Denim Care + Repair Kit
Denim Care + Repair Kit
The Denim Care + Repair Kit is a practical guide to caring for and repairing denim garments, whether they’re handmade or well-worn favourites. Designed to help you build confidence in mending, this resource focuses on the types of repairs denim commonly needs, offering clear, step-by-step guidance along the way.
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.
Instead of setting your denim aside when it starts to wear, this resource will help you repair, maintain, and continue wearing the pieces you rely on most.
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. Save by purchasing the Mending Bundle.
What you'll learn
-
Understanding denim and how to care for it
-
Machine darning denim
-
Repairing a small hole
-
Repairing a large hole
-
Repairing frayed jeans hem
-
Repairing a broken zip in a jeans fly front
-
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.
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.
Have a question?
If you have any questions please see our FAQ and Digital Product Policy.
