Lovie Repair Emergency Advice

[Anonymous]

Ok DCUM don't let me down! My son has two extra soft muslin aden and anias blankets that are his ride or die comfort items. He's 2. I wish it hadn't been something so fragile but here we are.

One of them has gotten a couple holes, and since the fabric is kind of thin, they seem like they could easily grow to be big holes or have threads pulled to make the situation a lot worse. We have some denim patches downstairs and I was considering ironing one on. Would that work? Could I sew it? (it feels like I cannot sew it, I have no sewing skill)

Any advice or ideas? He was in tears just handing it over for me to take a look at

[Anonymous]

Could you fold it and sew or pin it into a smaller blanket so the tears are inside and not so exposed? You can tell him it’s just a test and won’t hurt the blanket.

[Anonymous]

I would attempt sewing before iron on patches (which are hard and could tear the fabric more).

[Anonymous]

Can you do a whip stitch? I like the idea of folding the blanket with as tiny a fold as possible and then whip stick the underside. Might have to forgo a knot and do as my Nan taught me and do a knot or lock stitch. Just thinking your son may want to pull at a threaded knot?

[Anonymous]

no, you will regret the denim. It will make it hard and foreign.

I would normally take it to a seamstress to perhaps buttress another layer of muslin on one side but since we are in a pandemic, I would just order another one and have him play with it.

He's two. He will adapt. He can still have his other lovie, just not as much, until it's fixed.

You can also google "threading." It's a very rare skill but there are places in the US that you can send it off to that will do it. It basically adds threads in a weave pattern to build up the fabric. That would be like new, but you'd have to research it, mail it off, etc.

Have him get used to a second lovie. Kids get weaned off of bottles. Kids get transitioned out of lovies. Having a second one while he still gets the first one once in a while is not the worst thing. Also wash that new one as often as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no, you will regret the denim. It will make it hard and foreign.

I would normally take it to a seamstress to perhaps buttress another layer of muslin on one side but since we are in a pandemic, I would just order another one and have him play with it.

He's two. He will adapt. He can still have his other lovie, just not as much, until it's fixed.

You can also google "threading." It's a very rare skill but there are places in the US that you can send it off to that will do it. It basically adds threads in a weave pattern to build up the fabric. That would be like new, but you'd have to research it, mail it off, etc.

Have him get used to a second lovie. Kids get weaned off of bottles. Kids get transitioned out of lovies. Having a second one while he still gets the first one once in a while is not the worst thing. Also wash that new one as often as possible.

Yes this. I'd start mixing in some new blankets to get them worn and soft too, before the preferred one falls apart completely.

[Anonymous]

pp here. correction. It's not called threading it's called reweaving.

This is one of the few places in the US that still does it.

https://www.withoutatrace.com/reweaving/

[Anonymous]

My nearly-7YO daughter has a marie kitty (disney) she has well-loved since age 3. Cant sleep without it. Her identical twin sister is not nearly so attached to anything.

Anyway, I have replaced the tail, sutured up holes, put the bow back on, etc. She rejects any attempts to replace or retire it. Its actually kinda sweet.

And its not a lovie....its a "TSO" transitional security object. Adults have them too, we call them "smartphones" !

[Anonymous]

What about something like this? Not denim but still amateur feasible

https://www.amazon.com/PatchMommy-Elephant-Patch-Iron-Sew/dp/B00CRPY43K?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_3

[Anonymous]

How big are the holes? I'd think you'd want to start by just darning them, if they aren't too big.

Don't have to be perfect -- just need to close them up so they won't get bigger. You might have some little puckers.

Agree, you don't want a denim patch on a muslin blanket.

[Anonymous]

Iron on patches simply don’t work. Do you know anybody who sews OP? If the holes aren’t too big, you could hand sew them closed. Not perfect, but keeps out the little fingers from making it BIGGER.

When my DS’s teddy bear became woefully threadbare, I convinced him to leave Teddy on the shelf where he could “watch over him.” My DS went along except if a thunderstorm would wake him up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How big are the holes? I'd think you'd want to start by just darning them, if they aren't too big.

Don't have to be perfect -- just need to close them up so they won't get bigger. You might have some little puckers.

Agree, you don't want a denim patch on a muslin blanket.

What is darning? Sorry i really don't sew...

[Anonymous]

Mending it properly is kind of complicated but I would just squish the hole with your fingers and sew a whip stitch as best you can. It will add character and probably keep the thing from unraveling until he’s old enough to not need it. I also second just buying another one.

[Anonymous]

I wish I knew you in real life--I'd fix them for you. Anyway, do you know anyone that sews? One of the grandmas, or a neighbor, or friend? I'd have someone sew a double gauze patch onto the place with holes (double gauze is what the aden and anais blankets are made from--so if you have a spare one that isn't one of the two precious ones, it could be cut and used to make a patch for the spots).

[Anonymous]

DS actually does mind the 2 holes in his blanket (his only comfort item). In fact, it has created extra surface area for him to twiddle the material which he loves to do.

I would try to see what happens if you just left it alone.