I really like it! I havent try reparing anything yet but i love the sub, any idea or tip would help since i have no idea how to repair it (i dont knit but do know how to sew)

hello friends! I resoled my own birkenstocks. here's how I did it.

first, I went to ebay and bought some dogbone EVA sole material. You can buy precut shoe-sized soles or get it in a sheet and cut it yourself. I found a sheet to resole my and my boyfriend's soles for (I think) $40.

next, use a heat gun to heat up the glue holding the old sole on. I used one at ~ 420°F. It's helpful if you have a big clamp or something to grip the shoe so you have 1 hand for the heat gun, 1 hand with pliers to peel the sole off as you heat it. I did burn myself so be careful. I've also heard you can put your shoes in the oven to do this but I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure how well that works. With the heat gun, I didn't need to sand anything down as all the sole material came off relatively easily with the heat.

Once the old soles are off, patch the cork. I went to goodwill and found several cork squares for a few dollars. we didn't even use half of 1 square. crumble up the cork into smaller pieces. I had one shoe where I'd worn the heel down into the cork, so I used contact cement to build it back up. slather on contact cement, sprinkle cork crumbles, poke it around with a toothpick to cover the crumbles in contact cement, let it sit for 5 min to get a little more tacky, then stab it into place with the toothpick. You can also use a hammer or something to pound the cork into place and make it a sturdier patch job.

Once your cork is resoled, time to glue your new sole material on. Cut yourself the new soles in the shape you need (doesn't need to be perfect at first) with a box cutter or long handled razorblade type thing. I'm blanking on the actual name. Spread contact cement on your new sole (flat side) and the cork of the shoe you just rebuilt. Let it sit for 5-10 min until it gets tacky, press them together and use as many clamps as possible to clamp them together for like, 20min. I've heard it suggested to hammer the sole and shoe together here as well, although I did not. When you press the shoe and sole together and the contact cement doesn't move, it's good.

Even with clamps I didn't get a perfect bond between the shoe and sole, so I used more cork and contact cement to stuff into the little holes remaining with a toothpick. Then, remove the clamps and use a blade of choice to cut the soles to the shape of the shoe. Usually this is kind of messy on the sides, so I sanded it down at the end with some sandpaper.

And that's it! I let them sit overnight before wearing them. They are comfortable and feel much more sturdy now. If anyone's interested, I can link some youtube videos that I've seen of people resoling their birks as well. Hope someone will find this useful :)

I had a small hole in my favorite sweatpants. So after a couple of YouTube tutorials (and gathering the necessary materials); I tried my hand at embroidery for the first time. I'm really happy with the result, tbh!

*Edited to add: This sub was my inspiration to even consider giving it a shot. I've been lurking awhile, appreciating all of your posts and comments. So thank you all! 🫶

Hi all, hopefully this is the right place to post this. I am looking for some tips to mend this very old cap. I would like to remove the metal stains from the back and probably also replace the metal part if feasible. Also, do you think it is worth mending the inside of the rim? It seems to me it’s probably okay as it is but I am not an expert. Thanks.

Hello! My sister made a sweater years ago that has this like glittery glue on it, it’s lasted for years but is pretty destroyed now. I’m wondering if you have any insights on what it could be? Is it just glitter glue? Or what would work best?

3 layer of fabrics, with natural indigo on top, distressed it, put a lot of sashiko innit, and overlock stitching on the edge.

My cat chewed on my favorite cardigan and I am not sure how best to mend it.

Not the prettiest but covering a chocolate ice cream stain with some flowers.

I took the denim jacket an old boyfriend was going to throw out because the collar and cuffs were hopelessly worn. I repaired them by covering them with silk material from mens' neckties from a used clothing store.

Hi! I’m not sure if this is the right subreddit to post this on, but i’m not too sure where else to go.
I purchased this skirt second hand online knowing the back patch was peeling slightly, but it arrived in much worse condition than was shown. The skirt itself fits me perfectly and I love the silhouette and shape of it, but the peeling patch is really putting me off it.

I’ve attached a picture of it below. If anyone has any idea on how to salvage this, please let me know. Would it be easy to unpick the patch without the correct tools, or would it be easier to sew another fabric over it? I’m a complete beginner by the way, but I do have a sewing machine. Thanks in advance

Hi all, I’m brand new to this r/

I would love some advice on how to repair this linen duvet cover. Damage and wear is mostly due to my cat making biscuits and zooming about. What about the spots that haven’t fully blown out yet? Appreciate any advice! Thanks!

Tale as old as time, the dog nibbled my shoes. It’s just the back bit and there’s only foam it feels like. Reckon I can just hand stitch the back? I feel like it’s just a cosmetic fix but I figured I would check here just in case someone had any nuggets of advice :)

These are made out of polyamide/polyurethane coating (?) I considered using some nitrile rubber or rubber dip for the hole. The grip seems to be some sort of coated fabric I can't figure out. These are £17 each and I use them for my wheelchair. They lasted longer than cycling gloves and are much grippier but I'd rather fix them than replace them.

My babe's pants had a hole in the knee. I planned to do a simple darn to match the polkadots but they requested a rainbow :)

My nephew has ripped his jeans in a really creative way, the rip is horizontal over the crotch. It's not obvious in the photos, but the rip also goes across the seam in one spot.

I'd like to make these wearable again, but also don't want to draw too much attention to the crotch area. Maybe I could distress other parts of the jeans to match the mended area so it isn't as obvious?

The jeans are a pretty thick rigid denim. I am a novice sewist with an okay 90s Janome.

My first thought was a patch inside and to just zig-zag stitch all over it, but I don't think my machine would handle it. Maybe if I hand wound it?

I do have access to an old industrial machine, but it's been in storage for 20 years so I would need to service it first and it only has straight stitch.

I also have a bunch of embroidery thread and some needles so could possibly do a sashiko style mend, but worried it wouldn't last long in the crotch area.

I did search the sub but couldn't find anything similar, the crotch posts seem to be mainly blow-outs whereas this is a full rip, and quite a lot of weight hangs off this area.

Would love to hear any thoughts, ideas or experience in a similar mend. Thank you!

Fixed a hole in a pair of high Converse with a denim and a patch. Not my neatest work and I kinda liked it without the patch more. But this is what my "client" wanted.

A much loved cable knit sweater with quite a lot of moth damage, repaired with colourful darning.

Looking forward to teaching some online darning workshops in the Autumn

Finally thrifted a bag I like and it starts falling apart. Anyone have any expirence with this?

I love these Steggman clogs but they’ve developed this damage. The heel is ripped along the edge of the sole and there’s a little hole in the toe.

I’m a sewist and quilter, and I don’t have much experience with wool in general. Can I stitch these with a little wool patch and needle and thread? I wear them as house shoes so I’m okay with a less clean looking mend. Thanks!

This purse is almost shredded near one strap, not quite as bad at the other. I hope to apply some patches, do some machine sewing for extra strength and then some Sashiko. And more boro in other areas just for aesthetics. I thought of dismantling it and putting it back together, but I don’t think I can due to the way the straps are attached and I don’t have a serger. Any advice on how to do this? Have you done anything similar and can show me some pics? Thank you!

Hello, and thank you for being here for me to learn from!

I have a long 1980's era, 100% wool coat (similar to the one pictured here) that clothing moths got at and I'm looking for inspiration / suggestions for what type of fix design fits the vintage vibe. Two chew spots are on the sleeve and one is on the back of the left shoulder.

Would you recommend same-color mending for a somewhat "invisible" repair to honor the original fabric more faithfully, or should I use a contrasting color for visual interest? I am a very beginner, uncreative mender and am suffering from a crisis of confidence that I will choose the wrong type of fix and end up ruining the look altogether.

Hellooo,

I'm a sewing noob but before I throw out this bag I want to try repairing it.

It has a large rip and a number of small ones, with the largest being along where the flap is attached. I think it just wore through after rubbing on my jeans etc for many years.

The bag has a lining and the outer canvas-type fabric is pretty thick so I think it would be best not to sew the layers together.

Does anyone have a genius idea on what to do with it?

I don't think a patch would work to keep the fabric together, I was thinking just a whip stitch or parachute stitch in a purple or blue thread?

Bonus question - can I use thicker embroidery thread rather than regular sewing thread for more coverage? If the aim to create a solid bar of stitching

Hello! I do repairs on stuff fairly often, so I think it’d probably be a good idea to invest in a darning loom at some point.

Mainly for clothes, but I also have a friend who’s wanting me to darn a plushie, so I’d prefer something easy to maneuver in tighter spots

Do y’all have any recommendations?

I see some cheap ones on Amazon, but I don’t know if they’re actually useable or just garbage lol. The reviews don’t seem great