<p>I know this is not an embroidery solution per se, but what about binding the edges of the sleeve with something like a light weight felt (use real wool felt, not the kind you played with as a kid), and sewing the binding in place using a saddle stitch? </p>

<p>If you are concerned about losing the elasticity in the cuffs, you could also use knit bias tape, which should allow you to retain some of the stretch.  </p>

<p>I am still hunting for a picture that shows something similar to what I am imagining. If I find one, I will add it.</p>

<p>In the meantime, hunting for photos led to another possibility when I stumbled on this picture:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tX1pa.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tX1pa.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Obviously that is a lot more embroidery than you are talking about--but what if you did some sort of embroidered embellishment around the sleeve edges to disguise the uneven edges?  </p>

<p>Before starting either of these options, I suggest sewing a line of stay stitching about 1/2 inch from the cuff edges to help prevent additional raveling.  If you have access to a sewing machine, I would use that, as it will be more consistent, but you could also use a line of running stitches done by hand to accomplish the same thing. </p>

<p>ETA:  Still no pictures of a bound sleeve, but here is another idea.  What about using a beaded blanket stitch, something like this:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/a8tG7.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/a8tG7.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a> </p>

<p>The beads will be irregular anyway, so the unevenness of the edge should be much less noticeable. I would use larger beads and a heavier thread/embroidery floss.   </p>

<p>Still not able to find a picture of exactly what I am talking about, but I did find a picture of a similar type of treatment that could also work.  This woman was sewing a boiled wool jacket (you can find her blog entry <a href="http://fitforartpatterns.com/helpful-hints/boiled-wool-sweater-jacket/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>), and wanted to add some embellishment to the sleeve cuffs.  So, she cut a strip of fabric the correct length to go around the cuff and used decorative stitches to topstitch the new fabric to the outside of the jacket cuff. Because boiled wool/felt won't ravel, you don't have to worry about the edges of this additional piece.  You could do something similar with your sweater cuffs-creating an outer cuff of felt and attaching that to the outside of your sweater cuffs to hid the raveled edges.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Cfg4A.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Cfg4A.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-11T23:31:08.740Z
2017-10-03T14:41:36.603Z
2017-10-03T14:41:36.603Z
magerber
<p><strong>What would be a good darning or embroidery technique for fixing the frayed/missing edges on the sleeves of a machine-knitted cardigan?</strong> The cardigan material is 100% wool (see picture below).</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JKcIb.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JKcIb.jpg" alt="Detail of sleeve fraying damage on 100% wool cardigan "></a></p>

<p>I'm aware that techniques exist for using knitting or crochet to fix holes in knitted garments, but I am not skilled in these techniques, whereas I do have experience with embroidery. I am looking for a type of stitch or technique that will:</p>

<ul>
<li>prevent the sleeves from fraying further</li>
<li>straighten out the edge of the sleeve so it looks less uneven / ragged</li>
<li>Be creative / aesthetically pleasing</li>
</ul>

<p>My first idea was to use something like a <a href="http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/blanket-stitch/blanket-stitch/" rel="noreferrer">blanket stitch</a>, but I anticipate that this will preserve the ragged edge to the sleeve, as in the image below:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/13pJE.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/13pJE.jpg" alt="Estimate of how a blanket stitch would look along the edge of a frayed sleeve"></a></p>

<p>I am looking for a technique that would 'fill in' the missing material, similar to darning. However, most examples of darning I can find work with a hole that is surrounded by material, whereas I want to fill in a missing edge:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6oKLu.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6oKLu.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<sewing><clothing><upcycling><embroidery>
Creative embroidery technique to fix a damaged knitted sleeve
Candlejack
# Creative embroidery technique to fix a damaged knitted sleeve

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-11)

**What would be a good darning or embroidery technique for fixing the frayed/missing edges on the sleeves of a machine-knitted cardigan?** The cardigan material is 100% wool (see picture below).

[![Detail of sleeve fraying damage on 100% wool cardigan ](https://i.sstatic.net/JKcIb.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/JKcIb.jpg)

I'm aware that techniques exist for using knitting or crochet to fix holes in knitted garments, but I am not skilled in these techniques, whereas I do have experience with embroidery. I am looking for a type of stitch or technique that will:

* prevent the sleeves from fraying further
* straighten out the edge of the sleeve so it looks less uneven / ragged
* Be creative / aesthetically pleasing

My first idea was to use something like a [blanket stitch](http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/blanket-stitch/blanket-stitch/), but I anticipate that this will preserve the ragged edge to the sleeve, as in the image below:

[![Estimate of how a blanket stitch would look along the edge of a frayed sleeve](https://i.sstatic.net/13pJE.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/13pJE.jpg)

I am looking for a technique that would 'fill in' the missing material, similar to darning. However, most examples of darning I can find work with a hole that is surrounded by material, whereas I want to fill in a missing edge:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/6oKLu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/6oKLu.jpg)

**Tags:** sewing, clothing, upcycling, embroidery


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-08-11. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

I know this is not an embroidery solution per se, but what about binding the edges of the sleeve with something like a light weight felt (use real wool felt, not the kind you played with as a kid), and sewing the binding in place using a saddle stitch?

If you are concerned about losing the elasticity in the cuffs, you could also use knit bias tape, which should allow you to retain some of the stretch.

I am still hunting for a picture that shows something similar to what I am imagining. If I find one, I will add it.

In the meantime, hunting for photos led to another possibility when I stumbled on this picture:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/tX1pa.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/tX1pa.jpg)

Obviously that is a lot more embroidery than you are talking about--but what if you did some sort of embroidered embellishment around the sleeve edges to disguise the uneven edges?

Before starting either of these options, I suggest sewing a line of stay stitching about 1/2 inch from the cuff edges to help prevent additional raveling. If you have access to a sewing machine, I would use that, as it will be more consistent, but you could also use a line of running stitches done by hand to accomplish the same thing.

ETA: Still no pictures of a bound sleeve, but here is another idea. What about using a beaded blanket stitch, something like this:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/a8tG7.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/a8tG7.jpg)

The beads will be irregular anyway, so the unevenness of the edge should be much less noticeable. I would use larger beads and a heavier thread/embroidery floss.

Still not able to find a picture of exactly what I am talking about, but I did find a picture of a similar type of treatment that could also work. This woman was sewing a boiled wool jacket (you can find her blog entry [here](http://fitforartpatterns.com/helpful-hints/boiled-wool-sweater-jacket/)), and wanted to add some embellishment to the sleeve cuffs. So, she cut a strip of fabric the correct length to go around the cuff and used decorative stitches to topstitch the new fabric to the outside of the jacket cuff. Because boiled wool/felt won't ravel, you don't have to worry about the edges of this additional piece. You could do something similar with your sweater cuffs-creating an outer cuff of felt and attaching that to the outside of your sweater cuffs to hid the raveled edges.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Cfg4A.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Cfg4A.jpg)


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