Common patching mistakes and fixes

Stiff repairs, moving patches and new holes.

• Stiff, ridged repair: space rows 3 mm apart and use all-purpose thread.
• Patch moving: baste before sewing.
• New hole at the edge: extend stitching and backing further.
• Valuable raw or selvedge denim: take it to a specialist.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. SewMendStitch: Mend a hole in denim from the inside