A hole in my jacket

[Macman]

My tweed argyll jacket is now almost forty years old and has developed a small (~1/2 cm. or 3/16") round hole near the elbow. It's a bit noticeable because the jacket is lovat green tweed and the liner is dark blue. The jacket looks like new in every other way.
Does anyone know if there is a way to mend it? Are leather elbow patches acceptable on a jacket with gauntlet cuffs? Is it time for me to splurge on a new one and consign this one to the bin?

[artificer]

You might be well served calling a traditionally trained tailor to enquire about having the damaged area re-woven.

http://blog.suitupp.com/2009/04/13/h...uit-reweaving/

http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-franci...-holes-in-suit

or here


or here

[piperdbh]

The quick, cheap and easy way to stop further damage would be to cut a 1-inch square of heavy-weight fusible interfacing and push it through the hole to the inside of the sleeve. Flatten it out and press the sleeve into the interfacing. This should "glue" the threads together surrounding the hole, but you'll still have a hole visible.

If the jacket is a 44 long, you could consign it to my dustbin.

[The Wizard of BC]

David,

To my way of thinking leather patches on the elbows of a jacket are in keeping with the thriftiness of Scots. Mend, repair and make-do.

The Tweed jacket is daywear, not formal, so elbow patches fit perfectly to my mind.

If you remember I put elbow patches on the first few of my Kilt Kut Sport Coats.



I usually cut down the elbow patches that I buy at fabricland in the Tillicum mall and hand sew them on.

But, if you really want, I'll get you a new jacket.

[Jock Scot]

Aha, now is the time for phase 2! Put leather patches on and down grade the formality a tad to walks in the country, visits to the pub, gardening and now is the time to buy a new tweed jacket! Do you realise that for the last 40 years you have been overdressed for many occasions? Your old jacket will have years of life in it yet.

[sydnie7]

He does mention it has gauntlet cuffs... I can see the patches if he's going to go Jock's route and not use it for "dress," but to continue in its current level of usage I'd go with either the quick interfacing fix or a reweave.

If you go with interfacing and it shows after installation, Sharpies are your friend (permanent ink markers available in a wide range of colors).

[MacLowlife]

Before adding elbow patches, you might try stealing a small piece of fabric (such as would be used by a re-weaver) from one of the interior seams or outlets of the jacket. While you have the guts exposed, place the patch inside the sleeve and sew it into place.This is neater than mending from outside and faster/cheaper than re-weaving. If it doesn't work to your satisfaction, you can go with one of the other suggestions.

[theborderer]

I am sure that somewhere under the lining there is a like piece hidden from view. Cut this out and using the fusible interfacing "glue" it into the hole. There might be a variance of colour.

[Macman]

Thank you all for your advice; I appreciate it!
I took it into my tailor on the weekend, and it turns out the jacket has a number (at least a dozen) little weak spots all over it. It's been dinner for moths.
My tailor is going to try interfacing in behind the material and see how it ends up. I'll let you know the results.
Either way, a new jacket is in the cards!
Thanks again,
David

[vmac3205]

Don't you just love it when folks ask for advice, then go off and do something else entirely? Just goes to show that advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.