smells that clothing may have picked up once it’s dried.

Try a few drops of this one the stain, add a little bit of water, and give it a gentle scrub with some cloth. After giving it a good clean like this, wash the clothing as normal.

This can work wonders if you’ve split red wine on your denim. Pour some white wine on the stain before cleaning the clothing in the washing machine as normal. The wines neutralise each other so this can be very effective! If this doesn’t work, putting some table salt on the stain for about five minutes before scrubbing with cold water and a cloth can do the trick.

You can find all kinds of vintage denim clothes right here at Messina Hembry. From classic Levi’s jeans to jackets from a huge range of brands, there’s something for everyone in our men’s, women’s and kid’s collections. Every item of clothing that we sell has been checked for quality and authenticity, so browse our shop today to find your perfect denim!