How do you fix a tear in your fabric upholstery?

Hi Debbie,

Use cotton or wool or yarn that will blend in well. Use darning method! use running stitch around the tear, then draw the edges together by working across the tear. next weave in and out until it disappears.fasten off securely.

Suggest iron on adhesive back repair tape from the back side if you can get to it.

If not, you might try stitching a repair patch by weaving a matching thread over the area. (Straight stitch around the area, then alternately weave threads in both directions) This is also better from the back if you can get to it.

Have you thought about placing a wide piece of Velcro under the slit, pulling the edges together and pressing hard on it so it sticks together? At one time you could purchase iron on patches which would work the same way by sliding it under the hole, pull the edges together and then use a press cloth with an iron to heat seal the whole area. Fluff the nap up with your hand when it has cooled.

Stitching will be the strongest method, look on YouTube for tutorials. Be very careful of ironing, you could melt the fabric.

Stitch it closed with appropriate thread and fray check when done. I did this to an overstuffed armchair for years till we could afford to reupholster it, no one ever noticed.

Not that this helps with a small tear like this, but just to add to the "need to know" file... when you buy a new sofa, NEVER turn down the free coordinating throw pillows that come with it, even if they clash with other décor! Their back sides are typically the same fabric as the rest of the sofa is upholstered in and they can save you if ever you had a tear large enough that you needed to patch!

Does this seat cover come off? If so much easier to repair! Johns answer is excellent except that I would slide a piece of fabric (old piece of sheet maybe) under for added support as it appears the fabric is a loose weave and stitches so close to the tear might pull the fabric apart over time and weight stress. The fabric should be larger then that area and work stitches around the PATCH edge first, then come back and stitch from outside in to the center where tear is, maybe in a circle moving the torn parts together as you go. >>NOTE: You may want to pin the 2 torn sides close together after you stitch the fabric support piece underneath so you do not have a gap between the torn parts when you start stitching through the couch fabric and the patch underneath for the actual repair. Just pinch the two sides of the tear together and weave pins across the tear to hold the gap closed as you work. You will understand this as you go, you can do this! Raised 4 kids so know fabric repairs! Good luck, let us know how it turns out?

I would first check to see if I could find a piece of the fabric underneath or anywhere on the sofa that you could cut and use as a patch. You could place this piece beneath the tear and pull the edges of the torn pieces over the top of the piece. Either adhere with spray adhesive or a good fabric glue. The patch underneath will reinforce the torn area as well as blend in with the fabric.

Fabric glue works really well when there is no gap and the fabric can be easily pulled together. Needs 30 minutes to dry enough to wash, but if people are sitting there, I would give it a little longer,