How do I fix my frayed/broken pants pockets?
February 8, 2023 1:39 PM Subscribe
I have a good pair of pants I'd like to keep. The problem is that the pockets are holey and the fabric of the pocket is frayed. What's the best way to fix it?
Are you planning to fix this yourself or bring it into a seamstress? If you are doing it by yourself, do you have a sewing machine or are you planning to use a hand needle and thread?
I have brought a few different pairs of pants into a tailor shop and they charge about $15-$20 to patch up a hole in a back packet. They might put some fabric under the hole if it is large, otherwise they just run a lot of sewing lines over the frayed area using matching thread. It is very durable.
Typical pants have pockets that are made of thinner material than the pants themselves, so are the holes in this liner-type material or in the pants fabric itself? If it is just the liner fabric, I'd sew a few lines along the original sewing line where the holes are appearing to reinforce the seam. You could post some pictures if you are not sure or there are a lot of holes/fraying. One thing that will work to stop the fraying is a product called fray check. I haven't used it much, but it is like glue for fabric that will stop it from fraying any more than it already has. You might use that after you have sewn up everything you can.
If you want to hand sew this, YouTube is the best source for mending techniques, but you may need to scan through a few different videos to find one that works for this project.
posted by soelo at 2:19 PM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I have brought a few different pairs of pants into a tailor shop and they charge about $15-$20 to patch up a hole in a back packet. They might put some fabric under the hole if it is large, otherwise they just run a lot of sewing lines over the frayed area using matching thread. It is very durable.
Typical pants have pockets that are made of thinner material than the pants themselves, so are the holes in this liner-type material or in the pants fabric itself? If it is just the liner fabric, I'd sew a few lines along the original sewing line where the holes are appearing to reinforce the seam. You could post some pictures if you are not sure or there are a lot of holes/fraying. One thing that will work to stop the fraying is a product called fray check. I haven't used it much, but it is like glue for fabric that will stop it from fraying any more than it already has. You might use that after you have sewn up everything you can.
If you want to hand sew this, YouTube is the best source for mending techniques, but you may need to scan through a few different videos to find one that works for this project.
posted by soelo at 2:19 PM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: @soelo - hoping to do this myself. Thanks for the pointer to Fray Check!
@advicepig - I've got problems with back pockets and the front pockets.
posted by storybored at 2:36 PM on February 8, 2023
@advicepig - I've got problems with back pockets and the front pockets.
posted by storybored at 2:36 PM on February 8, 2023
For the back pockets, if it's the outer part, you can seam rip them and replace the pocket fabric.
posted by aniola at 3:50 PM on February 8, 2023
posted by aniola at 3:50 PM on February 8, 2023
DO NOT try to seam rip and replace the front pockets. I have done this. It is the worst. Learn from my mistakes.
posted by DebetEsse at 4:06 PM on February 8, 2023
posted by DebetEsse at 4:06 PM on February 8, 2023
If the holes are significant I'd be tempted to sew up a slightly smaller pocket to affix to the inside of the existing front pocket, like a bag within the pocket.
Look into patching if there are holes in the exterior fabric.
Definitely try YouTube, try searching for "mending" as your search term, there is a movement of people who are anti fast fashion and pro mending what you already have.
posted by freethefeet at 5:43 PM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Look into patching if there are holes in the exterior fabric.
Definitely try YouTube, try searching for "mending" as your search term, there is a movement of people who are anti fast fashion and pro mending what you already have.
posted by freethefeet at 5:43 PM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Often the easiest way to fix an inside front pocket which is made of a thinner lining fabric than the trousers themselves is to make a cloth bag the right size to match the original pocket, turn it inside out so the seams are in the outside, and put it inside the original pocket. and then tack it down so that it is attached all the way around the rim where the original pocket is sewn to the trouser fabric.
Another even easier, but cruder mend is to turn the trousers inside out and if the pocket that needs patching is accessible enough and a suitable size, buy one of those iron on patches or iron on tape and simply iron it into place holding the tear shut. This will work if the pocket has been sliced in a place that is not at the seam but will not work well if there is a lot of wear and the pocket fabric has gotten thin.
It is also worth asking why your pockets are wearing out. You may have been putting something coarse or sharp inside them. Carrying screws and nails inside you work pants pockets when doing carpentry is a bad idea - that is why carpenters wear belts with leather pouches on them. So keep in mind that if you are going to keep putting things that destroy pockets into your pockets, you will want to create a really sturdy patch. That's where the inner bag idea works best. You can make the pocket lining out of something relatively indestructible if necessary.
If you are hand sewing figure out what type of needle will work best with the trouser fabric. It needs to be a strong enough needle to get it through the trouser material without snapping under the stress, but as slim as possible. It also needs to be fairly long so you can get a good grip on it and tug hard when it sticks. A tiny embroidery needle will not work. An upholstery needle will look like a good bet, but is for looser weaves such as you use for curtains and will be too thick to get through tough cloth with a tight weave.
If your trouser fabric is quite tough, as it is with men's jeans, you may need to use a thimble on your finger to push the back end of the needle to get it into the and through the cloth. Experiment to make sure you have the right needle and a thimble if necessary or the job will be a miserable one.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:45 PM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Another even easier, but cruder mend is to turn the trousers inside out and if the pocket that needs patching is accessible enough and a suitable size, buy one of those iron on patches or iron on tape and simply iron it into place holding the tear shut. This will work if the pocket has been sliced in a place that is not at the seam but will not work well if there is a lot of wear and the pocket fabric has gotten thin.
It is also worth asking why your pockets are wearing out. You may have been putting something coarse or sharp inside them. Carrying screws and nails inside you work pants pockets when doing carpentry is a bad idea - that is why carpenters wear belts with leather pouches on them. So keep in mind that if you are going to keep putting things that destroy pockets into your pockets, you will want to create a really sturdy patch. That's where the inner bag idea works best. You can make the pocket lining out of something relatively indestructible if necessary.
If you are hand sewing figure out what type of needle will work best with the trouser fabric. It needs to be a strong enough needle to get it through the trouser material without snapping under the stress, but as slim as possible. It also needs to be fairly long so you can get a good grip on it and tug hard when it sticks. A tiny embroidery needle will not work. An upholstery needle will look like a good bet, but is for looser weaves such as you use for curtains and will be too thick to get through tough cloth with a tight weave.
If your trouser fabric is quite tough, as it is with men's jeans, you may need to use a thimble on your finger to push the back end of the needle to get it into the and through the cloth. Experiment to make sure you have the right needle and a thimble if necessary or the job will be a miserable one.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:45 PM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Premade pockets are a thing (for instance, just an example not an endorsement). "Sew in pocket" seems to be the search term to get those to come up. I would use those to replace or reinforce the front pockets (with the new pocket on the inside of the old, not the outside).
posted by sailoreagle at 11:20 AM on February 9, 2023
posted by sailoreagle at 11:20 AM on February 9, 2023
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posted by advicepig at 1:47 PM on February 8, 2023