mending: t-shirt holes

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I usually don’t spend time mending holes in my daughter’s shirts. She’s growing so fast that it doesn’t seem to make sense. However, sometimes holes happen to a favorite shirt — one we bought a little big so she could wear it a long time.

Usually, holes show up in sleeves and seams — easy places to hide a few stitches. This one was right in front. I was extra careful, but there was no hiding anything. So I decided to turn it into a decorative element.

I don’t do a lot of embroidery. I’m not the best at it, but I sewed a little daisy in matching thread. The result is actually kind of cute. I’ve seen people mend holes with a star stitch, but I think this is a little nicer. Of course, it would help if all of the petals turned out the same size!

finished: a whole bunch of holes

mending holes

I’m really excited to finish off a large portion of the big to-do pile, although it doesn’t make for exciting blog material, that’s for sure. How on earth my family manages to put so many holes in our clothes I’ll never know.

The photo is actually a friend’s shirt. This is the second time someone has asked me to fix the same kind of hole on a new shirt. It’s like the manufacturer didn’t have the ends held together while sewing up the sleeve.

Is it just a coincidence that I’ve seen two of these shirts recently? It’s been so long since I’ve bought a brand new t-shirt that I just don’t know. I would expect a $22 t-shirt to be made with a little bit more quality control, wouldn’t you?