How to Fix a Hole in the Back Pocket of Jeans

The corner of a pocket is often the first place you’ll notice your jeans are starting to wear.

It’s important to fix a hole in the back pocket of your jeans before it becomes too big.

Thank goodness it’s not hard to do.

With the right supplies and some hand sewing, you can get the hole repaired.

Supplies to Fix Hole

• fusible interfacing or scrap fabric for the patch
• needles for hand sewing
• thread
• marking pen that’s removable (like FriXion pen)
• iron and board
• scissors or embroidery snips

Thread Color

The color of thread you choose depends on how visible you want the repair to be.

For blue jeans, shades of gray and blue are good choices.

Steps to Repair Pocket Hole

There are 5 steps to fix a hole in the corner of a pocket:

1. Prepare the Area

If there are any loose threads or frayed edges around the hole, you want to clip those off.

2. Cut the Patch

Use one-sided fusible interfacing or a scrap of lightweight fabric as a patch.

The patch needs to be large enough to cover the hole and the surrounding area.

It should extend approximately 1/2″ over the hole and any thinning areas.

3. Attach the Patch

If you use a fabric scrap, it can be basted or pinned in place.

With one-sided fusible interfacing, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to iron it over the hole on the inside of the jeans.

4. Sew the Patch

The Stitch

A backstitch or running stitch can be used to attach the patch.

A backstitch was used in the repair shown in this tutorial.

The Sewing Design

Denim is made with a twill weave that results in a diagonal ribbing.

When sewing you can:

• follow the lengthwise (warp) threads of the denim
• follow the crosswise (weft) threads of the denim
• follow the diagonal ribbing of the weave
• do one or more of the above options to form the design

You can also get really creative and create your own design.

Using the Backstitch to Attach the Patch

First, I used the diagonal ribbing as a guide for the backstitches. The thread color I decided on was dark blue.

Next, I used a red FriXion pen to mark lines to do the second set of backstitches. This type of pen erases quickly and easily when heat is applied to it.

Watch how easy the FriXion pen is to erase with an iron then write on the fabric to make new lines.

The final set of stitches is sewn perpendicular to the second set. Marking lines makes it easier to keep the backstitch straight.

5. Finish Up

Use the iron to erase the lines made by the Frixion pen.

The visible mending is done!

Books on Mending, Needles, and Thread

Looking for some print resources to add to your sewing library to help with mending? Check out the following books:

Two books that have been extremely helpful in adding to my knowledge and understanding of mending techniques are:

• Mend & Patch: A Handbook to Repairing Clothes and Textiles by Kerstin Neumuller
• Make + Mend: Sashiko-Inspired Embroidery Projects to Customize and Repair Textiles and Decorate Your Home by Jessica Marquez

Do all the needle and thread choices leave you confused? The following 2 books are excellent resources to help you pick the best needle and thread for your projects.

Know Your Needles by Liz Kettle is a pocket-sized resource that provides easy-to-consume information about both machine and hand sewing needles.

The Ultimate Thread Guide by Becky Goldsmith lives up to its subtitle Everything You Need to Know to Choose the Perfect Thread for Every Project.

Other Mending Posts on The Ruffled Purse

My first experience with mending was to fix a rip in the thigh of a pair of corduroy pants.

I’ve also experimented with patching a hole in the crotch of jeans.

More Sewing Education

Looking for more sewing education? Here are a few other posts you may like: