How to Patch Jeans without Loosing the "Cool Factor"

You know that old pair of jeans you just can't throw away?

They're soft, comfortable, worn in, fit just right and more than likely... 

...look like this.

At this moment, my son is on a missions trip to Belize. He's part of a group of 27, led by our Pastor, who are going to be building a church in Bladen Village, Belize. This building will also serve as a hurricane shelter for the local community.

Due to the likelihood of mosquito's, the team was advised to wear long pants and long sleeves during the workday. 

Enter our holey jeans dilemma. After much debate with my son on how to patch the jeans and still look cool...we came up with the solution of patching the jeans with jeans.

So, the following is my "I'm-making-this-up-as-I-go-along How-To" on keeping the "cool" factor for your teenage boy when his jeans have to be patched.

                                                  

Notice the top-stitched seam in the above photo? Most jeans will have a top-stitched seam along the inseam and a regular seam along the outer pant leg. We're going to start by opening up the regular seam. 

Just about the only way to sew in a patch on a pant leg is to take out the seam. (Believe me it doesn't work if you don't. I tried.) 

Turn the pant leg inside out. Using a seam ripper, carefully open the seam along the edge of the leg where you'll be sewing in the patch.

This past summer, my son decided (on his own) to make shorts out of some of his old jeans. 

For some reason I kept these amputated jean scraps and this is what we used to make the patches. I cut a patch that would fit the width of the pant leg and cover the hole.

On the inside (wrong side) of the pant leg, I pinned the patch in place and sewed along the top-stitched seam. This helps keep the patch in place as you continue.  

On the top (right side) of the pant leg (I got a tad pin-happy) I pinned the patch in place. 

I top-stitched the patch in place. I chose to sew two sets of stitch lines. One set close to the frayed edges and another set along the top and bottom of the patch. (In the photo above, you can see the outer leg, top-stitched seam in the background. The seam I opened is in the foreground.)   

After the patch is top-stitched in place, match up the raw edges of the pant leg, right sides together, and stitch. In the above photo, the right edge is the seam that was opened.  

Zigzag or serge the raw edges of the seam.  

And there you have it! Cool patches!

Don't look close! Remember, this was a "made-it-up-as-I-went-along" job. But he's pleased and that's what counts!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

And I thought it was about time I showed you the new sewing machine I purchased earlier this year, from The Stitching Post, in Oklahoma City.

                           

I went with a Janome Memory Craft 6300. I debated and debated over whether I wanted to invest in an industrial sewing machine. In the end I chose a machine that was the closest thing to industrial without actually making that leap. 

I have to admit, due to the nature of some of my projects, I've still broken a few needles (though, not nearly as many as I used on the old machine) and made my brand new machine do the "shimmy-shimmy-shake" a couple of times, but honestly, that's was my fault. This machine has been a great investment. I couldn't be more pleased! So, if you're looking for a new machine, I would highly recommend the Janome brand as well as The Stitching Post.

A family owned business, the Stitching Post has been operating in Oklahoma for over 30 years, with locations in OKC, Moore and a new location opening soon at May & Britton. Thanks for all your help, Robert!     

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