Mend an Open Lined Seam With Ladder Stitch: Six Steps

Ladder stitch can close a small split along an intact seam in a lined jacket or trousers, even when the reverse side is hard to reach. The iFixit source guide has real step photos. Torn fabric and high-stress seams need other reinforcement.

4 min read2026-10-24

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OriginalPublic agency guidance on clothing repairDanish Environmental Protection Agency

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What you need

Matching thread
Needle and scissors

How to

1. Check that only the seam stitching opened. A tear in the fabric itself may require another repair method.
2. Lay the garment flat and align the original folded seam edges without stretching the material.
3. Thread a needle with matching thread and secure it with several tiny stitches next to the intact seam.
4. Take a 1–2 mm stitch along one folded edge, then another directly opposite on the other edge. Keep alternating sides like the rungs of a ladder.
5. After 2–3 cm, draw the thread gently to close the gap. If it puckers, loosen it and make shorter, more even stitches.
6. Continue slightly into the intact seam and secure the finishing stitches. Hide the thread tail and gently test the repaired seam.

One more tip

Gently tighten the thread every 2–3 cm rather than pulling hard at once to avoid puckering. Consider a tailor for damaged fabric or high-stress seams. The linked original photos are not copied into this article.

# garment repair # hand sewing

What you need

How to

One more tip

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