Curated by ITF - Issue 48
Denim Care + Repair Kit
Instead of reaching for new fabric and a fresh pattern, we’re inviting you to slow down and reconnect with your existing wardrobe. The Denim Care + Repair Kit is all about preserving the denim pieces you love most, whether they’re handmade or worn-in favourites.
In collaboration with Alyx Jacobs Repair, this project is packed with practical tutorials, thoughtful tips, and a whole lot of encouragement to help you mend with confidence. From small holes to frayed hems and even broken zips, we’ve got you covered.
Project Details
The Denim Care + Repair Kit is your starting point for slowing down and strengthening your relationship with the clothes you already own. This month, we’re stepping away from making to focus on maintenance, offering practical tools and guidance to help you care for and repair your denim with confidence.
Through thoughtful mending techniques, care tips, and skill-building exercises, this project invites you to extend the life of your most-loved pieces. Gain confidence in keeping your denim functional, comfortable, and uniquely yours.
Whether you’re new to mending or ready to deepen your skills, this project is a reminder that caring for what you already have is a powerful, sustainable practice—and a craft in its own right.
This pairs beautifully with our resource An Introduction to Garment Repair for anyone wanting to go deeper or start from the very beginning.
What you'll learn
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Understanding denim and how to care for it
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Machine darning denim
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Repairing a small hole
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Repairing a large hole
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Repairing frayed jeans hem
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Repairing a broken zip in a jeans fly front
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Sewing Bar tacks
As always, these tutorials have been created so you can use them over and over and adapt them to any denim garment, whether it’s store bought or “handmade”.
Supplies
You likely already have many of the tools needed for denim repairs, and there’s no need to gather everything at once—just choose what suits the kinds of mending projects you’ll do.
Basic sewing tools like scissors or snips, a seam ripper, pins or clips, and marking tools (like chalk or fabric pens) will come in handy. A zip foot is useful for fly repairs. Stock up on strong polyester thread and consider topstitching thread for that classic denim finish. For your sewing machine, denim or topstitch needles (sizes 90/14 or 100/16) are best for heavy fabrics.
To patch or reinforce areas, you’ll need small scraps of denim or sturdy cotton, along with fusible interfacing to stabilise worn spots. For zip replacements, a jeans zip of the right length is essential. Optional extras include a rivet kit and hammer, tweezers for thread removal, and a pressing cloth to protect fabric while ironing.
By purchasing this issue you will gain access to the extra resources we shared in our online community when we released the project. This means that you will be able to ask questions, share your makes and connect with other makers who are also on a mission to learn new skills and sew clothing in a slow and conscious way.
Difficulty
This is suitable for beginners and beyond. Whether you're brand new to mending or looking to refine your repair skills, the step-by-step tutorials will help you build confidence as you go.
The booklet is suitable for printing on both A4 and US letter sized paper, or can be viewed onscreen using a PDF viewer.
Digital Product Details
If you have any questions please see our FAQ and Digital Product Policy.
The Denim Care + Repair Kit is not currently available as a standalone product and is only available by signing up to Curated by ITF. It will be released as a standalone product later in 2025.
Have a question?
If you have any questions please see our FAQ and Digital Product Policy.