if this came to my shoe repair shop for me to repair i would
1.) run a lighter over the current rip this will melt the fibers to help prevent future fraying
2.) get a new material be it leather, canvas. major point is its something fairly tough at least as strong as the original strap was. depending on how critical this strap is or how important looks are i may or may not get a piece for the front and back of the strap. patch should be as wide as the strap and at least a full inch or two longer past the rip. you can also make the patch double wide and fold it over the broken strap this will be stronger in the long run
3.) pin/glue it the patch
4.) sew patches in place with a box of stitches, an X and progressively smaller boxes in the box
5.) if there is only a patch on one side i will finish with a zig zag stitch over the rip area to stabilize it farther
Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a thorough reply! I really appreciate it. I believe the straps are actually cotton so I think singeing with a lighter may not work? Unless you think that changes things, I’m going to try a patch.
i’d still try to run a lighter over it. if it burns instead of melts simply stop you wont make it worse with a moment or two of a lighter unless its all soaked in gasoline lol
either way if you patch both sides theres no real reason to attempt to melt the rips thats just something i do regularly enough to do without thinking too much in this sort of situation
You can always apply a little bit of ~~super glue~~ or fray check if it is cotton and won't melt.
Edited: don't use super glue, I completely forgot it lights itself on fire. Fray Check is a specific product for use on fabric. There are other fabric glues as well.
literally follow the edges of the patch in a square/box shape
then make a line of stitches from each opposite corner(not part of the box just explaining the X stitch while i am at it)
then make smaller boxes in each box till you can no longer make boxes
thats my usual go to way to do a patch like this. if its for something that takes a lot of force like a tow strap i’ll add in vertical, horizontal, and both left and right diagonals of stitches all spaced as close as i can get them
then finish it off by gluing leather to both sides top and bottom of the strap on the patch area and use my sole stitcher
basically a metric ton of stitches for heavy duty things
yes i'm a cobbler and fix most anything fabric or leather most of the time its a rather visible mend. i wouldn't say i typically do anything too fancy as most of my customers want functional and quick repairs
Secret option C: Patch! if it’s gonna rub a lot and carry weight, i’d always patch. You could do option A and then add some fabric over it so your shoulder doesn’t immediately wear through / tangle the long stitches, but personally my approach would be to get a sturdy fabric, wrap it around the damaged area, and thoroughly stitch it all together as much as possible.
Personally, i would cut the strap, seam rip the bag open, sew the strap back in the same spot. I do this method to replace straps that are too short for me all the time
Sure, not a visible mend, but it would probably be the most secure
I wouldnt trust a patch to bear the weight, or not be annoyingly bulky
I recommend getting more nylon, burn the frays, and then use the new nylon like bread and sandwich the ripped nylon and do a square stitch on both of the unripped ends, zig zag over the rip
Taking inspiration from katsunes comment here, but I would take a lighter to the edges to secure them a bit and then go in with some stitches to get the band back in shape ( image 1 is not a bad idea, but alternatively you can just go in with some x stitches along the rip). Slap on some patches on both sides with loads of glue and further secure it in place with more stitches.
Don't know how much weight the strap is holding, but I would use 2 nylon threads when sewing. If it's a duffle bag or bigger backpack, then I might upgrade to proper waxed cotton and treat it like leatherwork with " double-sided" stitching.
Option C, get another strap price and lay that over the broken strap, then sew according to option A. If that strap gets enough tension to break like that, then it needs more support than just thread.
I’ve had the same tear happen on a backpack strap. I mended it the way you’ve illustrated in picture two, but with “x”stitches, to hold better. The backpack has lasted 3 more years and the mend has held. It’s a Daily use backpack for a child.
if this came to my shoe repair shop for me to repair i would 1.) run a lighter over the current rip this will melt the fibers to help prevent future fraying 2.) get a new material be it leather, canvas. major point is its something fairly tough at least as strong as the original strap was. depending on how critical this strap is or how important looks are i may or may not get a piece for the front and back of the strap. patch should be as wide as the strap and at least a full inch or two longer past the rip. you can also make the patch double wide and fold it over the broken strap this will be stronger in the long run 3.) pin/glue it the patch 4.) sew patches in place with a box of stitches, an X and progressively smaller boxes in the box 5.) if there is only a patch on one side i will finish with a zig zag stitch over the rip area to stabilize it farther
Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a thorough reply! I really appreciate it. I believe the straps are actually cotton so I think singeing with a lighter may not work? Unless you think that changes things, I’m going to try a patch.
i’d still try to run a lighter over it. if it burns instead of melts simply stop you wont make it worse with a moment or two of a lighter unless its all soaked in gasoline lol either way if you patch both sides theres no real reason to attempt to melt the rips thats just something i do regularly enough to do without thinking too much in this sort of situation
Thanks! Good advice, will give it a go.
You can always apply a little bit of ~~super glue~~ or fray check if it is cotton and won't melt. Edited: don't use super glue, I completely forgot it lights itself on fire. Fray Check is a specific product for use on fabric. There are other fabric glues as well.
Warning: super glue contains a chemical called cyanoacrylate which can ignite cotton fibers!!! Use a fabric glue
Great shout! Thanks!
Warning: super glue contains a chemical called cyanoacrylate which can ignite cotton fibers!!! Use a fabric glue
Forgive my ignorance, but could you elaborate on what a "box of stitches" is?
literally follow the edges of the patch in a square/box shape then make a line of stitches from each opposite corner(not part of the box just explaining the X stitch while i am at it) then make smaller boxes in each box till you can no longer make boxes thats my usual go to way to do a patch like this. if its for something that takes a lot of force like a tow strap i’ll add in vertical, horizontal, and both left and right diagonals of stitches all spaced as close as i can get them then finish it off by gluing leather to both sides top and bottom of the strap on the patch area and use my sole stitcher basically a metric ton of stitches for heavy duty things
Saving this comment foreverrrr
Shoe repair shop, eh? 🤔
yes i'm a cobbler and fix most anything fabric or leather most of the time its a rather visible mend. i wouldn't say i typically do anything too fancy as most of my customers want functional and quick repairs
Secret option C: Patch! if it’s gonna rub a lot and carry weight, i’d always patch. You could do option A and then add some fabric over it so your shoulder doesn’t immediately wear through / tangle the long stitches, but personally my approach would be to get a sturdy fabric, wrap it around the damaged area, and thoroughly stitch it all together as much as possible.
Excellent suggestion! Appreciate it! It’s not really a shoulder bag so rubbing not an issue - a patch seems like a great way forward. Will try it!
Personally, i would cut the strap, seam rip the bag open, sew the strap back in the same spot. I do this method to replace straps that are too short for me all the time Sure, not a visible mend, but it would probably be the most secure I wouldnt trust a patch to bear the weight, or not be annoyingly bulky
I recommend getting more nylon, burn the frays, and then use the new nylon like bread and sandwich the ripped nylon and do a square stitch on both of the unripped ends, zig zag over the rip
Taking inspiration from katsunes comment here, but I would take a lighter to the edges to secure them a bit and then go in with some stitches to get the band back in shape ( image 1 is not a bad idea, but alternatively you can just go in with some x stitches along the rip). Slap on some patches on both sides with loads of glue and further secure it in place with more stitches. Don't know how much weight the strap is holding, but I would use 2 nylon threads when sewing. If it's a duffle bag or bigger backpack, then I might upgrade to proper waxed cotton and treat it like leatherwork with " double-sided" stitching.
Option C, get another strap price and lay that over the broken strap, then sew according to option A. If that strap gets enough tension to break like that, then it needs more support than just thread.
I’ve had the same tear happen on a backpack strap. I mended it the way you’ve illustrated in picture two, but with “x”stitches, to hold better. The backpack has lasted 3 more years and the mend has held. It’s a Daily use backpack for a child.
You should probably do the first one.