Make do and mend

Mending a torn seam

 
When it's just a case of the stitching having come undone, simply restitch the seam from the wrong side either by hand or by machine, making sure the new stitching overlaps the ends of the old stitching, and fasten the end threads securely.

If the fabric has ripped, you'll need to mend it first (see replacing buttons on next page). Depending on the size of the tear, either sew small overcast stitches to hold the edges together or sew small running stitches backwards and forwards across the tear. Then restitch the seam as described above. If there's plenty of room in the garment, the seam can be restitched inside the original stitching line to hide any fabric damage completely.