My son goes through the knees of every pair of pants. I don't want to just use the iron-on patches and he doesn't like the way I zig zag the hole closed. Please tell me there's a better way.

mom of boys, March 2010

I have used the back pocket to cover these and my sons and then grandsons have accepted this as an OK method!! Another way is, if you have some spare denim from an old pair, undo the non top-stitched seam and sew a wide strip across the whole front of the leg, turning under 1/4" on the raw edges. Do both legs even if only one needs it, to make them look uniform. Then stitch up the opened seam.

Nancy, February 2011

I use the iron-on patches, but I put them on the INSIDE of the leg at the knee.I have found that the patches are the best solution. I was repairing so many of my son's pants that I started just putting them on beore he wears them and this seems to help them last a bit longer. This way the knee is stronger and the pants look normal. This is also how I mend the ripped pants and then just the seam shows.

MikeJ, March 2010