Mending a moth hole

Primrose

Any suggestions on how best to  repair a moth hole I,ve just discovered in a very finely knit woollen sweater?

(Yes, I know I should have checked on the expiry date of mothkiller tablets I keep in my wardrobe but lost track of time during the pandemic !!)

oldhaggis

If it is a small hole, I use a wooden darning egg or mushroom on the inside of the garment and normal sewing thread of the exact same shade to do an invisible mend from the outside of the garment. Try and keep your repair as flat as possible as it will show less.  

SootySweep1

Hi
I knew someone who had an issue with moths got at a number of jumpers.

She created motifs using buttons to hide the repairs & they looked amazing! 

Jen

goldfinches

I have been internally debating exactly the same issue and believe that part of the problem is due to the very warm spring we had last year which didn't kill off sufficient numbers of the little blighters.
Anyway, I think I agree that both the suggestions above are worth considering because it very much depends on whether you can source thread/yarn in a toning shade and the location of the hole as to what sort of repair you would attempt.
I can tell you that when I've attempted darning on e.g. a sports sock with a hole in the toe I've found that one does not need to be an expert at stitching but that you really do need a mushroom to make any kind of attempt.
When I've done it I've found that although my stitches aren't even after I've covered about 70% of the hole it suddenly seems to come good and look much better - but be warned I find there is a stage at around 45% to 50% where it looks as though it's going to be dreadful and I just have to persevere through this and work on while believing I'm not achieving anything much - and then miraculously it all begins to look as though I'm getting somewhere and then suddenly it looks almost done. I've used a very fine sewing needle rather than a bodkin and sewing thread to get the colour match which I've found more important than weight/texture match too.
I've come across mentions of visible mending in Selvedge magazine and I think they include a video tutorial on at least one method of doing this on their handicrafts page here Make a craft project – Selvedge Magazine so you could have a look at that too.
All that said, if you have a hole in a very prominent location and its so big that drawing the edges together with toning thread won't work it's well worth considering applique, embroidery or stitching on sequins or buttons or even a bought motif.
Can you take a photo of your sweater to upload here for people to see?

JIL

Theres some really interesting ideas on Instagram. Embroidered stars and hearts. They look really good.

Primrose

Sorry, don,t know how to upload photos.  The sweater is one of those fine knit classic M&S woollen sweaters.  I doubt I'll find any wool fine enough so may have to try darning with some cotton if I can find a reel of a similar shade in my sewing collection. 

Wraithlady

I tend to go for embroidery thread if the repair isn't going to be subjected to much wear

retiredinfrance

I use embroidery thread as well as it is easy to get a colour match and I can choose the best thickness. I also have enough embroidery thread to last my lifetime.
Keep safe everyone and hugs for everyone too.

goldfinches

Primrose said:

Sorry, don,t know how to upload photos.  The sweater is one of those fine knit classic M&S woollen sweaters.  I doubt I'll find any wool fine enough so may have to try darning with some cotton if I can find a reel of a similar shade in my sewing collection. 

Just above the text box that one types into for new comments there is a line of letters and symbols beginning with a B and the one that looks like a tiny postcard of a mountain with a sun shining over it is the attach image command.
How I do it is take a photo using my android phone and then sign in to Google on my laptop and look at my photos. If the most recent photo isn't shown yet look at it on your phone and find the upload command there and click that.
Once the photo shows in Google on my laptop then choose the one(s) you want and download them individually to your laptop downloads folder and save them there.
Then come to this new comments textbox and click the attach image command and then a box shows with a choose files button, click that and then in the window that opens navigate to your downloads folder select the photo you want and click on the Open button at the bottom of that window.
Beware the photo adding itself to your text unpredictably, the preview button is useful for seeing what it really will be like for others.
This is all assuming you are using android, Windows and this textbox to add your comments, if you aren't this may not work exactly as above but might give you a starting place at least.