r/Visiblemending • u/crunklebones • 7d ago
REQUEST How to best patch an old fragile cotton fabric?
+/-30 year old single layer printed cotton (my best guess after some burn tests) with a big L shaped tear that's being held closed with some masking tape to keep it from getting caught on anything else while i work on it. this is a blanket that i'm fixing up
I've been using some adhesive patching stuff with small pieces of fabric to cover the pin holes made by old yarn ties, but this big spot is a little intimidating to me. visibility isn't an issue, but i'm hesitant to use any stitching because this fabric is pretty close to tissue and i'm afraid it will just rip again. it's going to get extremely gentle use and will mostly just be displayed after it's patched
i was thinking just a double sided adhesive with some fabric behind to fix the hole? aesthetics don't matter too much here, it's just that it's got a lot of sentimental value. an ugly spot is much better than my mom being too terrified to take it out of storage to even display it because of how fragile it is
6
u/Cat_Fitz 7d ago
If you are prepared for the work, I would suggest a large piece of white cotton to back as much of it as possible. Then stitch close to the tear to anchor and around the whole border. Fill the whole white area with Sashiko or Boro style stitches in white. It would be very visible but would create a new and visually interesting effect while strengthening the entire piece. It could take a while, depending on the size.
2
u/crunklebones 7d ago
if this were more for me i do think i would invest the time for the stitching, but it's not really my mom's style and this fabric is really weak so i do worry about that much stitching doing more of a perforation effect instead of reinforcing, but thanks for the new thing to look up and watch stuff on! i've never heard of boro style beogre. i have my own blankets that need patching that are much sturdier that i might do some more intensive stitching on
3
u/Malsperanza 6d ago
From what you're describing, it sounds like it's time to put a backing on the whole fabric piece, not just the area around the tear.
A backing or lining would be in addition to the patch on the torn spot. The danger with just patching the tear is that the fabric around it is fragile and the patch might cause a new tear.
Fusible interface is probably the easiest approach, but would be permanent and not archival. (If you ever wanted to remove it - say, because it had gotten frayed or grotty - you wouldn't be able to.) Fusible interface also would make the piece stiffer.
This gets into the bigger subject of fabric conservation, which has a slew of techniques for attaching the support backing to the fabric. There are probably YT vids that walk you through the process.
2
u/Square_Drive4576 7d ago
This would be a lot more effort, but if you have a sewing machine and iron, maybe grab some iron on interfacing for the whole blanket, then after you attach it to the wrong side, add a backing to make a light quilt?
1
u/tatobuckets 7d ago
Fusible adhesive like Heat N Bond plus some matching light cotton behind the tear.
Or if aesthetics really don't matter, just some fusible interfacing on the back would hold it together.
2
u/crunklebones 7d ago
feeling very validated to have my initial thoughts echoed when i'm very new to mending! thanks for the insight. i appreciate it :0)
1
u/BlatantlyHonestBitch 1d ago
You might also check out a quilt sub or FB group. They'll have a lot of experience doing what your trying to do.
9
u/ShizzlesMcFlipsicles 7d ago
Some iron on hem tape and thin white muslin fabric in a fabric-tape-fabric sandwich on the back will stabilize and put the torn and frayed part back together. Use a whip stitch or herringbone stitch if you don't want to bother with sashiko to reinforce the repair.