A hole in your sweater can result in an even BETTER looking sweater - it's possible! This unfortunate event in a favorite sweater or knit garment can be serendipitous.

This is a sweater that I tried fixing before by mending the hole with like-colored thread. I was thinking that it was such a small hole, it would hardly show. However, that hole kept pulling out of the stitching and became bigger each time so I needed a more permanent solution before it got any worse...

This fix is easy AND will make your sweater into a unique piece. No more hole to pull out of its stitching! Result = designer sweater with your added touch of whimsey or flair!

Supplies

Sweater with hole or holes
Steam-a-seam "tape"
Ribbon
Iron
Sewing machine (optional)
Thread
Needle

Step 1: Prep Your Ribbon

First, measure the part of the sweater you will need to cover from seam to seam and if you are going under the neckline (in my case), you will need a few extra inches to wrap around the neckline and tuck inside. So for example, I measured from the seam under the arm up to the neckline and then added 2" to that measurement. I also cut the ends of the ribbon on a diagonal that matched the angle of the seam under the arm.

Next, finish the raw cut edges of the ribbon by turning under 1/4" and sewing or by serging the edges or by zig-zag stitching the edges. I have a serger so I chose to serge the edges. Then I secured the serger tails by sewing (or tacking) them down to the wrong side of the ribbon with a straight stitch on a regular sewing machine.

Then you will repeat this pattern with a mirror image ribbon #2 (pic 3) if you want a symmetrical sweater.

Step 2: Iron on Steam-a-seam

Next, you will iron on steam-a-seam tape on both wrong-side edges of your ribbon. Picture #1 shows you what this product looks like on the roll and also what it looks like on the back side (wrong side) of the ribbon. This will turn your ribbon into an iron-on embellishment. You want to iron this on before sewing rather than using pins to secure your ribbon before sewing because it will give you a smooth look that won't scoot around on you as you sew. You can place it exactly where you want it and keep it there.

However, be careful when you iron this on to the back side of your ribbon. You don't want to melt the ribbon. Most ribbon is made of polyester which will melt at higher settings on the iron. Set your iron for polyester/synthetics and hold for 10 seconds.

Once the steam-a-seam has been ironed, allow it to cool then peel the paper backing off.

Next, place the ribbon on your sweater to strategically cover the hole then press it on with the iron, again holding 10 seconds.

Step 3: Sew ...and Voila!

Next, you will take your sweater to the regular sewing machine and machine stitch using a straight stitch along each edge of the ribbon, as close to the edge as possible, in order to make it permanent. While the steam-a-seam might last for a bit, it is not a permanent solution. Sewing is a necessary additional step. If you don't own a sewing machine, it is possible to hand-stitch this ribbon down using tiny stitches and matching thread.

At the neckline, I followed the curve of the original neckline to sew the ribbon down, as you can see on the wrong side (inside neckline) in pic #1.

Step 4: All Kinds of Applications

One of my all-time favorite sweaters is this brown cashmere turtleneck that was riddled with moth holes. The solution? Ribbon cover-up in the very same manner. With a multitude of holes, I had to go a little crazy with the ribbon. However, even after a few years, it is still one of my favorite sweaters. And to think that I almost threw away this cashmere beauty just because of a few moth holes. Since making this sweater, I've seen high-end pieces like it that had ribbon "stripes” so we are in good company.

I hope this encourages you to make something new out of your old! It's a transformation that could probably take you less than an hour once you have your materials.

I'd love to hear any spark of inspiration this might give you for your next project!

If you liked this idea, please vote for it in the "Fix It" Challenge! Also, I'd love to hear any thoughts or questions below.

"Beautiful memories tell their story, and wrap themselves in the ribbon of the heart." -Flavia Cacace

"Gifts have ribbons, not strings." -Vanna Bonta

"True power does not need arrogance, a long beard, and a barking voice. True power strangles you with silk ribbons, charm and intelligence." -Oriana Fallaci

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