How Can I save My Favorite Pair of Jeans?

Updated on March 04, 2013
H.W. asks from Canyon Country, CA
19 answers

So I have many pairs of jeans, but there are two that are my ultimate favorite. They are broken in, comfy, fit just right in all the right places and everything else that we expect from a great pair of jeans. The problem is, when I walk, my thighs rub together, and now the inside thigh part of my jeans is really thin and starting to fray. It's not on the seam, and I'm not sure how to fix it. I don't want to get rid of these jeans, not only cause I love them but I just don't have an extra 60 bucks to get a new pair of the same jeans. Can I put a patch on the inside of the jeans? I'm worried that the fraying thin part would then get bigger and the patch would be more noticable, but I think a patch on the outside of the jean in that location- right below the mystery women parts- would look silly =) lol. Is there anything else that I can do? I know some of you are probably thinking lose the weight ;) lol (and I am working on that), but even at my skinniest, which was a size 4-6 (I'm now a 10), my thighs still rubbed together when I walked- it's just the way my body is. This happens to almost all of my pants after a while and usually I just get rid of them and get a new pair of $20 jeans and don't worry about it, but these two pair were $60 a piece (they were the one and only time I spent that much money on a pair of jeans lol) and I would really hate to get rid of them. So is there anything you ladies can think of that I can do to save them? =)

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S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I would actually see if I could find some more of these jeans in the local thrift store. I buy my jeans second hand all the time, brands like Gap, 7 for All Mankind, True Religion and Lucky. In fact I just picked up a pair of 7 for All Mankind skinny jeans at the Goodwill for $1 at the dollar days sale.

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K.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Can't help with the jean repair, but I second the Goodwill idea. I love to dress cute, but hate spending the money and get all my jeans there. More like $6.00 per pair in my neck of the woods. Went out with some couples last week and everyone loved my outfit, all bought at Goodwill except for the shoes. Whole outfit was about $14.00 and soooo cute!

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K.S.

answers from Detroit on

I know how you feel about your favorite clothes. They become the "go-to" items in the closet.

Hard fact is, nothing lasts forever. Hug them, kiss them, wear them until you cannot anymore, and then gently let them go.

3 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i have a favorite pair of jeans and a favorite pair of overalls that i absolutely refuse to give up on. they are so patched they are now more patch than jean!
and you would not believe the compliments i get on them.
patch those thighs! patch them on the outside, in fabrics that you love. i have purple velvet, and pictures and logos from favorite t-shirts, and pieces of other jeans all layered over each other, and yes, on the crotch and the thighs and the butt. it only looks funny with the first patch<G>.
save those jeans!
:) khairete
S.

2 moms found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

The only way I see to save them is to embrace the patches...I would patch on the outside, b/c I think it would be more comfortable maybe...and I might even go with a wild color (like someone else mentioned, burgandy or something?) and then designate them to 'play pants' from now on.

Sorry.

I have a few of my favorite jeans with holes that are now my favorite 'camping' jeans!!

2 moms found this helpful

L.L.

answers from Rochester on

Get ready to grieve. You are going to lose your favorite jeans...it happens to us all, I promise. ;) I have lost many a pair of jeans that way...except mine usually thin out in the rear and I end up with holes under my butt. :) :)

(I do agree that you can patch them, but I don't think you can revert them to the way they were, is all I meant!)

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R.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Patching them sounds very tacky and cheap. You may convince yourself that no one notices the patch --but it will scream and look so ghetto/trailer park/barrio that you will be pitied. Go to Goodwill that will be a step up from patches.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

When it comes right down to it the only choice you have is to put a patch on the inside or toss them then it makes it an easy choice. They can become the "run errands to Walmart" jeans...lol.

Take some older jeans and cut out a couple of squares that would more than cover the worn area.

Use lightweight Heat and Bond and adhere the right side of the patch to the wrong side of the thigh area. This puts the same texture to the outside of the pant. Often people will think that wrong sides go together but I think putting the right side facing out will make any holes blend in better since both the patch and the jeans have the same fabric facing out...clear as mud?

My friend grew up in an affluent California home. Her mom was a Vogue model and dad was, well, he had a finger in most pieces of the pie in movies, plays, all sorts of things, I guess he was an entrepreneur. She had governesses and nanny's and can remember Clark Gable eating dinner at her house numerous times....

Her mom would make her stand straight up, with a piece of paper between her thighs. If the paper didn't fall down straight away her mom told her she was fat. She was a skinny kid with shapely thighs. It was torment.

My sister is 4'11" and at her highest weight was 9 months pregnant at 125. She is normally around 100-110 lbs and her thighs have always touched even on a thin day.

1 mom found this helpful

T.M.

answers from Modesto on

I would just get creative. Got to a fabric store and check out different patchwork they have and just slap some cute ones on. If you are built that way, you are built that way.... In a way, the patches could kind of be a "signature" for you. Embrace it and save your favorite jeans!

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R.H.

answers from Houston on

Go shopping. Thrift stores have a huge selection of jeans.

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

There is a guy called the Jeans Doctor in Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys area. He saved my jeans. But, I don't know how far that is for you. Hope this helps.

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

I used to wear a pair of leggings with my blown out jeans, but I was probably 22 years old. I couldn't pull that off today!

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J.W.

answers from Detroit on

Not sure about saving them, but on ebay you might be able to find the same for less than at the store.

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L.M.

answers from Chicago on

Patch it on the inside before it frays, make sure the patch is big enough to cover extra past the worn area or it will just rip/fray at the point where the patch meets the jeans.

I did that with a pair of light colored cotton pants and it looked fine as long as you weren't down staring at it. I think patches on the outside just look weird, I've seen it and I always immediately want to tell the girl she has something stuck there... then I realize it's a patch. It just draws attention there, and I don't know about you, but I don't want attention drawn to my crotch. ;)

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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

Would you wear them as shorts? I have had the same dilemma as you and when younger, I did patch them, but then they didn't look quite the same and the patch made them a little less comfy..... Also, a patch on shorts doesn't look too bad if done right.. This may be out there, but depending on the wash/style of the jeans, you could make a jean skirt (even if a for a little kid) ... it may not be for you, but hey at least you aren't wasting the useable part of the fabric..

Good luck to you

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I don't have that issue, thankfully. However I wear good quality high end jeans and I've been wearing some if the same jeans over 10 yrs.

I may pay $175 for a pair of jeans but when I wear them 10+ years I'm way ahead ( $17.50/yr)

I am a size 2 and thighs don't rub. The first thing wearing out on mine are the belt loops when I pull them up or knees due to a lot of wear.

My favorite now is from anthropologie... The Stevie jean. I also love Guess daredevils

Good luck!

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M.M.

answers from Boston on

CVS sells these iron on patches in different colors, including denim in different shades....having been in a similar situation, I've found them to be serviceable enough(and they don't look to bad)...good luck

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R.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi H.,

Here's a thought -- use a complementary fabric to patch the frayed areas, and also sew several patches of the same material to other places on the jeans as applique. If you plan a nice pattern, the patches can look like you have couture jeans.

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A.K.

answers from Chicago on

I have done an iron-on patch on the inside of jeans before and it salvaged the jeans. Mine was almost worn thin on the knees, so I ironed the patch on on the inside. It made them look bulkier on the knee, if you were looking closely. But I was ok with it. So, sounds like your idea is the same and could work!

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