Dress has developed holes under both arms, can it be repaired?

[MrMay]

A lot of my everyday wear is cotton dresses. I love them. I bought a dress, likely 2 years ago approx. I wore it yesterday.

I stopped wearing pyjamas about 3 years ago and I just wear my clothes to bed and change them the next day before leaving for work or going out. Likely due to depression or whatever.

I wore a dress yesterday and just as I was changing it today, I was pulling the sleeve down to pull it off my arm and over my head and then a hole developed in the armpit. Just as I took it off I noticed another hole in the other armpit.

I am disappointed about them and how did it happen? In the two armpits so close in time together.

Usually when I wash my clothes I wash at 30 degrees in a 20 minute wash. Basically the coldest quickest wash.

Anyways it would be a pity to waste this dress. Could I get it repaired. Maybe at a seamstress? Or if I can't maybe I could at least try and get a skirt out of it by bringing it to a seamstress. What do you think I could do?

I am disappointed.

It's worn out. You need to get another dress. (And wear nightclothes!)

It depends on whether the fabric has worn into holes or if the seam has split?

It could be repaired unless the whole area has worn thin and then the fabric may be too weak. Could easily be made in to a skirt no idea how much someone would charge though as it’s the sort of thing I do myself. Only used one once to take up a bridesmaids dress for me it was a double layered petticoat plus dress and I was working FT and I just didn’t have time as was a skilled alteration plus the bride offered to pay. I think it was £30 but that’s about 12 years ago.

The seam in the armhole didn't split. The fabric developed holes.

You could look at sashico. It’s a Japanese embroidery technique to do beautiful repairs. Essentially you reinforce the weak fabric with a patch of other fabric underneath and do embroidery over the top in geometric patterns to sew them together and reinforce.
Tes you can see the repairs but they are so beautiful they add to the design.

An example.

Wearing a dress in bed will pull and stretch it in places it wouldn't if worn as a day dress only.

Thank you, ok I will change this going forward.

I have a lot going on and sometimes I am depressed and other times just so angry at the world and everything and just everything that's in my life and I just fall into bed at times.

I will change this going forward to try and protect my clothes.

If it's the fabric wearing thin it's likely to be the beginning of the end. You could try patching it but if you just stitch it up it will just tear again. Take the dress and look carefully to see if it's wearing through in other places as well. If it is, I would suggest that the dress is at the end of its life. If not you might get away with patching it.

That looks lovely. I am tempted. I am definitely going to explore online videos showing this technique. Thank you.

I once wore a favourite linen top so much that it became threadbare under the arms. I found a virtually brand new replacement on Vinted.

Chuck it in the bin .

Sorry you are a bit depressed. If you can’t manage to get fully changed just go to bed in your underwear. Wear a vest and pants then you’ve got your night layer on. Sleeping in your dress cannot be helping at all.

That would be really unsuitable for an armpit.

You could repair it easily yourself with a needle & thread.

This. If it"s just the stitching come undone its easy to mend. If the fabric has ripped probably not.

I think you need to address the depression and sleeping in your clothes. That can’t be comfortable. Even if you sleep In underwear but don’t go to bed in your day clothes. I’d make a gp appt.

It's a good technique for jeans etc but not for an armpit. It would be very uncomfortable.

Have you gained weight recently which has caused additional stress on the fabric? Or, do you use a clinical strength antiperspirant, designed to use at night? Both of these caused unusual/ advanced wear in my nightdresses under the arms.

Sweat, deodorant, washing powder and friction would all contribute and once the fibres break they split easily. I have some beloved tops which have gone similarly holey.