Zig-zag Patch

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Introduction

You've seen those jeans, the $200 pair that come pre-damaged, covered in contrasting stitches. Don't bother. Instead, follow this guide to not only fix your jeans, but upgrade them in style.

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What you need

Step 1 Zig-zag Patch

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Examine the damage. Clip any long, loose threads, and remove any debris from the hole.
Measure the length and width of the hole.
In our case it looks like 2" by 1".

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Step 2

Grab a scrap of denim or other heavy-weight fabric and mark your measurements plus one inch in each direction.
In our case it will be 3" by 2".
Cut the scrap into a rectangle the dimensions of your new measurements.

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Step 3

Insert the rectangle of fabric into the jean leg and position it under the hole.
Be sure that you put the rectangle of fabric in the pant leg and not behind it—you only want to work on one layer of fabric.

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Step 4

Thread your sewing machine with your desired thread color.
Slide the pant leg onto the arm of the sewing machine.
You may need to remove the sewing machine table for the pant leg to fit over the arm.
Be sure that the pant leg is around the arm of the sewing machine. If both layers are stacked on one another, you will sew the pant leg shut.

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Step 5

Check that the rectangle of fabric is still laying flat, centered beneath the hole.
Lower the pressor foot.
Sew a straight line over the hole going about five stitches past the damage.

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Step 6

Lift the pressor foot.
Rotate the jean leg a few degrees toward the center of the hole.
Lower the pressor foot.
Engage the backstitch function on your sewing machine, and sew a straight line back over the hole, going about five stitches beyond the damage.

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Step 7

Repeat steps five and six, continuing to rotate and sew lines of stitching back and forth until you cover the entire hole.

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Step 8

When you are satisfied with your stitching, backstitch two or three stitches.
Lift the needle and pressor foot.
Slide the jean leg off of the sewing machine.

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Step 9

Clip any dangling threads and admire your work.

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Step 10

Still not satisfied? Alrighty, let's add some decorative stitching the other way.
This is completely optional. If you are happy with your work, you can stop here.
Slide the pant leg back onto the arm of the sewing machine, making sure that the leg goes around the arm.

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Step 11

Carefully rotate the jean leg 90 degrees.
Be sure that there is only one layer of fabric (plus the rectangle) between the sewing machine and the needle, or else you will sew the pant leg shut.

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Step 12

Lower the pressor foot.
Sew a straight line of stitching over the damaged area.

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Step 13

Just like before, at the end of each line of stitching, lift the pressor foot, rotate the jeans a few degrees, and sew another line of stitching.
When you are happy with the way that the stitching looks, backstitch two or three stitches.

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