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Damaging your favorite duds can be a total downer, especially if you're in no position to pay for replacements. Accidents occur no matter how careful a chic stylista you may be, and it's often your greatest-worn garments, such as coats and jackets, that take the fashion fall. However, a little tear here and there in a good polyester coat is no reason to get gloomy. To run a rescue mission for your most-loved, fix the flaws with a simple stitch or patch.
Basic Body Tear
1.
Turn the coat inside-out so that you can see the back side of the tear.
2.
Measure the length of the tear with your measuring tape.
3.
Cut a piece of mending tape that is slightly bigger than the tear.
4.
Pull the corners of the tear together. Place the mending tape onto the fabric, pressing it down with your fingers.
5.
Turn your iron to a low heat with no steam setting. Iron on top of the tape until the adhesive sticks to the coat.
Seam Tear
1.
Turn the coat inside-out so that you can see where the seam allowances have opened.
2.
Pull the ripped seam edges back together, and place pins along the seam.
3.
Thread a hand sewing needle and knot the end. Insert the needle through both layers, 1/2 inch away from the tear.
4.
Pull the thread tight and insert the needle back into the seam. Pull the thread tight again.
5.
Keep making stitches, following your pins, to repair the seam. Stop 1/2 inch away from the tear.
If your coat has a lining, you may not be able to use mending tape. Instead, opt for some neat hand stitches on the top side of the coat.
Do not iron polyester on a high heat setting, or it will melt.
