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Homemade patches for jumper elbows

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I need to patch the elbows on a jumpber. You can buy ready made patches online for about £3 a pair, but it seems a bit daft to spend this on a jumper which cost the same price from a charity shop.

I've also got a lot of dark navy corduroy fabric from an old pair of trousers which would make good patching material.

I know how to cut out a nice oval patch, but my question is, how do I stop the edges from fraying? I don't want to use fraycheck as it's expensive and sometimes leaves a mark, and I don't want to use some kind of blanket stitch as I think the edges will still run. I could use pinking shears to cut out the patch, but I think that will look a bit odd. I could just do a square patch, but again I think this will look odd.

I would like to just fold over about 1/4 all round the patch to leave a neat hem, but I'm not sure if this can be done on something oval shaped. Any ideas?
'Never keep up with Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It's cheaper.' Quentin Crisp

Comments

  • Artytarty
    Artytarty Posts: 2,642 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 11 December 2013 at 1:43PM
    If you are using a sewing machine, do a nice oval corduroy patch and stitch on with a small zig zag, that would look fine. You don't need to turn the edge in.
    If you are doing it by hand, make an oval template about 1/4 inch smaller all round than your patch. Use a cereal box.
    Then ,with a steam iron, minding your fingers, you can get quite a neat turn in all the way round.
    Norn Iron Club member 473
  • Artytarty
    Artytarty Posts: 2,642 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just noticed your user name! my first car was an Austin Allegro with a square steering wheel!
    Norn Iron Club member 473
  • pigpen
    pigpen Posts: 41,152 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    pinking shears.. then use the zigzag stitch with a straight stitch running through or an overlocker with the blade turned off!
    LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14
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