Create a Woven Star Patch by Darning

By Diane Gilleland
Published on July 11, 2012
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Sure, a patch can work well to cover up a hole, but sometimes you want something a little more decorative.
Sure, a patch can work well to cover up a hole, but sometimes you want something a little more decorative.
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Step 6. Continue making stitches on each side of the first one, keeping them parallel and spacing them about 1/8” apart. The ends of these stitches should follow the outline of the shape that you traced, stitched, or drew. Keep these stitches pulled taut. If your shape is complex, you may need to place some shorter warp stitches in portions of the design. Just follow your outline and add stitches where needed to fill it in.
Step 6. Continue making stitches on each side of the first one, keeping them parallel and spacing them about 1/8” apart. The ends of these stitches should follow the outline of the shape that you traced, stitched, or drew. Keep these stitches pulled taut. If your shape is complex, you may need to place some shorter warp stitches in portions of the design. Just follow your outline and add stitches where needed to fill it in.
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Don’t hide that patch; make it a bold, beautiful embellishment! “Mend It Better” is the ultimate craft sewing guide that teaches a wide range of patching, darning, and repair stitches using both hand and machine sewing. Every garment and fabric repair is a chance for self-expression and fabulous creations.
Don’t hide that patch; make it a bold, beautiful embellishment! “Mend It Better” is the ultimate craft sewing guide that teaches a wide range of patching, darning, and repair stitches using both hand and machine sewing. Every garment and fabric repair is a chance for self-expression and fabulous creations.
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Step 10. Carefully weave your needle under and over the warp stitches, pulling the floss along, until you have woven your way across the shape. Pull any excess floss through and gently slide it so it rests neatly along the edge of the shape. Pass the needle back down through the garment just outside the outermost warp to tack the woven piece to the garment.
Step 10. Carefully weave your needle under and over the warp stitches, pulling the floss along, until you have woven your way across the shape. Pull any excess floss through and gently slide it so it rests neatly along the edge of the shape. Pass the needle back down through the garment just outside the outermost warp to tack the woven piece to the garment.
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Step 14. As a finishing touch, you can also embroider around the edge of the star patch with backstitches.
Step 14. As a finishing touch, you can also embroider around the edge of the star patch with backstitches.

Darning can cover a hole in your clothing, but it can also add some pizzazz to your clothes. Create this custom woven star patch and see how your garment transforms from plain to pretty. This excerpt is from Mend It Better(Storey Publishing, 2012), a how-to text that adapts traditional techniques for today’s crafty sewers.

Sure, a patch can work well to cover up a hole, but sometimes you want something a little more decorative. This technique is based on the traditional darning method used to repair knit garments, but we’ve used it to create a sturdy woven star patch on the surface of the fabric. The same process can be used to darn a hole in any knit (starting at step 4), but use matching thread for a less obvious finish.

What You’ll Need to Create a Woven Patch

Embroidery hoop
Water-soluble fabric marker
Crewel needle with a large eye and sharp point
Pearl cotton embroidery floss*
Scissors
Lightweight fusible interfacing and iron

* It’s best to use only colorfast floss for this and any project. To test your floss, fill a small bowl with warm, soapy water. Soak a strand of floss in it for about 10 minutes. Rinse it in clean water, press out excess moisture, and lay it on paper towels to dry. If any dye ends up on the paper towel, the floss is not colorfast.

Preparing the Garment

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