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creative mending

Thought I would share this one.  We all know how to put a piece of denim under a hole in jeans and sew over that to mend it.  Well, my son has a pair of purchased cargo shorts that he ripped a hole just below the belt loop.  The problem with this was these are a very dark denim.  It looks like a black over dye on regular indigo denim.  I don't have any denim in my scrap pile that would match.  Enough of the threads were gone from the hole (guess I didn't catch it till it had been through the laundry a few times) that anything lighter would really show badly.  So!  I got creative.  

One leg has 3 pockets.  A large zippered pocket.  Then on top of that is a patch pocket with a flap.  Then on top of that is a teeny little pocket that's mostly for looks only.  (it's so small you can't put anything bigger than a key in there, and that would probably fall out.)  Well.....I got to looking and the patch pocket is big enough to fit over the free arm of my machine.   So I turned that pocket wrong side out as much as I could and cut away the fabric behind the teeny patch pocket.  (which just happened to be the Perfect size to mend the hole!!)  I carefully sewed the top of the teeny pocket closed by topstitching right along the decorative topstitching.   Doesn't show a bit.  Then serged the edges of the patch I'd just cut out and put it under the hole.  The patch job isn't perfect.  But it's sturdy, and that's way more important on pants for an 11 year old!!  lol  

Here's pictures so you can see what I'm talking about:

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thought this was worth mentioning to the group since I know there areothers that do this sort of mending all the time.  I was pretty proud ofmyself for "finding" enough fabric to make the repair.  The only problem Iforesee is that things could fall into the hole into the teeny pocket.  Buthe doesn't usually put anything smaller than his CD player in thosepockets.  (and that goes in the bigger zippered pocket.)  Too, if anythingfell into the teeny pocket through the hole, I'm pretty sure he could fishit out again.  ;)   That makes one pair of shorts for him and one pair of jeans mended for her today, along with the finish work done on a pair of cargo style capris for her.  Now I just have to clean up after myself, put a few things away....then I think it's time for a cookie and possibly a nap.  lol

Sharon H.

Reply to
mamahays
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Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thank you. ;) He's so not into frogs any more....a few years back he'd have thought that was a bang up idea!! lol Far too busy being mostly grown these days y'know...*ahem*

I gave thought to pitching them. But he's mid-growth spurt. That means he has this pair, a pair I made (that are baggy enough he wears a belt thank goodness!) 2 pairs of jungle camo print cargo shorts, and one, count 'em one pair of jeans that fit. Then he has pull on basketball type shorts that he wears on the weekends. I was informed that those are comfy, but "way too casual to wear to school, Mom." Oh--kay!! Guess he told me. lol We're OK because he has enough pants to get through the school week. But I know they aren't going to fit for much longer. I'm trying to hold off adding to the wardrobe for a few more weeks; otherwise the stuff I buy now won't fit in about a month! Not sure how big he's gonna get, but I think I'm fixin' to be the shortest one in the house. He's 11, and his shoes are size 11 (in mens, not "youth.") He's gonna be a moose I think. LOL

The cargo shorts I made him are really long. He likes them that way. (he doesn't like the baggy pants that hang down low---thank goodness!!!!) But he does like the pants roomy and the shorts long. Have to tell you, DD looked at his shorts I made and pronounced them "capris!!!" Ha!!! Didn't phase him a bit. Turned around and told her she did Not want him to start on the "dorky" outfits she wears. These are the times I think about hiding under the dining room table. LOL

I am in "preserve what fits" and "stash interesting camo prints for later" mode right now. lol

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Well, it would not have *had* to have been a frog...maybe a basketball, or mini-iPod... ;-)

I hear all that! My DGD now towers over everyone in the family, and his SHOES!!! Man, you could go to war in those things.

As long as they don't throw things, you're ok. Funny, how you just *know* they love each other, and would throw themselves in front of a bus to save the other, but the day-to-day bickering gets fearsome. :-|

Sounds like a plan, the camo will still be in style for a while I'm sure.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Good job, Sharon! Emily

Reply to
Emily Bengston

Reply to
Beth In Alaska

Thank you very much. ;) I figure on the galloping horse that he is, no one will get a chance to look too close. lol

Let me know if you need to know how to mend jeans. Trust me, it's a darned handy skill to have while raising a boy. lol

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Thank you, Emily. :)

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

You bet. Right now he grows so fast and has an embarassingly large amount of pants that we haven't had to mend anything yet, but as he gets older and has "favorite" jeans and grows slower, I know he will.

LOL, but I might need this info for my dad. He's 72 and my mother and he are fighting over the state of his jeans. She says he's too old to wear torn jeans. I personally think is hilarious.

Reply to
Beth In Alaska

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