On the Mend

Photo by Matt Bowen

I am now going to attempt to treat some of my own minor clothing injuries: fixing a ripped seam and replacing a button. I’ve found some helpful videos:

How to mend a ripped seam by hand by With Wendy
It is not entirely easy to see her stitches, but I appreciate that Wendy doesn’t use a machine (no way I have one of those lying around) and she has a very calm voice, which I need. I also have Martha Stewart’s Sewing Basics slideshow as a backup.

How to Sew a Button by Threadbanger
Looks easy to follow with written instructions as well as visuals and I like their enthusiasm.

In case DIY doesn’t work out, it is good to have a tailor you can count on. After my dry cleaner did a bad job re-hemming some pants of mine, I used Yelp.com reviews to find a tailor. I gave him a pair of pants to hem and he passed the test, no problem. I highly recommend not waiting for an emergency to find one, and giving them a non-crucial garment  to see if you like their work, how quickly they turn things around, and what they charge.

I found out about something on Lucky.com that sounds like a small miracle if you have something you don’t have time to sew: “Fashion Tape.” It sticks fabric to fabric or fabric to skin in order to hold a garment together or keep it in place against your skin. I can’t seem to find the article now, and I don’t think they mentioned a particular brand, but I have ordered Braza Flash Tape (highly rated on amazon) and I’ll let you know how it goes! Oh! And you know how sometimes you wish your pants were one length when wearing heels and another length when wearing flats? Lucky says this stuff can make that dream a reality as well.

Does anybody know some other good, quick garment fixes for absolute beginners?