How to apply cashmere elbow patches

HOW TO APPLY CASHMERE ELBOW PATCHES

Part of living a more sustainable lifestyle is getting the sewing needle (or machine if you’re really dedicated) out and repairing clothes you already own. Elbows on a cashmere jumper are often one of the places that will become the most worn. Knowing how to apply elbow patches yourself is a great way to extend the life of your favourite jumper, and is overall a very satisfying process!

So, you have holes in your cashmere jumper's elbows. What should you do?

First, head to our website and browse our range of elbow patches, all made out of recycled cashmere jumpers. Decide your colour… do you want a seamless matching patch which you will barely notice, or do you want to make a statement with contrasting colours? Either way, you can find plenty of options on our website. If you can’t - just get in touch with us via email and we will be able to make a pair up for you in the desired colours.

Once you receive your elbow patches in the post, you will find they are backed with a Vilene knitted interfacing. If you are using a machine to apply your elbow patches, do email us and we can provide you with patches made with Bondaweb backing, which are better suited for machine use.

To prepare for hand sewing, tack your elbow patches in the desired location on the sleeve - make sure to tack well inside the overcast stitches. Then it’s time to sew! Use a zigzag stitch or a straight stitch, it’s up to you, but make sure to keep the stitches loose. As the elbow on a jumper is subject to a lot of movement and stretch, you need to make sure the stitches have some stretch to allow the patch to move with the elbow joint.

Our wonderful seamstress Susan gives a full tutorial below on each step of the elbow patching application process, for both hand sewing and machine sewing.

If this is all a bit much, or perhaps you don’t have the time, we can help! We offer a customer repair service where we carry out washing and reconditioning, invisible repairs and elbow patch applications. To find out more about our customer repair service, click here.

Elbow Patches FAQs

Can I use iron on patches on cashmere?

Yes! For patches that we machine on we use a product by Vilene called Bondaweb which when ironed onto a fabric sticks. This then makes the whole process of sewing easier as you know the patch is definitely stuck in the right place, and it doesn’t make the elbows stiff at all.

How do you patch an elbow hole in a sweater?

Follow our instructions above, or if you need a more detailed explanation, watch our YouTube video all about it!

What is a sweater with elbow patches called?

There is no specific name for it, sweaters with elbow patches are just normal sweaters!

How do you sew cashmere?

You can sew cashmere just like you would any other fabric. Watch this video for Susan’s top tips and tricks for sewing with cashmere.