Introduction
At a crowded outdoor wedding party, a guest accidentally brushed passed with a lighted cigarette causing a few sparks. Only months later did I notice 4 adjacent burn hole in the shoulder, up to 5mm diameter. The charcoal coloured material was 98% wool, 2% elastane Lycra. It was a light-weight 'performance suit' by M&S
This was repaired using iron-on adhesive repair tape and shredded material from the trouser hem, where it wouldn't show. This gave satisfactory results.
I had tried unsuccessfully using other methods like using felt tip pen to darken the white material under the holes and using the suit material under the holes fixed with repair tape, but the latter showed ragged edges.
Tools
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Darkening the white material under the charcoal coloured surface material improved the look from a distance, but wasn't satisfactory.
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First image shows the repair tape used. one side looks slightly reflective as it has hot glue on. The suit material had an ironing symbol of medium heat (two dots), but I found using the iron between medium and hot for 30secs was ok. Its worth practising on other material then on an unseen hem first.
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The second image shows some cut up material taken from the hem. The area of material was about 5 times that of the holes. The material was shredded as finely as possible with scissors.
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A line was cut between the holes such that a piece of folded repair tape was tucked between the material and its lining. Using tweezers, the tape was unfolded and suitably positioned with the adhesive side up.
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Then the shredded material was place over the holes. Then a clean medium hot iron was pressed firmly over the holes for about 30 seconds and then allowed to cool. Any surplus shredded material was brushed away.
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The repair is shown in the image is not perfect but looks better by eye than in the camera.
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The iron could be cleaned before use here, especially a steam iron where fluff can be trapped in the steam holes. Either brush out any fluff from the holes or use the self clean button to blast steam through the holes. Remember to turn the steam off again for the repair tape adhesion.
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Iron-on adhesive repair tape together with a tiny piece of shredded matching material can be used to fill a hole in a suit caused by cigarette burn or presumably caused by clothes moth.
