How to fix a small tear in leather couch

How To Repair a Giant Hole in Vinyl or Leather Upholstery

Most holes in vinyl or leather upholstery can be fixed with a subpatch and leather filler. However, when the hole is larger than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, it’s better to glue another patch to the subpatch. This improves appearance and texture, as the leather filler can feel stiff when used to fill large voids on flexible surfaces.

Here’s how to repair this giant hole damaged by Fido chewing on the arm of the leather furniture.

If necessary, repair any damage to the substrate foam by plugging in a new piece (or as few pieces as possible). Buy heavy-duty upholstery foam from an upholstery or fabric supply (we may also have small pieces available). Don’t be afraid to cut away more of the original foam; this may make plugging another piece easier. Be patient in sculpting the new foam to fit the hole. The subpatch and repair will hide minor variations, but the foam plug should be level and smooth. Use a non-toxic fabric glue to adhere the new foam to the original (the glue we sell in our subpatch kit has a solvent which will melt the foam and cannot be used). You can also do a couple large whip stitches with thread if that’s easier, but take care to avoid tearing through the foam.
Prepare and insert your subpatch. Cut a piece of twill or thin denim that’s at least an inch larger than the perimeter of the hole. Lay the patch on top of the hole. If there are curves (top to bottom, side to side) where the patch bulges or wrinkles, cut out little triangles so the patch can lay flat without overlapping. Round any corners for easier insertion. Then insert the patch underneath the leather and glue down with a strong, flexible fabric glue (the glue in our subpatch kit is perfect).
Prepare and apply your top-patch. If you don’t have excess of the original material, buy some leather or vinyl (PVC) with a similar thickness, grain, and if possible, color (we can sell you a piece if you supply a photo of the grain and dimensions). Do not use polyurethane or polyester faux leather. Cut the patch to fit inside the hole, minimizing the gap between the original material and your top-patch. It is better for the patch to be too small, rather than to overlap the original material. Rounded corners will glue down better than pointy ones. Use the same fabric glue to adhere the top-patch to the subpatch. Work in small sections if necessary until the entire perimeter of the hole is secure. Ensure the glue is completely dry before applying filler.
Repair the remaining gaps with leather filler. See how to use our Soft Filler in this video.
Apply a water-based finish to conceal the repair. Learn how to match color or change color.

Type of Damage	Total Area of Damage	Filler Needed
Scaly, cracked, worn or thin but no large holes or voids	4 sq ft (2ft x 2 ft)	1 oz.
Scaly, cracked worn or thin but no large holes or voids	8 sq ft (2 ft x 4 ft)	2 oz.
Holes or tears (requires a subpatch & more layers of filler)	12 sq in (1 in x 1 ft)	1 oz.
Holes or tears (requires a subpatch & more layers of filler)	24 sq in (2 in x 1 ft)	2 oz.

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How to Repair a Leather Couch with DIY Tactics

While leather furniture is great at resisting stains, it isn’t completely impervious to all damage. Sometimes, rips and tears happen, even to high-quality sofas. In this post, we’re going to review some specific fixes for DIY leather furniture repair as well as some maintenance that you can do for leather repair and to avoid future damage.

How to Regularly Repair Your Leather Sofa

When you own a leather couch, wear and tear from scuffs and dog and cat scratches are bound to happen over time. In fact, large tears may happen as well. This doesn’t mean that your couch is damaged, just the upholstery. And the good news, it can be fixed. Here’s how you can repair small scratches and large tears while restoring the leather color with a few quick steps.

7 Steps to Repair Minor Tears in a Leather Couch

Here’s a rundown of each of the steps you can go through repair small holes in your leather couch.

1. Clean the surrounding area with rubbing alcohol and a non-abrasive applicator or rag

Use 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean the surface of the damage. Use it sparingly as it can strip the upholstery finish if you’re not careful. This will remove any dirt, grease, or other residues.

2. Apply glue to the underside of the ripped flap

Use an applicator, toothpick, or similar size instrument to apply a thin layer of the glue under each side of the rip flaps. Be sure that the glue you use is labeled for use on your particular type of leather.

3.

Reattach both sides of the rip flaps

After you apply the glue, quickly press the flaps together by putting one hand on each side and gently pushing together. Make sure that you are aligning the material correctly so that it doesn’t look uneven and the underside is not visible.

4. Finish the repair by gently sanding the areas

If you used leather glue, you can skip this step. Otherwise, using sandpaper, sand in the direction of the tear until smooth. Be sure to do this before the glue dries. We recommend 320 grit for genuine leather and 500 grit sandpaper for other types of leather. Doing this creates a fine layer of dust that will make a filler in the rip crack and make it blend more naturally with the rest of the upholstery.

5. Dye the damaged area

Apply some leather dye with a damp sponge in a circular motion and allow it to dry. Check the label of your dye to make sure it’s approved for your type of leather.

6. Finish with leather conditioner

If the upholstery looks a bit dull after the process, you can dab some leather finish.

7. Allow the glue to set for 1 hour.

It’s important to let the glue fully set for 1 hour before sitting on your couch or doing anything that will cause the leather to flex.

8 Steps to Repair Large Holes and Major Tears in a Leather Couch

If you have a large tear in your leather couch, you will need to patch to repair it. The following steps will run you through the repair process for patching.

1. Cut your sub patch out

When your tear is so bad that it exposes the substrate, you need a sub patch to prep the repair. Open your repair kit and cut out an appropriately sized piece of sub patch. It should be just slightly bigger than the tear.

2. Insert your sub patch into the hole

Next, using a pair of tweezers, insert the sub patch so that it completely covers the hole and rests between the substrate and the leather.

3. Glue your sub patch to the rest of the leather

Then, take an applicator or toothpick to apply a thin coat of leather glue on the underside of the leather. Press the leather onto the sub patch by gently pushing the tear back into its original place. Wipe away excess glue.

4. Apply pressure to the repair site while it dries

Place a heavy item over the repair area while it dries, at least 30 minutes. Check also to see if the use of a hairdryer is advised to assist the drying process. If you do use one, be careful don’t overdo it as that can cause more damage.

5. Clean the surface

Then clean the area up with 70% isopropyl alcohol to remove excess chemicals that might impede bonding. Also be sure to trim away any loose fibers around the tear.

6. Apply leather filler

If there are any gaps around your repaired tear, you can apply a leather filler with a palette knife to smooth out the surface. Scrape away excess. Allow it to dry.

7. Dye the area

If needed, apply a sparing amount of dye with a damp sponge in a circular motion. Be sure to test your dye on a hidden area first to make sure it blends well.

8. Apply leather finish

Finally, dab a bit of leather finish to restore the luster. Don’t overdo it though, you don’t want it to stand out amongst the rest of the leather.

Maintaining Your Leather Sofa With Consistent Repairs

Now you know how to repair your leather couch so that you can continue to get many years of use out of it. It’s important to note, however, that regular maintenance can help to avoid some of these issues in the first place.

Clean your leather seat regularly with a white vinegar solution so that the leather maintains its integrity. In addition, applying a leather conditioner from time to time can also help maintain durability.

If damage does occur, you can follow the steps laid out here or contact a repair service to fix your upholstery and hang on to your investment for longer.

how to make a patch for upholstered furniture

Do not rush to throw away the sofa because of the torn upholstery. If the damage is single and small, it can be repaired with a do-it-yourself patch.

Practically every stain can be removed and a hole can be patched.

How to patch a sofa
- What materials can be made
- Patch design or color
- Process of creation
How to fix a hole in a sofa (made of fabric, leather or other materials)
- Ready patch
- sew up the hole
- Gluing fabric to fabric
Video: we sew a sofa with our own hands

How to patch a sofa

For a simple repair, it is not necessary to go to a workshop or rush to a furniture store.

Use quality leather for patches.

"But how can you mend a hole in a leather sofa yourself?" - you ask. This is indeed a little more complicated, but here you can manage with minimal costs.

Any sofa eventually becomes unusable.

Let's remember sewing lessons at school, arm ourselves with scissors, a needle, thread and get to work. The main thing in this matter is to correctly calculate the size. The main load falls on the allowances, so they should be larger than the damaged area.

Patches can be placed randomly or strictly in symmetry.

What materials can be made

"Liquid Skin" is very easily absorbed into the material.

Materials for sofa repair are selected according to convenience:

thermal cloth;
plain cloth;
leather;
"liquid skin".

The fabric for the waist can be any, but it is better to use a beautiful material.

The quickest and easiest way to make a patch is with thermal fabric. It can be in the tone of the upholstery, but with multiple damage, contrasting options are acceptable. In this case, we arrange the stripes randomly.

Leather sofa requires special attention to restoration.

Sometimes we can't find thermal fabric, so we buy upholstery fabric in the store. Choose one that matches the texture and color.

Suede fabric for furniture is an artificial material that has a velvety pile on the front side.

For leather furniture, choose leather of a similar tone or special "liquid leather".

Patch design or color

Classic style sofas should be repaired as discreetly as possible. The patch should not draw undue attention to itself.

Choose the sofa upholstery fabric according to your needs.

In modern models, and even more so if the general style of the room allows, you can "play tricks". Unleash your imagination and create. Patches can be:

curly;
colored;
with characters and others.

If the damage to the sofa is serious, you will have to make efforts to restore it.

Creative will help not only refresh the sofa, but also make it more relevant if the appearance of the "four-legged friend" is slightly outdated.

An old sofa can be completely redone.

The process of creating

First you need to carefully examine the sofa. It is more convenient to repair all scuffs and holes at once. Having estimated the scale of the forthcoming work, we proceed to the preparatory stage.

Hole patch can be of any shape.

Making a DIY patch is pretty easy. We take the selected fabric and measure the flap, cut out the desired shape.

Remember! It must be several centimeters larger than the damaged area in order to withstand the loads during further operation.

Almost every happy owner of a leather sofa faced the need for periodic restoration.

How to fix a hole in a sofa (made of fabric, leather or other materials)

Having finished with the preparation, we proceed directly to the sewing process. In this case, accuracy and concentration are important.

You need to carefully make a hole on the sofa.

Ready patch

If you decide to patch the damage on the sofa, you will need an iron, thread and a needle for further work. It is better that the tools are special, designed for furniture repair, but ordinary ones can be dealt with.

Cut out the patch to fit the hole.

When working with fabric or leather, the procedure is as follows:

Place it inside the hole.
We make a basting with a thread and a needle.
We sew it in a circle. The stitches should be small and hidden.

The hole must be sewn up from the inside out.

Good advice! You can replace the classic leather patch with a paper napkin. We apply “liquid skin” on it, apply it to the damaged area and cut it out in shape. Then carefully dry the resulting template. We use it like regular fabric.

Liquid cream paint penetrates deeply into the structure of the product.

When working with leather furniture, then add a layer of "liquid leather". It will hide all the bumps on the surface. If the hole was originally not too large, it can be sealed:

Degrease the surface.
Let's dry it.
We cover the damage with the desired color.

Important! Any contact with the surface should be avoided until completely dry.

Sew up the hole

Small holes or open seams can simply be sewn up. It is safer to put a piece of fabric inside the damage and then sew first one and then the other side. It is better to connect them as close as possible. This method will prevent further tissue divergence in this place.

Next, you need to sew the parts on a typewriter so that the seams are even.

We work similarly with leather furniture. We lay a piece of leather inside and sew along the depressions.

Gluing fabric to fabric

This method is the easiest, suitable for both fabric and leather sofas.

First you need to make a pattern and cut out the details.

In the first case, we use thermal fabric:

Cut out a piece of the required size, going beyond the edges of the hole.
Put it on top of the damage.
We pass with an iron.

The result of applying “liquid skin”.

When it comes to leather sofas, "liquid leather" comes to the rescue.

We clean the edges of the gap from debris and parts of the coating, degrease.
Apply the mixture.
Let dry.

Do not rush to get rid of your favorite sofa if it shows signs of use. You can always update its look yourself with the help of fabric and sewing tools.

Show creative to mask the hole.

Even torn upholstery can be repaired with creativity. If you do not just patch up all the scuffs, but add brightness or even shape to the patches, the result can be a real art object.

The photo shows a patch for a sofa.

Leather furniture can also be upgraded by yourself, but additional materials will be required. You need to try and work with your hands, but as a result, the sofa will serve you for a long time.

Video: we sew a sofa with our own hands

What to do with a hole in the sofa?

Practical Tips

September 14, 2015 Reading time 3 minutes

Pyotr Velvetov

Permanent author of the Divano.ru Blog, interior designer with more than 10 years of experience

If the hole is not large, then it can be repaired with special liquid leather or darned. But if the hole has formed more than 5 cm - believe me, it is better to fit your furniture again.

The classic said that "nothing in the world lasts forever"! Unfortunately, this statement applies to absolutely all people dear to our hearts, as well as objects that mean a lot to us, including our favorite furniture that has been surrounding us at home for many years.

Timely cleaning and disinfection of cabinet and upholstered furniture are mandatory elements. But there are situations when little depends on the owner of the product (one of the guests burned the sofa) or he notices complex contamination too late. A hole in the upholstery of your favorite armchair or expensive sofa can be a particularly unpleasant moment!

How to fix a hole in a sofa?

Replace upholstery.
If it is of considerable size, then it makes sense to think about the complete replacement of the upholstery, but this process requires, as you yourself perfectly understand, the intervention of a professional, whose services can be expensive. At the same time, you do not have to take your upholstered furniture to the workshop (this, by the way, is also an additional material expense) - today it is possible to call a furniture master to your home, where he will do his job.
Cover with a blanket.
Another solution to this trouble is an ordinary blanket. Pick up an upholstered furniture cape at the nearest textile store and cover the sofa seat with it. If neither method suits you, then you can use the following useful recommendations. Elimination of a hole in upholstered furniture products, first of all, depends on what material is upholstery. It can be fabric, natural or artificial leather, suede and much more.

Use different textures and colors. Throwing a blanket over the sofa can not only hide flaws but also give it a more comfortable look.
Use Liquid Leather.
If the armrest or drawer side is made of eco-leather or genuine leather, use liquid leather for repairs, be sure to choose the right shade.

There are a considerable number of special solutions and devices designed specifically to remove damage from the surface of upholstered furniture. These include the so-called "liquid skin". This special solution has the consistency of a paste. It is carefully laid in the hole on the sofa and pressed with a dry napkin. Then an iron is placed on it (1-2 seconds is enough). After these actions, the napkin is removed, and if the color of the “liquid skin” is chosen correctly, then nothing will be noticeable at the place where a hole gaped a couple of minutes ago - the upholstery is like new! The principle of operation of this method is simple - the paste fills the hole and melts under the action of high temperature, after which the surface looks whole and undamaged. Think about buying a new sofa - maybe buying new furniture will cost you less than repairing the old one!

Sewing a hole in the sofa.
You can also try sewing up a hole in the upholstery yourself at home. How to sew up a hole in a couch? - it's not difficult, but only get down to business if you are confident in your abilities, otherwise you can ruin everything even more. Take a piece of the same or similar upholstery fabric and make a patch. Remember that the stitches should be small and "hidden" (invisible to the human eye). In this case, you need to use only special furniture accessories for sewing: threads, needles, etc.

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