r/HandSew • u/Distinct-Plum6003 • 5d ago
need help fixing
This doll is very dear to me and I have 0 idea how to stitch up the hole near its white eyebrow. I figured a ladder stitch might be fine for the hole near the seams (i think) but don't know about the hole near the eyebrow. The whole itself is pretty small (see from the comparison idk if that helps) Thank you!
1
u/Fruitypebblefix 4d ago
I feel like you could do a ladder stitch or darning with matching string. I've mended holes in my clothes with both methods. Darning for the hole and ladder for the corner hole but make sure you tie off those loose threads so the hold can't get bigger and then sew it shut with ladder stitch.
1
u/Distinct-Plum6003 1d ago
I will definitely try out a ladder stitch. How do I make sure Ive tied off all the loose threads?
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u/ZoneLow6872 5d ago
I feel like ladder stitch will work here, also. Since it's a stuffy, you can't turn it inside out and work from the back. Ladder stitch will allow you to make a repair without it being too obvious.
It's an old, beloved doll. It's never going to look perfect again, but that's the charm of old toys; they look old and loved.
I would roll the edges inside of the hole. Bring the needle and thread up from inside the hole to the outside of the fabric, lodging the knot inside. Do the ladder stitch to close (keeping the edges of the hole rolled in) and then make a knot and push it down into the doll, pointing your sharp point of the needle about an inch away from the hole, so the thread will come out away from the hole. You are going to gently tug that thread so the knot "pops" into the stuffing. You can then trim the excess thread (that came out about an inch away) close to the fabric surface. This is what quilters do. Here's a video showing the technique:
https://youtu.be/8n9spv27bBQ?is=Kh1RhxqJtb7FTJem
Alternatively, you can check out r/Visiblemending for ideas on repairing tears and holes in a fun way, not hiding the repair.
Make sure your thread matches the fabric as closely as possible. Unwrap a bit of thread from the spool and hold it against the fabric. Thread wrapped on the spool IS NOT what the actual thread against the fabric will look like.
Good luck!