A Mending Story of Unmentionable Areas (Upper Thigh Denim Repair)

Subtle Mends for Unmentionable Areas

I teach workshops on visible mending regularly, and by far, the most requested mend is the dreaded crotch repair. Luckily, it's a pretty simple repair. 

If you are like me, jeans are my favorite article of clothing to wear. And a well fitting pair of jeans is magic, and also tragic when they are in need of repair. And it seems that the upper thigh/crotch area is the first to go. 

Why is this always happening? 

Well, first of all, your nether regions themselves are not creating these rips in your denim. Particularly if your jeans are a blend, they are not made to last. Does 98% cotton sound familiar? That measly sounding 2% has the power to make jeans about as durable as a sheet of paper, and the upper thigh area, is the most vulnerable. This is fast fashion and it drives me nuts, but that diatribe is for another time, let's talk about how to patch this recurring nightmare. 

When is the best time to repair? 

The best time to repair is when you notice the denim becoming so thin you can see the light shows through the denim. And sometimes, if you've put it off for so long, an actual hole begins to form. That's okay, it's not too late, just a bigger repair job. 

By machine or by hand? 

Either way. This are of your jeans is invisible when you are wearing them. The machine method is less visible, but no more durable for this particular area. I decided to use an extreme version, my own very favorite pair of jeans, that should have been properly repaired months ago. 

Prepping the area

Whether you decide to repair with visible hand mending, or using a sewing machine, the prep is the same. Find a scrap of denim that is a close match to the existing denim. I used a thicker, 100% denim cotton scrap for good measure. 

Pin the patch under the weakened area on the inside of the denim. 

Machine Mending

Using a sewing machine to mend the upper thigh is relatively simple. I used denim thread, because it blends so well. I also made sure to use a heavier needle designed for sewing denim. Now, using a regular stitch, sew with the weave of the denim, forward and reverse, altering your path slightly, but making sure to continue in the direction of the lines in the denim. 

Do this until the area seems secure, but not too long, or the area will become very stiff, and possibly uncomfortable to wear. Remember, you can easily add more stitching, but subtracting is not so easy. 

Here's the side by side comparison of hand mending vs. machine mending upper thigh areas. A hand mending tutorial follows. 

Step-by-Step Hand Mending

Above is the crotch area of a pair of overalls. You can see the weakened material on each of the 4 areas where the seams come together. You will want to patch each of these areas separately, cutting patches to fit neatly into place. 

Now pin everything into place, and stitch from the inside of the jeans out. It's helpful to keep one hand on the underside of the mend so that you can make sure the patches don't fold or crease while you are stitching. 

Complete stitching one section at a time. I don't encourage overlapping the patches on the seam. It can limit the movement of your jeans. This area is really thick, and could feel bulky if you pile up the fabric.

You will want to take care to use small stitches in this area, and make sure the thread tension doesn't get too tight, or your patches may start to pucker. 

Here's a look at the inside of the mend. You can always trim up patches when you are finished. 

And the finished underside that only you will see! 

More Mending Tutorials:

https://wrenbirdarts.com/blogs/embroidery-by-erin-eggenburg

Mending Supplies:

If this has you itching to mend, but you need some supplies and don't know where to start, you can visit my shop here.