How to Fix Tears in the Couch

Fabric

• 1

  Spray an anti-fray treatment on top of the tear. Allow the fabric to dry completely, which takes 12 to 24 hours. The treatment will prevent the edges of the fabric from fraying.

• 2

  Select a color of strong upholstery thread that matches the color of the couch.

• 3

  Thread a thin needle with an amount of thread that is about as long as your arm. Pull the thread through half-way through the hole on the needle; the ends of the thread should be equal. Tie the ends of the thread together with an overhand knot.

• 4

  Insert the needle through the outer edge of one of the ends of the tear. Pull the needle over the tear so that the thread sits over it and insert the needle through the outer edge of the opposite side of the tear.

• 5

  Pull the thread to pull the sides of the fabric over the tear. Repeat the process described in Step 4, making these straight stitches over the entire tear.

• 6

  Remove the needle from the thread. Knot the ends of the thread together and trim off any excess with a pair of scissors.

Leather

• 7

  Place a piece of tracing paper over the tear on the couch. Trace the tear on the paper with a pencil.

• 8

  Cut the tear from the tracing paper in a circle about 1 inch from the edges of the tear.

• 9

  Place the cut-out on a piece of leather that matches the color and texture of your leather couch. Trace around the cut-out with a pen, transferring the cut-out onto the leather.

• 10

  Remove the tracing paper cut-out from the leather. Cut the shape out of of the leather with a pair of sharp scissors or a craft knife. The cut-out leather will serve as a patch.

• 11

  Set the patch over the tear to ensure it will cover the damage. Remove the patch and apply acrylic glue to the back of it. Replace the patch over the tear.