How to Fix a Hole in Jeans Without Mending

Learn how to fix a hole in jeans without mending. This is great for coverage behind holes without sacrificing the destroyed look.

Sometimes you wear out a pair of jeans until it has holes. Sometimes you buy jeans to look a certain way that has holes and frayed sections.

If you like the destroyed look, but you still want coverage behind the holes then this is an easier sewing tutorial that adds fabric without mending the hole!

I don’t go into a lot of detail with this mending tutorial. If you want a more in depth tutorial, you can get the basics from mending a hole in jeans. Then come back a chose one of these mending variations!

Learn how to sew on a patch to fix holes or to add an embroidered patch for details.

If you are learning about working with jeans, you can learn how to hem jeans with the original hem.

How to Fix a Hole in Jeans Without Mending

supplies

• Jeans with a hole
• Matching all-purpose thread (jeans lean more towards gray so pick a blue gray)
• Scraps of heavy fabric like denim or canvas
• Double sided fusible adhesive*
• Sewing tools
• Sewing machine

Start by cutting a rectangle piece of denim or canvas that is 1 inch bigger than the hole on all sides.

Finish the edges with a serger or zigzag stitch.

Cut pieces of double sided fusible adhesive into strips. Iron pieces onto the patch around the outside edge. Leave the middle free of adhesive. They should be placed on the RIGHT side of the fabric.

Peel of the paper backing. Fuse the patch over the hole with the center centered over the hole. Pin patch in place after fusing.

From the inside sew a perimeter stitch around the patch 1/8 inch from the edge. From the outside sew a perimeter stitch around the hole.

These two stitches will kep the patch in place and will keep the fabric strong, but the stitching is essentially invisible.

How to Mend a Hole in Jeans With Minimal Mending

Instead of doing a filled in mending stitch match the color of the topstitching and sew a large zigzag.

supplies

• Jeans with a hole
• Matching all-purpose thread (jeans lean more towards gray so pick a blue gray)
• Scraps of heavy fabric like denim or canvas
• Double sided fusible adhesive*
• Sewing tools
• Sewing machine

Start by cutting a rectangle piece of denim or canvas that is 1 inch bigger than the hole on all sides.

Finish the edges with a serger or zigzag stitch.

Cut pieces of double sided fusible adhesive into strips. Iron pieces onto the patch around the outside edge. Leave the middle free of adhesive.

Peel of the paper backing. Fuse the patch over the hole with the center centered over the hole. Pin patch in place after fusing.

From the inside sew a perimeter stitch around the patch 1/8 inch from the edge.

Put thread in that matches the topstitching like white or tan. From the outside sew a large zigzag across the hole. This stitch keeps the center of the patch in place and gives it a little strength, but it doesn’t really cover up the hole.

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!