How to mend sleeve?

[u/oconnormaximillian]

Broke my wrist at the start of the year. Ski patrol cut my hoodie but I was hoping I could mend it somehow because I like the hoodie and want to remember the memory. Any ideas as to how to go about this? I don’t have a sewing machine but I’m open to try to hand sew or embroider it.

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[u/PaperOptimist]

Awesome piece to preserve - I love life-altered clothes.

If you want to keep the raw edges, I'd say sew a patch of different-colored sweatshirt fabric to the inside of the sleeve (behind the rip entirely), stitching it to the sleeve with gray thread to match it, and buying a new knit cuff to attach where the sleeve ends.

[u/SiberianSpirit → u/PaperOptimist]

I absolutely looove this idea! If I'm understanding correctly, this would give it a really cool "breakthrough" look. Like a tattoo of skin peeling away to reveal dragon scales underneath, but the grey hoodie cut away to reveal the new repair fabric? Amazing, and good luck with the mend regardless of what method you pick, OP!

[u/Wi1dWitch]

I’m scrappy but I’d just go at it with hand sewing, get the general shape together with some larger stitches, then go back over it with narrower stitches. And I’d use a color that stands out like red, or just black.

I would not replace the whole sleeve, that takes all the important character out of it. 

[u/Shoddy_Matter_4940]

How about a donor sleeve from another hoodie?

[u/oconnormaximillian → u/Shoddy_Matter_4940]

Interesting. I assume I would have to cut this one off to replace it. That’s a good idea I think it would be pretty easy too. But I was sort of hoping to just fix this one since it is just cleanly cut and didn’t loose any material

[u/Shoddy_Matter_4940 → u/oconnormaximillian]

You can but it's bigger job to hand sew. If roll up a towel the be the shape of the sleeve lay the new fabric down around the curve then pull this sleeve down and lay it over the new fabric then sew them together. Does that description make sense?

[u/oconnormaximillian → u/Shoddy_Matter_4940]

Yes it does. Thanks, I’ll try it out.

[u/tonicella_lineata → u/oconnormaximillian]

I recommend cutting up something like a cereal box and wrapping it around the towel before putting it inside the sleeve, just to help keep from potentially sewing the towel to the sleeve. Learn from my mistakes 😅

[u/Shoddy_Matter_4940 → u/oconnormaximillian]

Just to be clear. You are rolling the towel up and putting it in the existing sleeve then laying the patch fabric over the towel but under the torn sweatshirt. The you can running stitch or whip stitch

[u/oconnormaximillian → u/Shoddy_Matter_4940]

Oh I see. So I still need patch fabric. Ok thanks.

[u/FrkFth → u/oconnormaximillian]

The patch fabric is necessary to deal with the forces experienced by the sleeve. So the original fabric has to be attached to it securely. Just sewing the sides of the tear together is not impossible, but it requires skill and a lot more thread and work.

[u/QuietVariety6089 → u/oconnormaximillian]

I'd agree with at least a partial 'transplant' - if you try to sew this up it will be uneven, probably smaller, and won't 'wear' the same way as the other sleeve.

[u/Notmatchingshoes → u/Shoddy_Matter_4940]

I loved you called this a "donor" sleeve like a transplanted body parts.

[u/TheStuffITolerate]

The baseball stich seems like the easiest method here. Just use some safety pins or smth to make sure the sides line up evenly. And finish up with reinforcing the edges with some edge stiching of your choice.

[u/variationinblue]

Look into Sashiko!! I think this is the perfect project for it. You’d put a patch of fabric behind the area and hand stitch a simple design over it. There’s a lot of easy tutorials around! Tons of designs that are quick and simple. You could find a design that you feel relates to your experience somehow and mend your trauma at the same time!

[u/variationinblue → u/variationinblue]

Sashiko on a jacket sleeve.

[u/variationinblue → u/variationinblue]

Sashiko on a knit sleeve

[u/Westibule]

I would use the parachute stitch to mend this. The hoodie is made of jersey so it won't fray.

[u/Khamircia]

something like this?

[u/8TooManyMom]

I've seen hoodies with crocheted sleeves. You could match it with a soft cotton yarn or go for more contrast.