mending

15 Quick Clothing and Shoe Repair Fixes You Should Own

Marla Walters — Tue, 12 May 2015 21:00:10 +0000

Dress shoes losing heel caps, spills, a run in a pair of pantyhose… it's a jungle out there. My office desk drawers are a testament to 30+ years of dealing with "work clothes" emergencies. People come to me for repairs. I am the Office Mom of clothing emergencies.

Over the years, I have learned how to make quick fixes inexpensively. Here are some tried-and-true fixes.

1. Pantyhose/Nylons

My number one solution is to keep a spare pair in my desk. However, sometimes even that back-up pair fails — and always right before a meeting or a presentation. Naturally! A squirt of hairspray will stop that run. If you don't have hairspray, a little clear nail polish will also do the trick. Unfortunately, both are smelly, so try to fix quickly so they have time to dry.

2. Instant Seamstress

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has borrowed my sewing kit. Aside from the needle and thread, the most often-requested item is the tape measure. This kit also contains some buttons, which are very handy, as well as small scissors.

3. Click, Clack, Busted Heel Cap

Every woman's nightmare: The doggone broken heel cap. They never break at home, do they? Always, every darn time, at work or on your way somewhere. Unless you like limping and clicking around all day (and explaining it a million times), you might want to make a very small investment in these heel caps.

4. Sole to Sole

Guys, if your shoe soles are worn out, you may save money by trying the repair yourself — and the rubber is made by Goodyear! They work on both dress shoes as well as boots.

5. Expensive Leather

It's upsetting to spend a lot of money on leather shoes only to scuff or scratch them. That is why you might try this leather repair product. You can even mix your own color. It also works on the couch, other furniture, car seats, coats, etc.

6. Sweater Saver

Ever snag a favorite sweater, and put a hole in it? Don't worry, you can fix it! What do you need? Just a simple sewing needle for a small hole, or a crochet needle for a larger one.

7. Stuck Zipper

This hint could not be cheaper. Where is that #2 pencil? First try rubbing the pencil on the zipper (the lead may lubricate it enough for it to work). If it is more complicated, check out this video for un-sticking a zipper.

8. Eyeglass Repairs

We even take our eyeglass repair kit with us on vacations — it is that handy. It can be really miserable to lose a screw in your glasses and be nowhere near an optometrist. This little eyeglass repair kit is inexpensive and easy to pack.

9. Deodorant Smudges

I seem to pull this move most of the time when I am wearing black, which is just peachy because then it really stands out. Try dampening a washcloth or towel, wring it out really well, and gently brush off the smudge. Don't use a paper towel, which will just make matters worse.

10. Pilly Sweater

Sometimes I fail to notice that my sweaters have pills. You know what I mean — the little fuzzy balls under your arms or along side seams. It looks pretty crummy. I love this sweater shaver, which gently removes those furry things and has never caused any harm to my favorite sweaters.

11. Lunch Disaster

I shouldn't be allowed to ever eat mustard, which usually ends up on me, not in me. My husband, who is a laundry wizard, bought me these nifty little stain wipes. They fit easily into my purse and will tide me over (pun intended) until the clothing can be properly washed.

12. Hem on the Loose

Raid the office supply cabinet. Got packing tape? That will hold that hem until you can get it fixed properly. Don't be tempted to get out your stapler, which will damage the fabric.

13. Lint No More

My dogs have white fur. I like to wear black. See the problem? I buy lint brushes by the three-pack, but for the office, I love these mini lint rollers that fit in my desk or tote bag.

14. Sneaker Separation

This hint isn't that quick, since your shoes will need to dry at least overnight, but it's a good one. I wear my sneakers until the bitter end, so I was disappointed when a fairly new pair started "flapping" in the soles. They were otherwise in good shape and I didn't want to part with them just yet. Shoe Goo to the rescue! My handy husband squeezed out a layer between the flapping soles and the shoes, let dry overnight, and the shoes were almost as good as new. It is also waterproof and really inexpensive. It also works on broken high heels.

15. The Last Resort

Buy assorted safety pins. Thank me later.

What are your favorite, reliable, cheap sartorial save-the-dayers?

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This article is from Marla Walters of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Basic Sewing Tricks That Will Save You Money

Ashley Marcin — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 17:00:10 +0000

You know those little sewing kits you can buy at the grocery store? They're definitely worth the money when you consider how they might save your wardrobe. Back in the day, when a button would fall off a shirt or a hem would tear, it didn't always mean buying a new shirt or pants. Instead, people repaired clothing by hand to wear for years to come. (See also: Make Your Clothes Fit Perfectly With These 10 No Sew Fixes)

Here are a few invaluable mending techniques — and specific clothing fixes — that don't require a sewing machine.

Running Stitch

The running stitch (or straight stitch) is the easiest to learn, so it's worth adding to your repertoire. This stitch is basically under and over the fabric throughout the whole line of what you're stitching. You can use it to fasten most any two pieces of fabric together with good results. Under then over, under then over.

Whip Stitch

I first became familiar with a whip stitch on Grey's Anatomy. Unfortunately, I won't be showing you how to use this skill in the human body, however useful that might be. After pinning together the fabric you plan to stitch, you drive through both and whip around the edge before come up again through the bottom at the same level where you first stitch rests. Continue until you've finished your piece, then tie off.

Tie Off

Along with stitching, it's key to know how to tie off sewing projects so they'll stay strong and secure. The maneuver reminds me of making a K-turn while driving. You'll stitch up through your fabric, then back down right next to where you started — leaving some loose thread. Then one more stitch through the back that you'll resolve back down through the loop you created to tie off into a knot before cutting free.

Sew a Button

Learning how to sew a button back onto a shirt is easy. First, thread your needle so you have a double thread to work with. Use a couple straight pins to create space for a shank. Stitching from behind your fabric, work through that first button hole and then choose either a straight or cross pattern through the button a few times before winding thread around the base to create that shank. Then, stitch to the back of your fabric again and knot to fasten.

Sew a Hem

You'll find hems on most any piece of clothing you own, so it's good to know how to sew hems up when they get loose. First, iron your hem flat back to its original allowance. Then — moving from left to right — use a catch stitch to work your way diagonally down the hem to fasten. This technique works well on most thick apparel fabrics, but you can also use a straight stitch if you're more comfortable. For a super easy fix, try iron-on hemming tape, which I've use on anything from clothing items to DIY curtains.

Sew a Hole

I get tiny holes in my clothes all the time. To sew holes shut, start by matching thread to your garment. Then knot the end of your string or fix to your fabric using a few loop stitches. Working from the top of your project, sew the hole shut by moving from one side of the hole to the other. It's actually quite intuitive, you're just closing it back up again. Tie off to finish.

Patch Jeans

You can iron a patch onto jeans to fix tears and holes, but this sewn patch alternative allows you to be more creative with fabric choices. Start by measuring your hole and cut your patch so it more than covers the area. Iron the edges of the patch so they're clean, then fix it to the jeans with straight pins. Using color thread that matches the patch, start sewing from a corner with a running stitch technique until you work your way around the entire patch. Knot to finish.

What are your go-to mending techniques? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

To Buy or Not to Buy? Criteria for Thrift-Store Clothes Shopping

Marla Walters — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:00:02 +0000

It's a lot of fun to shop at a thrift store. There are a lot of clothes that are almost great. Here are my tips for separating the "buy it" from the "leave it" items. It doesn’t matter if it is the bargain of the century, if it’s just going to sit in your closet because it needs some type of mending that you'll never get to. Here are some of the frequent problems I’ve encountered, along with my suggestions. (See also: 10 Things to Look for Every Time You Visit a Thrift Store)

Zippers

If a zipper doesn’t work, I’d leave the item behind. I find zippers to be tricky to replace, and a new zipper runs about $7.

Buttons

Missing a button? Check the inside seams of the garment. Usually, you will find a spare. If not, see if you can rob a button from the bottom of the shirt, or from a cuff, and use that in the missing button’s place. Do you have a button jar at home where you might find a match? Unless the buttons are extremely unusual, you can probably find a close replacement at a fabric store. I’d take a chance on buying it. If you don’t know how to sew on a button, here is a helpful link: How to Sew a Button

Collars

It is frustrating when the rest of the garment is in great shape, but the collar is frayed. I think these are a lot more trouble than they are worth. Leave it behind.

Stains

Unfortunately, most of them are not going to come out. In all probability, the previous owner tried hard, already. I had a friend who would always say, “I’ll just put an appliqué’ over it.” I think that works for jeans, but nothing else. In most cases, it’s pretty obvious. I’d leave it behind.

Rips

As a rule, if the threads of the fabric have been ripped, that’s a tough repair. However, if the rip is in a seam, you can probably make this repair easily if you have a sewing machine. I’d take a chance.

Holes

If the fabric has a pattern (for instance, a plaid) you can probably make this repair. For a solid fabric, it will be too obvious. Below are photos of a wool kilt, unfortunately discovered by moths. To make a similar repair, cut a piece of the fabric from the hem or a seam. Pin the “patch” piece to the inside of the garment and hand-stitch (of course using appropriate thread color).

Hems

Too long? Easy fix. Just turn up the edge and stitch. Too short? Check the existing hem. Can you let it out a little? Take a look at the line, though, that is revealed when you let down a hem. The old hemline may be too obvious. Sometimes, you can use the steam setting on your iron to get the old hemline out.

Odor

Go ahead, give it the sniff test. If there is odor, it is possible to get it out. It might take a lot of effort and multiple washings, though, so you will need to decide whether you think it will be worth your time, effort, and investment in additional laundering supplies. Because I discovered dormant body odor when I steam-ironed a cotton blouse I found, I turned my husband (a.k.a., Der Stain-meister, in our house) loose on it. He did plenty of Internet research, and tried most of the remedies sworn by online:

paste of 20 Mule Team Borax
soak in hydrogen peroxide
vinegar soak and after-wash rinse
baking soda paste
ammonia in the wash water

Many of these things seemed to help, incrementally (the 20 Mule Team Borax paste and the hydrogen peroxide soak, most notable among them). But what finally removed the last traces of body odor, even under the steam iron, was when he sprayed the armpits of the garment with a 50/50 dilution of rubbing alcohol and water, then let the blouse line-dry. He says it helps to understand that body odor is caused by bacteria, so killing bacteria without damaging the garment is the trick. Since that episode, he has seen recommendations he would like to try on the next problem garment: Cascade in the wash water, a can of Coca-Cola in the wash water (not Diet Coke), and a spray of Antibacterial Febreeze. (See also: 6 Things in Your Kitchen That Get Rid of Bad Smells Naturally)

Linings

If a coat is in otherwise good shape, you can re-line it, although it is not easy. Home sewers know the challenges (slippery fabric, tricky fit). For a price, you may find a seamstress or tailor who will take on the challenge. Be aware, though, that you may pay as much or more for a lining as you did for the entire coat.

Fit

For pants, either they fit, or they don’t. Leave them behind if they don’t. It takes an extremely skilled tailor to make a pair of pants fit properly. A dress has more possibilities. You may be able to take it in if it’s too big. Yesterday I found a sleeveless dress that is a size too big, but I could tell that taking in a half-inch on each armhole would be perfect. If something is too tight, do not play the “if I just lose five pounds” game. The odds are that the clothing will just languish your closet, taking up valuable space.

My last tip: check the washing instructions. Be realistic. I personally no longer purchase clothing that has to be dry-cleaned. I never liked items that had to be hand-washed, or “blocked,” like sweaters. If you know you will put off cleaning, and therefore wearing this item, it’s a waste of your money.

Happy hunting.

This article is from Marla Walters of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: