r/Visiblemending • u/SpookyVoidCat • 1d ago
Sashiko on T-shirt fabric?
I’ve got all these holes in my work T-shirts, but I’ve never done mending on stretchy fabric before, only denim or cotton - is there something important I need to do for mending this type of material? Should I use a similar stretchy fabric for the patch or do I use a stable layer like cotton? All advice gratefully appreciated!
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u/Mimble75 1d ago
I’ve done some sashiko style stitching on t-shirt fabric, but I find backing it with some cotton fabric holds the stitches better than only using sashiko thread alone on the tshirt fabric. I also found doing a bit small stitching around the edge of the hole with a blanket or button hole stitch quite helpful.
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u/junk_rig_respecter 1d ago edited 1d ago
I usually just darn the holes then sashiko over/around them to obscure the repair some. You can patch with another stretchy material but there are some considerations so look into that process specifically. But areas that you do sashiko on can't really stretch anyway so there's no harm in just using a woven patch, on either side depending on the look you want.
And if you regularly get holes in the same spot on several garments figure out what at work is causing it and that may influence your repair choice too. For example I used to get little burn holes in my jeans from sparks, I'd external patch those with wool, since it's a little more burn resistant than cotton. Or like if these are from snags on a rough material that you encounter a lot, sashiko will provide more traction for snags and will not really help. No clear universal answers without knowing your own clothes and what damages them though.
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u/Kitchen-Owl-7323 1d ago
Mine turned out to be zippers in the washer!! Now I always make sure my zip-up hoodies are zipped.
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u/precioustessious 1d ago
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u/precioustessious 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is what I did for a tank top that had similar holes. I used a cotton sheet as my back fabric. I definitely would have done things differently to avoid bunching but it can be done. Mine i don't think is technically sashiko since I used a backstitch but it can be done and it can look decent. The pic above was after a wash
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u/SpookyVoidCat 1d ago
Oooh that’s beautiful!
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u/precioustessious 1d ago
Thank you! I was actually a little disappointed with it. I think it looks good but I would have done it differently if I could go back. But it was one of my bfs favorite tank tops and he is very happy with the results.
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u/kray02 1d ago
well don’t hold out—what would you have done differently to prevent bunching? (looks great as is, tho!)
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u/precioustessious 1d ago
I would have used some type of stabilizer. Not sure if I would have picked iron on or the sticky kind that washes off. I have never used the iron on kind and I'm not sure it washes out and can leave the fabric a little stiff. My only evidence for it staying stiff (even though I've never used it) is that I have seen it used to make tshirt quilts, and the ones I've seen have a stiffer feel to them. The sticky kind is nice but gunks up the needle and makes it hard to do more than one stitch at a time.
Had I used the sticky I likely would have done a running stitch instead of backstitch. And a part of me wishes I had just done a running stitch even without a stabilizer. But I'm not super confident on maintaining a consistent stitch size for a running stitch and I don't have a ton of practice with it. I'm more confident with a backstitch and have tons of practice from other projects.
I think I am more disappointed that I didn't push myself to do a running stitch for it. I let my anxiety about not doing it perfectly win.
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u/QuietVariety6089 1d ago
You should be able to borrow one of the Alabama Chanin books through a local library - the author developed a method of hand stitching on jersey material (as mentioned by Aggie, below) and it works quite well. Even if you don't want to be super decorative, the techniques an stitches should be useful for repairs. Highly recommend :)
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u/SecretCartographer28 1d ago
If you crochet, I've seen smaller versions of the web design. Or, after anchoring, you could embroider a figure. Have fun! 🖖
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u/demian_west 21h ago
On my thin merinos shirts, I use a similar material (same-ish elasticity and material – here, old merinos socks).
I use the blanket stitch. It's nice because it's not too tight and it captures the edges (no fraying).
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u/manicmender76 1d ago
I've patched multiple t shirts using a whipstitch or sashiko. The key is to use a similar fabric.
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u/Aggie-US 1d ago
go on pinterest and check out "Alabama Chanin". it's a technique of putting two t-shirt material things together and stitching them together with embroidery thread. That is what I use for my favorite t-shirt dresses.