Patching your breeches - help!

[raisethebar]

For whatever reason I looked down and noticed a whole in my crotch area of not one, but TWO, of my breeches. Although they are small, I would love to get them fixed before they turn into something big. I have had this happen in an old pair and tried to resew them and they kept pulling and actually make it worse.

How do people patch their breeches? They aren’t cheap either - they are TS trophy hunters and I love them. The one pair has barely any signs of wear. Do you get rubs from the patches?

Where would I find someone local that could fix them for me?

Thanks!

[BAC]

Years ago you used to be able to buy an iron-on patch, it worked well although I never tried it on breeches. I don’t know if they still exist, maybe by now there is something more sophisticated. Your local dry cleaner should have an on site tailor, at least most of the dry cleaners in my area do, and that is where I take any clothes that need stitching or repairing.

I have no idea about rubs since I never had to patch that area, usually it was just the knees of my jeans.

How old are the breeches? It sounds as though there is not much wear, maybe you should try returning them for a new pair?

[StormyDay]

If it is just that the seam has come undone your local dry cleaner can do the repair. If it is a rub spot then you will need a patch.
For some reason a lot of my breeches undo their seams in the crotch. Maybe I swing my leg too high when I dismount :lol: anyways I understand your predicament.

[Renn_aissance]

Following this thread as I’m trying to repair the same problem in my favorite breeches. I would love to do a patch but I am having a hard time trying to find an appropriate fabric.

[Sueby]

Interested in this too. I was going to iron on a patch from Walmart but I’m not sure that will bond strongly enough to hold long term. I can’t sew them either, even with matching thread it will be too noticeable on the top, plus it’s around the zipper area.

[raisethebar]

I never thought about iron on patches, I might have to do that! I just hope they won’t rub since it is in a bad area. I have a dry cleaner close that I will try first - I just feel like they might want to sew them and it just doesn’t work as it pulls the fabric and actually makes the hole bigger (only speaking about holes in the crotch area).

Unfortunately (& fortunately) I purchased them off of a Facebook group so I cannot return them. I figured for the money I paid for them, having them last as long as they did with little to no wear until now was beyond worth it.

Any other thoughts & ideas are welcomed!

[Mukluk]

In my experience, the fabric in iron-on patches tends to be stiff and has no stretch. I think your best bet is to have a seamstress (or seamster) do it for you. I doubt it would be very pricey. Good luck!

[luvmyhackney]

Take them to a tailor. If you don’t know one, call your local men’s shop for suits and they can give you the name of who they use. If it is a small hole it wouldn’t be hard to sew it up though, especially if the seam just separated. Not a pricey fix compared to buying new breeches.

[puzzle]

Take them to a tailor - not the dry cleaners, which only do simple repairs - but an actual tailor that also does alterations for things like wedding gowns and bespoke garments! Believe it or not, they still exist :). Mine will add a patch of a non-stretch kind of “nylony” material on the inside that you can’t even feel, and then sew it down not just on the edges but in a quilted pattern all over the area surrounding the hole as well, so that the hole can’t grow and any raw edges are totally pinned down! It works a charm and breathes new life into my Trophy Hunters - I have at least 5 pairs that she has patched. Unless you look directly at my crotch, close up and in detail (which I hope you don’t, anyways) you would NEVER know they were patched - the patch material is on the inside, and the seams/quilting are in perfectly matched thread. I know that sounds bulky, but it really isn’t - the patch material is thin and the quilting light, and you never notice it at ALL riding!

[Scribbler]

It is amazing what seamstresses, tailors, and shoe repair and saddle repair folk also, can do to fix things that you would never be able to do at home. Small miracles of expertise and the right equipment.

[raisethebar]

@puzzle

Take them to a tailor - not the dry cleaners, which only do simple repairs - but an actual tailor that also does alterations for things like wedding gowns and bespoke garments! Believe it or not, they still exist :). Mine will add a patch of a non-stretch kind of “nylony” material on the inside that you can’t even feel, and then sew it down not just on the edges but in a quilted pattern all over the area surrounding the hole as well, so that the hole can’t grow and any raw edges are totally pinned down! It works a charm and breathes new life into my Trophy Hunters - I have at least 5 pairs that she has patched. Unless you look directly at my crotch, close up and in detail (which I hope you don’t, anyways) you would NEVER know they were patched - the patch material is on the inside, and the seams/quilting are in perfectly matched thread. I know that sounds bulky, but it really isn’t - the patch material is thin and the quilting light, and you never notice it at ALL riding!

Thank you - everyone!
@puzzle - that is exactly what I was envisioning but didn’t know how to exactly describe it. This would be the best option. The whole isn’t at the seam, its more of a whole from wear so it needs to be patched.