How to Reinforce Seams by Hand

Introduction

Reinforcing seams is useful when you want your clothes to last longer. All you need are some sewing materials, a chunk of time to dedicate to the process, and the cautiousness not to poke yourself. You are going to want your thread to match your clothes but for this guide, I will be using red so you can see it easily.

What you need

Step 1 How to Reinforce Seams by Hand

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Turn your clothes inside out and locate the seam you want to reinforce.

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Step 2

Measure the clear elastic so it is a few centimeters longer than the hem you are reinforcing.

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Step 3

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Poke a straight pin through the clear elastic and fabric at one end of the seam you are reinforcing.
Bend the fabric when part of your pin is through so it is visible on your side again.
Make the fabric level so it is not bunched up. Continue this process of putting pins in until you reach the other end of the seam.

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Step 4

Cut the clear elastic so you have a few extra centimeters on both ends.

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Step 5

Thread a sewing needle with a thread color that matches your garment.
Pull the thread through so that the string is longer than an arm's length.

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Step 6

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Make sure both string sides are roughly the same length and cut the string that is still connected to the spool of thread.
Tie a knot at the end of your string to hold your thread together. Make the knot by forming a circle and putting your sewing needle through it.
Cut off the excess thread that is past the knot.

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Step 7

Poke the needle through the back of the fabric at the end of the seam so that it is closer to the top of the clear elastic.
Pull the thread through until you feel the knot hit the fabric.

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Step 8

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Make a zigzag stitch by poking your needle down and to the left (or right if you started on the left).
Remove the pins as you are going along if they are getting in your way.
Pull your needle until you feel a tug and thread the needle back through around the same hole and continue doing this until you reach the end.

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Step 9

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At the end of the seam, poke the needle through the fabric down then back up so that a small loop forms.
Take your needle and put it under the loop and pull. Do this twice to make sure the seam stays.

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