How to repair a tear in wool?

[Sean B]

I tore a about a 6x6" flap out of the shoulder of my Columbia wool jack/shirt when I snagged it on a limb while climbing a stand.  Would I be able to sew it or do I patch it?

[Tom Leemans]

If you are uncomforatable with doing it, take it to a tailor or seamstress. Some cleaning services have in house repairs too. They can heal it up for you. It may have a light scar, but we call that character.

[statikpunk]

wool has the amazing ability to "felt"

I will try and explain, go to your local craft store and in an apropriate color get some wool batting, or yarn and seperate it into fine fibers.  , then lay the torn spot over a block of styrofoam, then lay a pile of the wool fibers over the tear (you can use a form like a cookie cuter if you want to create a patch with some shape) then you can use a pin (they make special ones but any blunt pin or needle will work) to push the fibers through the torn material, when you have a mass of fibers pushed through and on both sides of the torn jacket, put an iron on heavy steam and iron both sides of the patch, this will "felt" the wool together into one solid piece, then you just have to pull out any stragler pieces and off you go with a fixed jacket     you can also use this method to sturdy up the elbows or any high wear part of your wool clothing before it gets worn out.  I will try and find a tutorial online and post a link to it.

[statikpunk]

here is a "Girly" explanation of how its done, this is done for looks but you get the gist:)
  wool felting

in your case since its a big tear you could do it in two lines along the tear sections after folding the torn chunk back in

[**DONOTDELETE**]

It sounds like a really good time to buy your wife a dozen roses bro....

That's the best way i know to get a sewing job done on my hunting gear.

[Sean B]

Thank guys, I'll give it a try.  If that doesn't work, then I'll bring it to the cleaners.  Kirkll.....I burned that bridge awhile ago!!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Sean B:
Thank guys, I'll give it a try.  If that doesn't work, then I'll bring it to the cleaners.  Kirkll.....I burned that bridge awhile ago!!

Bummer....  

[reddogge]

I do all my own patching on just about everything outdoor related so I'd just sew the flap using small stitches with matching thread inserting the needle in the tear and out through the wool fabric alternating between the flap and the wool surrounding it.

[hvyhitter]

what reddogge said......doesnt have to be pretty, just strong.........