I’m all about visible mending over here. I think it’s a resourceful, creative way to fix a garment and give it new life. But, I have to admit, there’s something a little magical to me about invisible mending.
There’s a time and a place for each, for sure. But when I stumbled upon this cashmere sweater from Everlane at the thrift store with a teeny-tiny little hole, I couldn’t help but feel like I won the jackpot… because I knew I could make it disappear.
The easiest way to mend a small hole
What you’ll need:
- Holey woolen sweater
- Cashmere comb or sweater shaver
- Felting needle
- Foam block
Disclaimer: This process will not work on man-made fibers. It’s only possible to felt wool to itself because it is naturally barbed. It also may not work well on super fine garments, as the needle will likely just cause more damage (and you probably won’t be able to collect much fuzz from it).
Step 1: Shave the sweater
Whether you use a good ol’ fashioned cashmere comb (like I did) or a modern, motorized sweater shaver, the goal here is to not only de-fuzz and refresh your knit, but to also collect a tiny little bundle of the exact fiber your sweater is made from.
Step 2: Felt it
Place your foam block inside the sweater, behind the hole, separating your work area from the back layer. Working around the hole, punch your collected fiber into the sweater with your felting needle, little by little. Your newly felted wool will stick to the foam block, so make sure you pull it away regularly.
I like to felt from both sides to make the mend as uniform and secure as possible.
If you look super closely, you can see the mended hole. But I think you have to really be looking for it. I’ve tried a few different methods (each with their pros and cons), but this one is by far the least time-intensive. What’s your favorite way to mend a sweater?