What is visible mending?

Repairing clothes with stitches that are meant to show, such as embroidery over a hole, a running-stitch patch on jeans or a colorful darn on a sweater, so the repair becomes a decoration.

How do you cover a hole with embroidery?

Close the hole first with a small running stitch or whipstitch, back thin fabric with a scrap or light interfacing, then embroider a motif over it in satin stitch, French knots or lazy daisy petals so the mended spot is completely covered.

Can you embroider over a stain?

Yes. Draw a motif a little bigger than the stain, such as a flower, star or heart, and fill it with satin stitch or French knots. Choose floss colors darker than the stain.

What thread is best for visible mending?

Six-strand cotton embroidery floss, usually 3 to 6 strands, or pearl cotton for bold lines. For darning knits, wool or floss with a blunt tapestry needle.

How do you visibly mend jeans?

Pin a denim or sturdy cotton patch behind the hole, then stitch rows of running stitch about ¼ inch apart through the jeans and the patch, across the whole worn area. Use a chenille needle and 3 to 6 strands of floss or pearl cotton.

Should I use a hoop to mend a sweater?

Not a tight hoop, because it stretches the knit. Put a darning mushroom, a jar or a ball inside the sweater under the hole instead.

Visible Mending With Embroidery: Holes, Stains and Worn Jeans

Visible mending fixes a hole, tear or stain with stitches that show on purpose, so the repair becomes a decoration. For a small hole, stitch around it to close it, then cover it with embroidery such as satin stitch, lazy daisy flowers or French knots. For a stain, stitch a small motif over it. For worn jeans, put a fabric patch behind the hole and stitch rows of running stitch through both layers. For knits, darn the hole by weaving thread across it. All you need is embroidery floss, a needle and a scrap of fabric.

TL;DR

Small holes in woven fabric: gather the hole closed, then embroider over it.
Stains: cover them with a stitched flower, star, heart or patch of French knots.
Jeans and big holes: a patch behind (or on top), held with rows of running stitch.
Sweaters and socks: darning, weaving thread over and under across the hole.
Thread: six-strand cotton embroidery floss, usually 3 to 6 strands, or pearl cotton for bold lines.

Which mend for which problem?

Problem	Fabric	Best mend	Time
Tiny hole or snag	Cotton, linen, tees	Close it, then satin stitch or a lazy daisy flower on top	15 to 30 min
Stain that will not wash out	Most fabrics	An embroidered motif over the stain	20 to 60 min
Worn knee or thin patch	Denim, canvas	A patch behind and rows of running stitch	About 1 hr
Hole in a sweater or sock	Knits	Woven darn	30 to 60 min
Torn seam	Any	Restitch the seam; no decoration needed	10 min

What you need

Six-strand cotton embroidery floss, or pearl cotton.
Embroidery needles; a chenille needle for denim, and a blunt tapestry needle for darning knits.
Scraps of woven cotton or denim for patches.
A small embroidery hoop for woven fabric. Do not hoop knits tightly; use a darning mushroom, a jar or a ball inside the sweater instead.
Small scissors and a water-soluble pen.

More on tools is in embroidery supplies for beginners.

How to cover a small hole with embroidery

Trim loose threads around the hole, without making it bigger.
Close the hole. With matching thread, sew a small running stitch around the edge and pull it gently to draw the hole in, or whipstitch the edges together. Knot it on the back.
Back it if needed. On thin fabric, put a small piece of light fusible interfacing or a scrap of cotton on the back for the stitches to grip.
Draw a motif over the mend with a water-soluble pen: a flower, a leaf, a star, a heart or a small circle.
Embroider it. Fill the center with satin stitch or a cluster of French knots, then add petals in lazy daisy stitch or leaves in fishbone stitch. The stitches should cover the mended spot completely.
Finish. Weave the ends under stitches on the back, rinse out the pen and press face down on a towel.

The stitches are all explained in embroidery stitches for beginners, and starting and finishing the thread neatly is covered in how to start and end embroidery thread.

How to cover a stain with embroidery

Find the outline of the stain and draw a motif a little bigger than it. A scatter of small flowers or stars looks more natural than one big shape, especially on the front of a top. Fill the shapes with satin stitch or French knots so no fabric shows through. On a light tee, choose floss colors that are darker than the stain. For more on stitching tees, totes and sweatshirts, see how to embroider clothes and bags.

How to patch jeans with running stitch

Turn the jeans inside out and trim the frayed edges of the hole.
Cut a patch of denim or sturdy cotton, big enough to reach well past the worn area on every side, and pin or baste it behind the hole.
Turn the jeans right side out. With 3 to 6 strands of floss or pearl cotton and a chenille needle, stitch straight rows of running stitch across the whole worn area, through the jeans and the patch, about ¼ inch apart.
Add a second set of rows crossing the first for a grid, or leave them as stripes. Stitch over the edges of the hole so they are held flat.
Trim the patch on the inside if it is much bigger than the stitched area.

A contrasting thread, like white on dark denim, makes the mend a feature. Keep the stitches even rather than tiny; the rows do the holding.

How to darn a hole in a sweater

Put a darning mushroom, a jar or a ball inside the sweater under the hole, so the knit is flat but not stretched.
With a blunt tapestry needle and wool or floss, stitch parallel lines across the hole, anchoring each one in the good knit a little past the edge.
Turn and weave across those lines at a right angle, over one and under one, like a tiny piece of weaving.
Weave the ends into the back of the knit. Do not pull tight, or the darn will pucker.

A contrasting color makes it a visible mend; a matching color makes it almost invisible.

Small fixes that need no embroidery

Some repairs are quicker as plain sewing: a dropped hem in how to hem pants by hand and machine, a loose button in how to sew on a button, or a tired waistband in how to sew an elastic waistband.

When it is time for a new one

Some favorites are past saving. If a tee or a pair of pants has worn through, sew a new one in your size: the Boxy Tee and Barrel Pants are both free in the Sewzy app, with every size included. Use the old fabric for patches, or for scrap fabric projects.