To want to felt - mend holes in my jumper and scarf?

[KalaniM]

Idk if it was the cats or the zip on my coat but I suddenly have a rip in my cashmere scarf and cashmere jumper. They are both very elderly friends and I want to fix them. I’m hoping there are some felters here who have successfully made roving. And can point me in the right direction for tools. As ever nowadays there is a bewildering array of choices online, awash with bilge and adverts. Knackered already. Aibu to ask here for experienced wisdom?

I am not a talented seamstress however I inherited a cashmere jumper where the previous owner had cut out the label unfortunately leaving a hole and this is what I did. I got an embroidery hoop and placed the jumper in it. Then I took a wet wipe (washed free of soap) and loosely sewed it into place behind the hole. This created something to back the hole which I filled in with embroidery thread (2 of the 6 strands - if I remember correctly). As the colour could be closely matched and there was no puckering, the repair was pretty much invisible. It sounds a lot more work than it actually was.

If you really love them, I would suggest sending them to be repaired professionally somewhere like Invisible Mending on Thayer St, Marylebone.

www.invisible-mending.co.uk/retail/

I think darning usually gives a better finish than felting unless the hole is miniscule. Clothes Doctor have online tutorials on darning and felting. They also have a mending service but I don't think their repairs are as good as Invisible Mending. I think they darn/felt, whereas Invisible Menders "reknit".

clothes-doctor.com/pages/onlinemendingtutorials

You could go the "visible mending" route and felt in a different colour. I love the principle but, in practice, unless you have artistic moths that have chewed your cashmere in an aesthetically pleasing design, I think it looks awful. You could felt or embroider on non damaged parts to make a "design" that works though.

@Chartreuse45

I am not a talented seamstress however I inherited a cashmere jumper where the previous owner had cut out the label unfortunately leaving a hole and this is what I did. I got an embroidery hoop and placed the jumper in it. Then I took a wet wipe (washed free of soap) and loosely sewed it into place behind the hole. This created something to back the hole which I filled in with embroidery thread (2 of the 6 strands - if I remember correctly). As the colour could be closely matched and there was no puckering, the repair was pretty much invisible. It sounds a lot more work than it actually was.

Hi! Thankyou for sharing this. I’m wondering if you have washed this item since repairing, and if so, how has the wet wipe held up?

@chesirecat99

If you really love them, I would suggest sending them to be repaired professionally somewhere like Invisible Mending on Thayer St, Marylebone.

www.invisible-mending.co.uk/retail/

I think darning usually gives a better finish than felting unless the hole is miniscule. Clothes Doctor have online tutorials on darning and felting. They also have a mending service but I don't think their repairs are as good as Invisible Mending. I think they darn/felt, whereas Invisible Menders "reknit".

clothes-doctor.com/pages/onlinemendingtutorials

You could go the "visible mending" route and felt in a different colour. I love the principle but, in practice, unless you have artistic moths that have chewed your cashmere in an aesthetically pleasing design, I think it looks awful. You could felt or embroider on non damaged parts to make a "design" that works though.

Hi, and Thankyou! I’m about to watch the tutorials.

I don’t disagree about different colour felting, although I think the scarf could easily take a different shade of blue in the damaged area and it wouldn’t be noticeable.

I’m sure I read years ago about a hole in a jumper being mended with the wool shaved off it, with a bobble shaver. Doit would be the exact colour match. I’m just not sure how to do it!

It might be worth looking at wet felting, if the hole is small - damp the area, with water and a bit of detergent, pull the edges together and rub until they felt together.

I should have said that the wet wipe fills in the hole keeping it the same size as it originally was. The hoop keeps it under the correct tension so you more or less darn the hole. The wipe does fall apart but you don't need it once the hole has been filled in. I cut around the repaired area when I'd finished.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

It might be worth looking at wet felting, if the hole is small - damp the area, with water and a bit of detergent, pull the edges together and rub until they felt together.

This is brilliant! Thankyou very much. This alleviates the need to purchase roving and needles.

@Chartreuse45

I should have said that the wet wipe fills in the hole keeping it the same size as it originally was. The hoop keeps it under the correct tension so you more or less darn the hole. The wipe does fall apart but you don't need it once the hole has been filled in. I cut around the repaired area when I'd finished.

Ah, I see! Thankyou so much for explaining. Feeling more confident I can do this.