Q&A for How to Fix a Hole in a Shirt

Depending on where the hole is and the kind of fabric the shirt is, you may be able to patch it from the inside, or you might be able to adjust the hole into a seam or a dart. If you have a woven knit, the shirt may be able to be rewoven.

Place tape on the jumper to minimize the size of the hole. Take a needle with thread slightly darker than jumper. Attach to a jumper thread at least 2 strands away from the edge of the hole. Pull the needled thread horizontally across the hole and again attach to at least 2 strands from the edge of the hole. Repeat this vertically. With needled thread attached, weave a strand across the hole following the pattern of the threads. If this is too complicated, ask for help at a craft store that offers knitting classes. The instructor should be able to help.

Sweatshirt material is a knit fabric. There are loops that need to have a thread run through each loop to prevent further unravelling. This can be tricky as you need to allow some slack to avoid puckering of the fabric.The edges can then be stitched together or secured with fusible interfacing.

It is relatively easier to sew a flannel shirt because of the checks. Turn the shirt inside out. Hold the ripped sides together, and sew them. Hold as little as possible. Make stitches as small as possible as big ones show and tear easily. The frayed open end could be covered using a ribbon, like satin ribbon in the same color. Roll it over the stitch you made and sew or glue it in place to cover the open end. Use fabric glue. Or you can cut a label from old jeans and sew it tilted on your shirt to make it look like it came with it.

Holes stitched together don't give an even finish. You need a third piece of fabric, button, patch, etc., to fill or cover it. You can use two similar circular patches that goes on the inside and outside of the hole of the shirt. You can sew them one by one or place them in line together, and sew together. This one is difficult to get right.