Thread: How to fix a little hole in costume?

There is a little hole in the back of my purple lycra Bella. It's not noticeable, but I would like to fix it before it gets any bigger. But I'm afraid to damage the fabric when I just stitch it.
Any suggestions?
There is a picture below.
Thank you!

My reflex reaction is put a bead over it. But from the location, I would say that you would then need to scatter beads all over that section of the costume. i.e.: all over the bum and maybe around the front. Now, this wouldn't have to be thick beading, but enough to make it look as though it were on purpose.

But you might not want to listen to me. I got a dress from Amira which had a mark up line on it. I ended up not only beading around that line, but also beading everywhere the pattern repeated! Which on that dress was about 8 times!

{{{HUGS}}}

Hi!

I would sew it together very firm and glue or sew a Swarovski rhinestone over it to cover the stiched area. Might be that you have to add a few more rhinestones to make it look as it has to be like that, but I think, that's the easiest way.
Furthermore, you could put some fabric-glue on the stitching from the backside to secure it even more.

Love, Sahira.

I had a similar hole (rhinestone inflicted!) on a lycra costume once. I just got some matching thread and darned it. I know it's a bit non-bling and low-tech, but it worked. To spot the mend you would have had to have had your face very very close to my backside...and that's not usually where I like to have my audience

BTW - I am completely *not* a sewer. I get cold sweats just thinking about having to take a costume up/out/in etc. So if I can do it.....g.:

I'd go with darning too, don't pinch the fabric up too tight or it won't hang right in that area, make sure you take a piece of the fabric with you when you choose the thread to get a close colour match, and darn in two directions, so it looks a little like basket weave but very tiny!
Good luck x

Since it looks like the fabric is shirred in that area, you might be able to take a tiny dart in the direction of the gathers to absorb the hole. If you sew it from the back with wooly nylon thread, you will not even compromise the overall elasticity of the garment.

don't forget some fray check (pref. on the inside so the shiny-ness doesn't show)

If you darn it backing the sewn area with a bit of fabric it will make the repair stronger and take some of the stress from your pretty Bella fabric.

I like the wooly thread idea....will have to check that one out.

Thank you all for the great advice!

Originally Posted by Doozer

If you darn it backing the sewn area with a bit of fabric it will make the repair stronger and take some of the stress from your pretty Bella fabric.

This is a good method. Sometimes the holes are in places that you can't bunch the fabric together so go with a fabric back or one of those patches that you iron on in the back. It will keep the hole from getting bigger, or new holes from occurring where the sewing takes place. Since you can't pull the fabric together after you've patched it into place you'll have to camouflage with beads or something on top.
Sometimes these holes in lycra may run like a nylon or certainly get bigger if it's a high stress area when worn, so some type of repair should be done soon.

You could also wear a scarf over it, not sure where it is, but sewing or just tying a draped piece of fabric that compliments the colors of the fabric and beads would fix it, plus sewing the dart, so the hole wouldn't grow bigger.

Good luck!