How to fix a hole in a jumper

By , co-owner and managing director of Knit-On Australia

A hole in a jumper is fixed by darning, the method The Woolmark Company gives for any knitwear garment. Woolmark writes it for the heels and toes of socks and says the same method works for wool jumpers. The kit is a needle and thread, a tennis ball or darning egg, and scissors.

What you need

The Woolmark Company lists four things for darning.

  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Tennis ball or darning egg
  • Scissors

How to darn a hole, step by step

Woolmark wrote these steps for wool socks, and the same darning method works on a jumper.

  1. Turn the jumper inside out and place it over a tennis ball or darning egg, or put your hand inside instead. Cut off any loose threads.
  2. Thread the needle and sew a running stitch along the edges of the hole, working back and forth.
  3. At the top of the hole, gradually move the stitches closer together, then gently pull the thread to close the hole.
  4. Tie a knot and trim the loose thread.

When the hole is a split seam

A seam that has loosened or broken needs Woolmark's seam repair instead, done with a needle and thread, an iron and scissors.

  1. Turn the garment inside out. Tie off the loose machine-stitched threads around the seam, then make a short backstitch about 1 cm before the opening, through both layers of fabric.
  2. Close the opening with backstitch, keeping the right sides of the fabric together so each stitch overlaps the last.
  3. Press the seam open and flat where that matches the original finish, or work an overcast stitch over the seam allowance on a slight diagonal. Keep the thread from pulling too tight. Secure with a short backstitch and press the seam with the iron.
  4. Trim any loose threads.

Before and after the repair

For a hole of unknown cause, the guide Holes in clothes from moths: how to tell explains whether moths made it. Woolmark recommends turning wool garments inside out before washing them, and the full washing steps are in How to wash a wool or merino jumper.

Knit-On Australia has two shops, Melbourne CBD at 520 Bourke Street and Ripponlea at 79 Glen Eira Road, open 10am to 6pm every day (public holiday hours vary). Staff give care advice in both. The wool range sits on the Wool Knitwear page.

Common questions

Can you darn a wool jumper?

Yes. Woolmark's darning method was written for wool socks, and Woolmark says it applies to any knitwear garment, jumpers included. A needle, thread, scissors and a tennis ball or darning egg are all it takes.

What can I use instead of a darning egg?

A tennis ball does the same job, according to Woolmark, and so does your own hand inside the garment. The jumper goes over it inside out before the loose threads are cut away.

Should I patch a hole in a jumper?

Woolmark's patching guide sews a swatch of spare fabric behind the hole, and it is written for woven fabrics. For knitwear, the method Woolmark gives is darning.

How do I fix a jumper seam that has come apart?

Woolmark's seam repair is worked from the inside. Tie off the loose threads, backstitch from about 1 cm before the gap, and close it with overlapping stitches. Depending on the original finish, the seam is pressed open or overcast, then pressed with an iron.

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