Knitwear Patching (Hand Darning)

Knitwear Hole Repair (Darning & Re-Knitting)

$20.00
$20.00
Sold Out

Our knitwear hole repair service repairs holes and tears in knitwear by weaving matching thread through the damaged area. While the repair is visible to some degree, we take great care to reinforce the fabric and blend it as closely as possible with the surrounding knit.

This service helps extend the life of your garments, preventing further damage and allowing you to keep wearing them for longer.

Darning is suitable for wool and knitwear. For other fabric types, you may wish to explore our patching service.

For those who love to celebrate their repairs, we offer visible mending with contrasting colours or decorative stitching. If you'd like a simple single-colour contrast, you can specify your preferred yarn colour in the order notes at no additional cost.

If you're looking for multi-colour or patterned designs there will likely be an additional cost. We recommend reaching out for a quote before ordering. Alternatively, you can place your order, and we’ll contact you to confirm the additional cost after receiving your garment.

Visible mending is a great way to make your repairs a feature rather than a flaw, and we love to be part of the creative process. Contact us if you would like to discuss before placing your order.

Not all knitwear can be repaired, and some garments may not be suitable for our service.

  • Heavily worn or fragile fabric: If the surrounding area is too weak, the repair may not hold. Our tailors will assess the garment and may advise against proceeding.
  • Complex knit structures: Some intricate cable-knit patterns and lace knits may not be mendable.
  • Unwashed or soiled garments: For hygiene and safety, we only accept clean and odour-free items. Garments that don’t meet this standard will be returned.

If a garment is deemed unrepairable, the service fee will be refunded, but shipping costs will not be reimbursed. You can read more about this in our Service Limitations policy.

Hello Tailr is a convenient and easy online platform that allows you to to order clothing alterations from home. Use our door to door courier service or one of 5,000 drop off locations, Australia wide.

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Learn more about knitwear hole repair

There are two main techniques used to mend holes in knitted garments:

Darning vs. Re-Knitting – What's the Difference?

Darning is a method of weaving new thread into the damaged area to reinforce and stabilise it. This technique works well on fine and delicate knits and provides a strong repair, though the texture will differ from the original.

Re-Knitting reconstructs the missing stitches to match the original knit pattern. This is best suited to thicker knits and chunkier yarns, where the fabric structure allows for a closer blend.

Our tailors will determine which method is best for your garment, ensuring a long-lasting repair. If you have a preference, please leave a note when placing your order.

What to Expect from a Repair

All knitwear repairs will be visible to some extent. While we aim for a "near-invisible" mend by matching yarn colour and thickness as closely as possible, an exact match is not achievable.

If colour matching is a priority, you may send in your own yarn to ensure the best possible result. Some brands may be able to supply the original yarn—contacting them directly may improve the outcome.

For those who love visible mending, we offer contrast-colour repairs and simple patterning to turn your repair into a unique detail. Learn more about this in the "Visible" tab.

Care & Maintenance Tips

Keeping your knitwear in good condition can help prevent future damage.

Moth Prevention: Store wool garments in airtight containers or place them in the freezer for 24 hours if moth holes are a concern.

Depilling: Use a fabric shaver or depilling comb to remove fuzz that can lead to weak spots.

Washing & Storage: Knitwear doesn’t need frequent washing—airing it out can often be enough. When washing, use cold water and wool detergent to prevent shrinking. Fold knits instead of hanging them to maintain their shape.