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Practical Skills

Beyond Basics: Hems, Tears, and Extending the Life of Clothes

Ages 10–14 25 min read Intermediate

Once you can sew a button, the next level of clothing repair opens up: fixing hems, mending tears, replacing zips, and making alterations. These skills save hundreds of dollars per year and keep clothes out of landfill.

Fixing a Fallen Hem

A fallen hem is one of the most common clothing problems — and one of the easiest to fix.

  1. Turn the garment inside out.
  2. Fold the hem back to where it was (you'll see the crease line).
  3. Pin it in place every 5cm.
  4. Use a slip stitch: catch a tiny amount of the outer fabric, then take a small stitch inside the folded hem. Repeat, keeping stitches even and small.
  5. The stitch should be nearly invisible from the outside.

Mending a Tear

For a clean tear (along the grain of the fabric):

  1. Bring the torn edges together.
  2. Pin in place.
  3. Use small, close stitches (a whip stitch or ladder stitch) to close the tear from the wrong side.
  4. For reinforcement, you can place iron-on interfacing behind the repair.

The Economics of Repair

Average alteration costs in Australia:

  • Hem trousers: $15-25
  • Replace zip: $20-40
  • Take in/let out seams: $20-50

If your family repairs rather than replaces or pays for alterations, the savings add up quickly. More importantly, you develop independence — you're not dependent on shops or services for basic maintenance.

Visible Mending

The visible mending movement (inspired by the Japanese concept of kintsugi — repairing broken pottery with gold) celebrates repairs rather than hiding them. Use contrasting thread, colourful patches, embroidery, or fabric paint to make repairs beautiful. A visible mend says: "This item has a story. It was worth fixing."

Tonight's Question

"Do we have clothes we stopped wearing because of small problems (loose hem, small tear, tight fit)? Could we fix them instead of replacing them?"

Clothes Rescue Night

  1. Everyone brings one garment that needs repair from their wardrobe.
  2. Assess: what needs fixing? Is it within your skill level?
  3. Watch a YouTube tutorial together for the specific repair needed.
  4. Fix it! Help each other.
  5. If feeling creative, try visible mending — add a decorative touch.
  6. Wear the repaired item proudly.

Go Further

  • Research: Kintsugi — the Japanese art of golden repair. How does it apply to clothing?
  • Skill: Learn to use a sewing machine. Many community centres offer beginner classes.
  • Book: Sewing Happiness by Sanae Ishida (2016) — how sewing connects to wellbeing.
  • Challenge: Host a "swap and repair" party with friends — swap clothes you've outgrown and repair items together.

What We Simplified

  • Some repairs aren't worth the time. A $5 t-shirt with a major tear might genuinely not be worth repairing. Cost-benefit analysis applies.
  • Fast fashion makes repair harder. Cheaply made clothes often use thin fabrics and poor stitching that don't hold repairs well.
  • Sewing takes practice. We made it sound easy. Your first hem will probably need re-doing. That's normal.

Sources

  • Koren, L. (1994). Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers. Stone Bridge Press.
  • Ishida, S. (2016). Sewing Happiness. Sasquatch Books.
  • Fashion Revolution. fashionrevolution.org

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