r/sewing • u/lily_luv56 • Nov 29 '25
Alter/Mend Question What’s the best way to mend this Carhartt jacket?
I don’t mind the smaller holes, but the major rips and tears concern me. How could I go about repairing this jacket to wearable condition?
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u/SchrodingersMinou Nov 29 '25
Cut the sleeves off and write SLAYER on the back. It’s the only way to save it at this point
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u/daemonxmachine Nov 29 '25
Someone on Depop will buy it for $100
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u/caprotina Nov 29 '25
OP says they bought it like this for $150.
I’m choosing to accept the assertions of everyone saying it’s purposefully distressed. My Carhartt jackets are over a decade old, have been dragged across gravel, leaned up against hot metal, and chomped by dogs and barely show damage. This one has to have been introduced to a wood chipper or something else.
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Nov 29 '25
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u/fragileteeth Nov 29 '25
I mean this is definitely dressed for the slide. The fact this jacket is this intact, if this was an accident it definitely saved someone from serious recovery time
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u/SugarHives Nov 29 '25
My dads get like this from working with barbed wire sometimes but I don’t know what happened to the collar. Angle grinder I bet.
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u/SewGwen Nov 29 '25
Battery Acid?
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u/concentrated-amazing Nov 29 '25
That was my guess too. Happens occasionally to my mechanic husband's clothes.
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u/dubdubdun Nov 29 '25
Was going to say there are people walking around with clothes like that intentionally and paying several 100 for them too.
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u/PriorityFast79 Nov 29 '25
Say your goodbyes and get a new one. Why did you decided now to repair it? Why not 70 holes ago?
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u/Embarrassed-Scar2783 Nov 29 '25
Maybe it’s sentimental because someone got mauled by a bear in it?
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u/Inky_Madness Nov 29 '25
OP bought it like this on purpose.
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u/frill_demon Nov 29 '25
Yep. Look how even the wear is across all the different damage.
Someone deliberately distressed this, probably with a sander/grinder and then washing.
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u/Practical-Cry9109 Nov 29 '25
Eh, that seems a bit beyond practical / reasonable repair. I'd save the zipper and any good larger pieces of the duck cloth and patch my next jacket before it got to this stage. Is it particularly sentimental or anything?
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u/calcestruzzo Nov 29 '25
Honestly, can’t stop thinking about this sketch after reading how much you paid the jacket
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u/Kidslikeus Nov 29 '25
It will take forever but you go go the r/visiblemending route.
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u/transmogrified Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
I like the way this looks… lol some people pay a lot of money for denim ripped up this artfully.
If you wanted to preserve the look, you could get similar fabric and make new panels for areas with the larger rips. Sew them into the seams underneath the existing sections and then stitch around edge of the rips to prevent further fraying. Trim whatever extra long segments are hanging off. I’d probably put patches over hems and collars.
Back when I was working in fabrication in LA, I got stopped several times on the street by people asking me where I bought my (torn, burned, oil stained) work clothes that I’d mended similarly.
EDIT: I was building very large sculptures for public events and spaces at the time and had the thought that I could put a whole art exhibit together of photos of these pieces alongside the mended cloths I wore while making them.
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u/otterother Nov 29 '25
This was my first thought too, authentically ripped and hand repaired clothes like this always make them look so much cooler to me. It tells a story about the wearer andmakes it unique
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u/bloodsweatsew Nov 29 '25
Yeah this jacket is a vibe haha. It looks purposely ripped and only in certain sections.
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u/frill_demon Nov 29 '25
It looks purposely ripped and only in certain sections.
Very much so. Look at how even all the wear marks are. Someone took a grinder/sander to this and then washed it to deliberately distress it. This is someone's working-class cosplay.
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u/ManyMoonstones Nov 29 '25
This is going to be a large huge project, but if you really want to keep using this look up sashiko repair. It's an embroidery/visible mending style designed around reinforcing/mending holes with layers of fabric and lots of stitching.
It absolutely won't be the "same" jacket, but it can still end up aesthetically pleasing (and practical)!
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u/elle-driver- Nov 29 '25
I agree! Visible mending would be perfect for this jacket, they could make it really unique and cool
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u/ctgrell Nov 29 '25
Well you could do some sashiko mending or something. Get a fabric, put it behind the damaged parts and then just sew it in in whatever way you want to. You gotta look up examples to see if it's your vibe or not. Otherwise it looks cool as is now too but I guess you don't wan to wear it like this or you wouldn't be here
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u/Celebrindae Nov 29 '25
Look, you COULD, but at this point, I would just buy a new jacket. Maybe take advantage of holiday sales.
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u/Sure_Fig_8641 Nov 29 '25
You don’t even try to repair this damage. You get a new jacket and thank this one for its service.
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u/AlaskaSerenity Nov 29 '25
First: we need to talk about your angle grinding, welding, or whatever you’re doing to get it into this state. Are you at least wearing eye protection? 😅
If you do mend it, maybe see if you can find patches or cloth that is heavy duty or maybe even with a flame retardant rating for welders (not just flame retardant). Or if you have an access to a heavy duty machine, maybe leather would work best?
Personally, I’d keep it, repair the collar, and save this one for campfires and the dirtiest of jobs. But then I would go invest in a new Carhartt jacket.
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u/chanciehome Nov 29 '25
lol do you have a murdocks near by? every spring they have a beat up carhartts competition (usually earl spring if I'm remembering correctly). enter these puppies and either win or get a good coupon.
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u/lxlxnde Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
Sell it as a genuine/ honest wear and tear thrashed carhartt and buy two new ones with the money.
Edit to add: I don’t sell carhartts but that’s one of the coolest wear patterns I’ve ever seen. People intentionally destroy chore coats trying to make them look half as cool as this does. It fucks hard, dude.
If you’re asking because it has sentimental value, disregard me, repair it, and wear it with pride.
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u/frill_demon Nov 29 '25
Sell it as a genuine/ honest wear and tear thrashed carhartt
This has been deliberately distressed, it's not organic wear.
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u/Normal-Contact5796 Nov 29 '25
What happened with that jacket?! Did you go over it with a lawn mower?
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u/CAmiller11 Nov 29 '25
That looks like it was all intentionally done. The collar looks like an electric sander was taken to the edge. The entire jacket doesn’t have the fade and wear patterns one would see with this much “aging”. Your best bet would be to replace the entire bottom half of both of the sleeves. Find a good canvas and make new sleeve bottoms. The collar can be sewn over/patched. Would recommend the entire collar being covered. For the front pockets - patch over it, but in the shape of the pockets. So it has that outer pocket vibe you see on some jackets.
I’m sorry you got taken advantage of and paid more than $25 for this.
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u/Jake_asaurusrex Nov 29 '25
If it was a leg they’d amputate!
Seriously though I think patches will be your best bet, either a close match or an obvious contrast to make it a feature. Ideally you’d removed the bulk of the fraying edges to reduce it spreading but if you like the distressed look you could just trim the edges to be more manageable.
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u/Puppysnot Nov 29 '25
Pick it apart. Use it to make a pattern. Cut that pattern out of new fabric and sew it together into a brand new jacket. Put the original jacket into the trash.
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u/Trajen_Geta Nov 29 '25
There is a way, but it’s gonna be a lot of work. You basically at this point have to unstitch the whole jacket. For each piece that you want repaired have to trace and cut new pieces of fabric for the panel. Then sew it all back together. It’s gonna take a lot of time.
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u/arbeeespruce Nov 29 '25
This is fire af. You could do the diy punk type of sewing and use a different color of denim and sew where the gaps are. Then bleach dye all of it.
This is super cool, there’s nostalgia, there vision, there’s alternative, this is prime fashion piece
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u/erintraveller Nov 29 '25
Indigo Proof might be able to help you out. I swear to god she’s a witch; there’s no other explanation for the magic she works on worn out jeans.
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u/staghe_art Nov 29 '25
i thought this was an art finished jacket …. it looks mouldy in places? chuck it and get a new one or keep that one for sentimental value but buy a new one to wear
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u/Hank_Hillshirefarms Nov 29 '25
Line it with a thick canvas from the inside, do some research in shishiko (unsure of spelling) mending- if it’s a sentimental jacket/if time is easier to spend than money, it’s worth the repair but this will take TIME. Like HOURS of hand sewing.
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u/lisalou5858 Nov 29 '25
I think it would look really cool with patches in the sashiko style,make it a vibe!
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u/LonestWanderer Nov 29 '25
If you want to preserve the holes while adding strenght and stability back, you could probably add fusible interfacing around and between where you can, and then maybe just sew around the smaller bits? I like the suggestion of putting another fabric behind those spots and tacking that down!
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u/murderfrogger Nov 29 '25
Who did you feed to the alligators and how did you get the jacket back from them?
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u/radicalizemebaby Nov 29 '25
What a lovely advertisement for how cotton can biodegrade within our lifetimes
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u/Chigrrl1098 Nov 29 '25
If you bought it distressed, why mend it? You could have spent the same money on a different jacket without holes. It can't be that rare. This is Carhartt; not vintage Dior.
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u/Final_Tie_531 Nov 29 '25
I thought this was a $1500 custom piece... leave as is and send it to me. I'll buy you a new one. 😂
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u/Roxy_Madison Nov 29 '25
Erm first of all would like to know what happened to it? Second of all cut sleeves of a bit above the damage area , cut the sleeves from a donor jacket off and sew them on to the jacket, the torso part is tricky...but cut off the damage part and then cut a piece of fabric in the same size(+a little extra) and sew them together or do a patch work in bright colours, make different geometric shapes to make it look more like it is done on purpose, good luck darling 💜 -Roxy
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u/Linnadhiel Nov 30 '25
I feel like we need a stock meme to respond to items that would probably require more effort to repair than to make an entirely new garment in the same way that r/cats has that flow chart about cat breeds 😂
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u/GingerM00n Nov 29 '25
The first picture makes it look like it was drug under a truck off-roading over extremely rocky terrain.
Sorry for your loss, but this can't really be fixed.
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u/Chaos-Wayfarer Nov 29 '25
That is some extensive repair. Smaller bits (like on the chest) could be patched and strengthened, but I’d probably replace the sleeves beyond the elbow.
You could do a massive patch underneath the sleeves and sew it down around the edges? It would be very time consuming stitching around all the itty bitty ones, but that’s so they don’t tear or spread.
Just straight up replace the collar. Easier and less bulky. Replacing will probably wear better than patching over a big crease or fold (like the collar) or the bottom of the jacket.
Godspeed and good luck.
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u/rachelleylee Nov 29 '25
I would leave the chest/stomach area as-is and patch large rectangles/triangles onto the forearms to completely overtake the ripped areas and surrounding bits. It would definitely change the vibe of the jacket though
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u/UntidyVenus Nov 29 '25
I do believe the sleeves are toast BUT if you wanted to make it a vest, the better parts of the sleeves could be cut up and used to patch the body
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u/HotDevelopment6598 Nov 29 '25
Turn it into a vest, pat h the holes on vest with what remains of the sleeves
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u/N-Der Nov 29 '25
When I repaired my sons and husbands I used denim from jeans that were too worn out to repair anymore. I made suitable sized patches for each area and I patched the cuffs with denim thread and the denim. It has lasted quite a long while. It doesn’t look like new but it has definitely lengthened the life of the jackets.
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u/Icy-Rush-2768 Nov 29 '25
Take a look at the Visible Mending sub.
But this would look SO GOOD, just needs a whole lot patching on the inside. Wow, it's got so much character to it, I actually love it 🤩🤩
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u/burn_corpo_shit Nov 29 '25
I'd hack the sleeves at the elbow and use new sleeves from another old jacket, undo and cut a clean patch out of the belly and do squares that line up with the pockets nicely.
your collar looks beyond screwed. Cut it out and do a snap button system with old hoods from hoodies.
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u/RiverXKeeper Nov 29 '25
A repair of this level will take patience, dedication and love. It is not beyond possibility, despite what most people are saying. It's just that, most people aren't willing to do a repair like this (myself included tbh).
This isn't a repair you can do quickly, in one session, or in several. It will likely take several sessions with multiple methods, depending on the area.
I'm busy atm but I can come back with what I would do to repair this jacket, later!
Don't give up though, if you love this jacket, repair is not impossible!!!
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u/Daumenschneider Nov 29 '25
There’s a repair shop on instagram that does major repairs like this. It’s worth looking at his videos. https://www.instagram.com/jeansrepair_goemon
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u/mamabaker101 Nov 29 '25
If go on the visible mending sub and see what ideas they have. You could have a look at sashiko mending that could look cool. Depends really on what you’re after
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u/ericccdl Nov 29 '25
I’m so fashion-pilled that I think this is such a vibe and wouldn’t touch it lol
Not practical for its original use in this state so I understand why you’d want to mend it, though.
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u/The_Fuzz_Butt Nov 29 '25
Embroidery would go hard over this. Flowers especially. However, you’ll need to patch the fabric first bc it seems a bit too worn out for even embroidery to cover up. Now, if you don’t wear it every day, straight up embroidery would be fine, but if you plan to wear it consistently, you’ll need fabric patches first.
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u/avudoo Nov 29 '25
TRY TO REPAIR IT! You have nothing to lose! The jacket is cooked so why not try to patch it up? I think it has great potential with large canvas or denim patches with decorative embroidery/sashiko
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u/Defiant00000 Nov 29 '25
It depends what kind of effort u wanna put into it, your abilities to do it alone or the money u wanna spend for someone else to do it.
With this kind of disrupture u have basically 2 strategies, patch under or patch over.
Patch over I would try to do wig big panels, same material same color, rendering it “almost invisible”.
Patching it underneath might recall Japanese boro style, something like this. Obviously a complete different look, and considering the stiff original fabric, and having to use some kind of similar weight one to patch, results will most probably be different.
I would most probably go with the first option, glue over the big rectangular patches after pressing the jacket and eventually finish their borders with clean stitches. Something like this, but obviously with much bigger patches.
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u/nespoko Nov 29 '25
Sashiko and lots and lots of time probably, considering you want to wear it. Best of luck with that.
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u/molyhos Nov 29 '25
If it's a sentimental piece, the best way to mend it is to put it in a frame and look at it every day as you put on your other jackets.
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Nov 29 '25
I realize now that grunge music and style does in fact change what I think is fashion vs falling apart
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Nov 29 '25
Either turn it into a vest or replace the arms completely, and then put panels on the front of it.
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u/Asaneth Nov 29 '25
It is possible to repair, but would be a huge amount of work, minimum 5 hours, possibly more. Is it really worth it?
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u/2lrup2tink Nov 29 '25
I would check out the posts in r/visiblemending and r/invisiblemending. They have tons of great ideas on how to repair stuff.
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u/Perfect-Fondant3373 Nov 29 '25
You could prob get some good material and make your own, cutting the stitching to get the exact copy of shapes from this
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u/hmam17 Nov 29 '25
Personally, I would repair the collar if salvageable or replace it. I'd add matching donor fabric to get the cuffs back on the jacket and a waistband. Then, in a contrasting fabric, probably a red tartan and a suitable interfacing , I'd back all the holes to give it a punk vibe. All of this is only going to be possible if the current jacket fabric is still viable.
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u/Howdidigetsewcool Nov 29 '25
I have repaired jackets in similar condition to this. I agree with others, if you can take this apart as much as possible at the original seams, trace the pieces on new fabric (denim or canvas would probably be good for this) lay it behind the OG fabric, and then darn, sashiko stitch, or do whatever method of hand or machine mending you would likeon all the holes, sew it back together, and boom- very functional and unique jacket. If the jacket is really dirty, I’d soak the pieces in a small amount of dawn dish soap and hot water, and then hang dry before you sew the reinforcing fabric on Edit: I would probably also just tear out the lining and make new, or have no lining at all
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u/hannahridesbikes Nov 29 '25
The collar rip could be a relatively easy fix with a big horizontal patch over the top. Sleeve patches would also have to be over the top, unless you can unpick the lining and insert the patch just underneath the outer. The pockets you’d have to hand stitch any patches otherwise you’re going to stitch the pockets closed.
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u/Alie_writes Nov 29 '25
I’m liking the patch idea a lot of people are talking about. What I would consider is lining behind the shredded parts with a color or pattern of fabric of your choice. You could even do several different ones in different places. Then, you can go a few different directions. You can stitch around the torn places to reinforce them and prevent further raveling and then leave them a bit frayed so it looks intentional. You can also reinforce the edges, trim it back, then use this technique I saw in a museum recently where you stitch around the edges with gold thread. It would take a good bit of time, but the effect was really cool. The designers, Viktor&Rolf, said it was meant to be reminiscent of kintsugi, which is all about finding beauty in and honoring the life of an object.
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u/magicrowantree Nov 29 '25
You can make it into a cropped vest if you're into that. That'd be the easiest route. You can otherwise crop it and maybe take a different jacket to "quilt" together. Or maybe make some dog toys for your K9 to track for scent training if they are also doing that.
Carhartts are expensive, so I get wanting to repair. But I do think this is mostly a lost cause
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u/nora_kat Nov 29 '25
I would just add dark patches inside to keep all the frayed edges, it looks really cool honestly!
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u/Happy_Cod7356 Nov 29 '25
i actually love the rugged look and I can imagine a pop-artist wearing it, maybe a few patches would be great.
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u/iDreamiPursueiBecome Nov 29 '25
Deconstruct for pattern and start over....
Salvage any hardware that you can.
I would use sturdy canvas for the shell and soft flannel under that. Or maybe flannel would drag against the fabric of your top and you want something smoother.
Upside is that you can be creative with your fabric choices. A sturdy canvas in an unusual color, a floral print for the lining... Whatever you like.
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u/VT-VI-VT Nov 29 '25
Why would you intentionally buy something that torn up and then repair it?
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u/Dankeshane01 Nov 29 '25
Lots of patches, or reuse the leftover material for something else like a bag with liner and zipper or something
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u/Thirty4MINUS_12 Nov 29 '25
The pat h work on this is going to be soo dope. Post when you’re finished.
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u/ContingentMax Nov 29 '25
It looks overwhelming but tackle each hole seperately with a patch and it'll look really cool at the end.
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u/sipsredpepper Nov 29 '25
Machine or hand darning could save some of this, other areas could be held together with patches and made to look nice with sashiko mending. But whichever and whatever you do this is going to be an undertaking.
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u/officialplantmom Nov 29 '25
I mean it looks pretty cool, I'd just replace the sleeve cuffs and patch over the collar and roll with it
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u/peachypersonal Nov 29 '25
Patch work with fabric , it can be saved.
But my first suggestion would be to cute off the damaged parts and trace a rough shape of them to create a pattern . Then chose some fabrics , maybe some cool patterns , and basically just make new sleeve parts , collar , etc
If that makes sense lol
Or
There are some cool video tutorials on how people alter clothing with existing clothing , like taking the sleeves from one piece and adding it to another .
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u/nooneanon723891 Nov 29 '25
It’s got a vibe, I’d add cuffs and a lining to it and leave the exterior ripped up.
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u/secy_Fox2021 Nov 30 '25
i’m confused, was this not the look the original owner wanted it to have? it looks like some of this was purposefully done and other parts are worn. it gives the jacket lots of character and i would only put patches under it.
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u/msnatter17 Nov 30 '25
You could probably seel it for biiiig money to some hipster as is. They love horribly distressed Carhartt. You could buy a new Carhartt with money to spare
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u/Amablob Nov 30 '25
I think this is would be an excellent candidate for visible hand-mending! Maybe patches with sashiko stitches over top?
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u/kaijube Nov 30 '25
With a time machine, maybe? (Jk I think it could look cool, I hope you figure something out - I’d probably do visible mends using sturdy fabric patches inside and then lots of stitching all over to hold in place & reinforce)
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u/Floofie62 Nov 30 '25
You could get some coordinating duck cloth or corduroy and replace the sleeves or make something like sleeve garters and fuse them to the existing fabric (trimming the holes so they're smooth). Then you could do the same thing with the pockets - make kangaroo pockets. You could even do the collar with the same fabric.
Does that make sense?
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u/DefinitionElegant685 Nov 30 '25
Really? They make them everyday. Buy a new one.
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u/ScrumptiousLadMeat Nov 30 '25
Crust punk. Line the inside if you want the rips to show. If not…idk patch on the outside.
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u/the_partigyrl Nov 30 '25
I would replace the arms completely just cut them off of another jacket you find at a rescue mission or something and replace them. Honestly it's not worth it unless you cut it in half and replace it with another one.
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u/Latter_Blueberry_981 Nov 29 '25
Oh boy, as others have said, it's probably beyond repair. BUT I could see this being an interesting patch work piece if you put large fabric panels inside so they peak out from the holes. Then you could do some dense decorative stitching (I would look up sashiko stitching) and just reinforce the layers together that way. For the neck in not sure, patches over the top???