Knitting Repair 101

tattered cuff
pink yarn identifies stitches in the knit ribbing
December 2018

My nephew brought a favorite Filson wool and leather sweater to Colorado last week hoping his Mom could repair the tattered cuff. He thought she could repair it with her sewing machine.

The sweater section of the jacket/coat is 100% wool, so I thought I could knit a new cuff on the sweater. I began by marking the stitches about a quarter of an inch from the edge of the leather sleeve covering the knitted wool sleeve.

I didn't have my small needles with me, so Marilyn and I went to a yarn shop and purchased a small skein wool in a color close to the original color and some size two circular needles.

The repair was not without some frustration: picking up the stitches was difficult because the stitchess were so tight, and just as I was beginning to knit the first row, a tip broke off one of the wooden needles. Thankfully, Marilyn's neighbor is a knitter and was willing to loan me a metal circular needle.

knitting the new cuff

I tucked the damaged cuff inside the sleeve as I knit the new cuff, as I didn't want to cut it off until I was certain the repair would work.

nearing the end of the new cuff

the completed repair

After the cuff was completed, I sewed along the edge of the old cuff (inside the sleeve) with a small zig zag and straight stitch. The old cuff was cut off close to the stitching.

The cuffs are different colors, but my nephew is thrilled that the life of his favorite jacket/coat has been extended.