More Making Do & Mending

Saturday 16 November 2013






River Island Jumper, H&M Jeans, Primark Thermo Zone Top (sim to Uniqlo Heattech)


The weather has been somewhat chilly this last week which is always a good excuse to drag out any big jumper you can find. Out came the big old River Island jumper for it's annual wear. This is one of those weird jumpers which you just hang on to, you don't really love but you'd hate to give it away so you give it a wear once a year just to make sure it's marking it's place in your wardrobe. My only variation on how I wore it last year to this year is that I swapped blue distressed jeans for black distressed jeans. Go me!

Anyway, speaking of jeans, I took the comments and advice on board that you left me in a previous post about these jeans and I had another go at patching them up. Basically I did such a rubbish job first time round, I didn't want to wear them. Even the cute little patch near one of the pockets lost it's loveable appeal after a day, so off came the patches ..... which I then put under the rips and holes whilst I executed a near perfect repair job. Lots of secret stitching and all that. Marks out of 10. A gazillion.

Pocket rip patched up

Knee rip patched up


I have to say that I'm delighted with how these have turned out now and have been wearing them to death but I will continue to look for the ever elusive perfect pair of black jeans as I know these will fall apart at some point.

BOG.







34 comments

  1. Hi there!! great diy job with the jeans and love getting the chunky knits out for winter, they may not be the stylish of items but I wouldn't be without them!! xxx

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    1. I look dreadful in chunky knitwear but sometimes it's all you want to wear and this one actually allows you to squeeze in a few hidden layers underneath.

      And the jeans don't look too bad now, do they?

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  2. I like the jumper, I think it's the roses that do it for me. I would never attempt a jeans repair job, I can't even repair a sock!

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    1. It's a proper 80's style jumper. There was a phase when I spotted jumpers like this in Elle magazine and one that I remember was by Edina Ronay so I think that was the inspiration back then for this purchase. But the colours are gorgeous. I just want to taper it a little and then it would be more flattering but do you know what? I think I will leave it as it is. It's survived this long as it is.

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  3. What a fabulous job on the jeans!!! Love them - I want to distress some just so I van do this:)

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    1. Joanna, are you seriously telling me that you don't have a pair of distressed jeans which you can play with?

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  4. Ooohhh yes, even better now! Fab job! Lynne x

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  5. Absolutely love how you've repaired the jeans Sue. I've got a large chunky cream jumper tv at is miles too big for me & was thinking of getting rid but something just makes me hang onto it.....I guess it's perfect for those days when you just want that bit more warmth & a cuddle from your jumper xx
    www.mymidlifefashion.com

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    1. I think we all have an item like this hiding/lurking in our wardrobes. It's like you say, they're just good for those days when you just want something easy and snuggly. This isn't particularly snuggly but it is very comfy and two heattech tops underneath will certainly remedy the cosy factor.

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  6. Now this is a patch job I can totally get behind. I absolutely love it Sue! And you get to maintain the cool distressed rips and frays, but don't have to actually show any skin beneath them... so perfect! Plus, yes, you are absolutely right, you did an impeccable job!

    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. I did good didn't I? (gives oneself, a congratulatory pat on the back).

      I have to admit I wasn't totally happy with the first attempt and I had thought about doing it from underneath previously but the patches were iron on and the iron on bit would have been the wrong side showing through if I had used them as intended. But I kind of thought to hell with it and let's get with the program and did what I thought I needed to do and am so glad I did. It was incredibly satisfying :o) I might have to do this with a few pairs of my other jeans where I keep putting my toe through the rips when I'm putting them on. You know when you hear that familar ripping sound and you inwardly go "noooooo". I can end all that now.

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  7. Ah the jeans look 100x better with the patches behind the distressing - that's probably what my tack would have been had I ended up in a similar situation.

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    1. My first idea was actually to buy some grey tights and wear them underneath but I don't really like wearing tights under jeans - I only do it in extreme weather conditions. The second idea was to patch them from the inside and the third was to patch on the outside. It was only sheer laziness which made me iron them on in the first place

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  8. The jeans are perfect now, might do this to mine soon as I think they are just about to rip through at any moment. Love your wee DIY posts Sue!! X

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    1. Well when you do have to do it, trim all the frayed bits as neatly as you can and sew about 1-2 mm from the edges and they should be "lost" along the distressing. The patches I got were also a pretty good colour to go with the jeans so it's all a bit subtler. And if you can't do them, mail them to me and I'll do them for you.

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  9. That's how I do my patching, too - snap! Well done, the jeans looks great.

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    1. You like your crafty projects like me, don't you Belinda? What's next on your project list then?

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    2. British racing green ankle boots! And replacing some buttons on a coat. Nothing too taxing.

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  10. Awesome repair. I still haven't done mine but now I'm motivated!! Good job!

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    1. It's worth doing if you love your jeans. I was at the point of getting rid of them but am so glad I gave them another chance.

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  11. Another great repair job with these jeans Sue. I thought they looked good with the patches but have to admit they now look epic! You get a great sense of satisfaction you get when you know you've done an excellent job and pro-longed the life of something you love! x

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    1. Thanks Michelle. I have to say I am more than a little pleased at how well these have actually turned out. To the point where I may have put the hunt for black jeans on a bit of a back burner actually :o)

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  12. Brilliant job Sue! I have a few pairs I could do with tackling - or you could set up a nifty little repair business we could all send our repairs too? I may even try some of the boys jeans that constantly go through at the knee before they are worn out and now they are bigger the jeans are expensive!!

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    1. Oh don't talk to me about rips. Ben came home last week with a pair of his joggers ripped right across the knee which had to be promptly binned. They were beyond repair. What I am going to do when the boys jeans are outgrown or past it, I'm going to cut some bits of them for patching my jeans (not theirs).

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  13. Love that jumper fisherman and winter florals all rolled into one...perfect! I was really tempted to have a big clear out of all my clothes this weekend but chickened out as everything seems to be coming back round quicker and quicker...was going to chuck out my long cardis but I reckon they will get some wear over sparkly dresses...I will just have to let my house combust! Fab patch up job on your jeans too...I love a bit of recycling very satisfying! X

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    1. I'm actually trying to do a bit of a cull and be quite ruthless - there is a lot I don't wear or don't fit but I never quite get round to getting rid. I need to be stronger before the wardrobe doors cave in.

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  14. You're not at all bad at this sewing lark are you Sue - that's a really impressive job there! I like the jumper - it looks nice and cozy - I hardly ever get rid of anything anyway (as you may know)!

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    1. The jumper is actually cotton which means it washes really well and doesn't pill but sadly isn't that warm. But on the good side, it's big enough to stick on a few layers or three underneath :o)

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  15. As someone who drops hubs shirts to dry cleaners to replace missing buttons, clearly I'm overawed by your DIY skills!! And actually, I kinda' love the jumper too .. super cosy for this time of year.

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    1. Oh Helen - you must be able to sew at least a button!

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  16. I have always loved cream cable knit jumpers when the temperatures drop but the addition of the roses makes yours look more interesting. I'm forever having a clear-out and taking things to the charity shop and I think in a moment of madness in the summer I probably took too many cosy comfortable jumpers and now I'm having to go out and buy more!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. But at least you have a good excuse to buy more jumpers! I think you can never have too many jumpers .. and jeans ... and stripy tops ... and shoes ...

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  17. A++ with that patch up job, definitely under rather than over! brilliant that you're getting so much wear out of them now, i wish i got a chance to save mine before i cut them up haha!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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Susie So So