Simple repairs before you sell: buttons, hems, seams and snags

What you need

• needles in a couple of sizes
• thread in a few shades, or a small sewing kit
• small sharp scissors
• pins
• an iron, for hems
• a fabric shaver or wool comb, for bobbles

Match thread to the fabric as closely as you can. If you cannot match it exactly, go slightly darker rather than lighter, as it shows less.

Buttons

A missing or hanging button is the most common small fault, and the easiest to fix.

• Loose button: snip the old thread away and sew it back on through the same holes.
• Missing button: check inside the garment for a spare, often sewn to the label or an inside seam. If there is none, move a button from a less visible place, such as the bottom of a shirt, and replace that one with a close match.

On a coat or jacket, wind the thread a few times round the stitches under the button to make a short stem, so it sits up from the fabric and closes without pulling. Our step-by-step guide on how to sew on a button shows exactly how.

A dropped hem

When a hem comes loose, it is usually just the stitching that has gone.

1. Turn the garment inside out and press the hem back into place along its original fold.
2. Pin it every few centimetres.
3. Sew it with a slip stitch: pick up one or two threads of the outer fabric, then slide the needle along inside the fold of the hem for about a centimetre, and repeat. The stitches barely show on the outside.
4. Press it again at the temperature the care label allows.

Iron-on hemming tape is a quick alternative for trousers and skirts, but check the care label first, as it needs heat, and it is not suitable for delicate or textured fabrics.

A split seam

A seam that has come undone along a short stretch is simple to close.

1. Turn the garment inside out and line up the two edges along the original stitch line.
2. Start a little before the split, in the stitching that is still sound.
3. Use a small backstitch: one stitch forward, then come back up halfway along it, so the stitches overlap like machine sewing.
4. Finish a little beyond the split and tie off securely.

If the fabric itself has torn next to the seam, rather than the thread, it is a bigger job.

Snags and loose threads

• A snag in knitwear: do not cut it. Gently ease the pulled loop back through to the inside with a needle or crochet hook, then stretch the area lightly so the stitches settle.
• A loose thread on a seam: snip it close to the fabric. Pulling it can undo the stitching.

Bobbles

Bobbles under the arms and along the sides of jumpers make a piece look older than it is. A fabric shaver or a wool comb removes them in a few minutes. Our guide to removing bobbles from jumpers has the details.

A sticking zip

A zip that sticks is often fabric caught in the slider or teeth that need a little help. Our guide on how to fix a stuck zip covers the common problems. A zip with missing teeth or a broken slider usually needs replacing, which is a job for a tailor or alterations shop.

When to leave it

Some repairs are better left to the buyer, with an honest description and a lower price:

• replacing a whole zip or lining
• holes in fine knitwear, which need careful darning
• anything on leather or suede
• tears in delicate fabrics such as silk
• designer or vintage pieces, where a buyer may want a specialist to do it

A poor repair can put off more buyers than the original fault, so only take on what you are confident with.

Always say what you repaired

A repaired piece is still a good piece, but buyers have a right to know. Mention every repair in the description, such as "one button replaced with a close match" or "hem re-stitched by hand", and on Rewear tick Has been repaired in the "Any flaws?" section of the listing form. Our guide to describing flaws honestly shows how to word it.

The short version

Fix the quick things: buttons, dropped hems, short split seams, snags, loose threads and bobbles. Match the thread, take your time and press as the label allows. Leave zips, linings, leather and delicate fabrics to the buyer or a professional, and always say what you repaired.