How to Repair Couch Fabric With a Needle and Thread

Align the edges of the tear by bringing the two fabric edges together. Overlap the edges at least 1/4-inch on each side of the tear, if possible, to make a small seam allowance. Pin the fabric edges together to hold them securely and prevent them from shifting or moving.

Cut a length of nylon thread that is approximately twice as long as the tear and thread the upholstery needle. Pull the nylon thread through the eye of the needle to make uneven lengths of thread -- one length about 6 to 8 inches longer than the other length. Tie a knot in the longer length of thread.

Insert the needle through the wrong side of the fabric at one end of the tear. Make the needle come through the fabric at the exact point where you want the fabric edges to meet -- the point where you overlapped the two edges to create the seam allowance. Pull the needle through until the knot stops on the underside of the fabric.

Insert the needle through the fabric on the other side of the tear at precisely the point where you want the two sides to meet. Push the needle through so the curved tip of the needle points in the direction in which you want to stitch and direct the point of the needle back up about 1/4 inch away to make a small stitch.

Pull the needle all the way through to tighten the stitches you just made.

Insert the needle back in the fabric again directly across the tear. Make sure you insert the needle at the edge of the fabric where you want the two edges to meet. Push the needle through on this side so the curved end points the direction you want to stitch and take another 1/4-inch stitch. Pull the needle through to tighten the stitches again.

Repeat the same process going back and forth across the tear until you reach the other end of the tear.

Reverse your sewing direction and stitch across the tear two or three times to secure the stitching.

Tie a knot with the thread by wrapping the thread around the needle and taking a small stitch. Pull the thread tight to tighten the knot. Insert the needle through the fabric to take about a 1/2-inch stitch -- this will bury the knot on the underside of the fabric. Cut the thread off flush with the top surface of the fabric. Remove the upholstery pins.