Patching - A Hemmed Patch

Patching

A quicker and more durable method would be to fill in the hole with a separate piece of material, called a patch. The patch should always be of the same material as the dress. Sometimes it is necessary to cut a piece from the under side of the hem or in seams in order to obtain a patch to match. If the material is washable and has faded, the patch should be faded to correspond. This may be done by washing it in hot soapsuds to which a little baking soda has been added. Rinse well and dry in the sun. In setting a patch the grain or threads of the material should match those in the garment. If the material is figured the pattern should match perfectly when the patch is completed.

A Hemmed Patch

A hemmed patch is generally used on articles that are laundered frequently, as it is probably the most durable type. To make it, trim off the edges along one thread of the material, making the hold either square or rectangular in shape. Cut the piece of material to be used for the patch about an inch larger on all sides than the hold, after the edges have been straightened.

Pin the patch in place with the right side of patch to the wrong side of the garment, so that it covers the hole and extends the same distance beyond the opening on all edged and with the pattern or threads matching. Baste in place.

Clip each corner of the hole diagonally about ¼ inch, or the width to be turned under. Turn the raw edge under about ¼ inch and baste in place.

To finish the edge of the patch on the wrong side turn under the raw edge ¼ inch and baste to the garment. After both the right and wrong sides are basted, press smoothly. The edges may be stitched down by machine, or they may be sewed with a hemming stitch. Remove the bastings and press. Stitching by edges of the patch by machine is quicker than hemming them by hand but it makes a more conspicuous patch. Hand hemming is more satisfactory.

Print Patch

Cut a piece of the same material being careful that the pattern matches the pattern on the garment exactly. Then turn a narrow edge on the patch and over sew to the garment on the right side. On the wrong side cut the holes square and blanket stitch the raw edge.