Tears and holes in lined clothing

For lined clothing (winter jackets, down jackets, lined trousers) varmevinyl (heat-bonding web) is the simplest repair. It bonds to all fabric types, is waterproof, and the result looks tidy. The garment can be machine-washed after the repair.

Classic products: Vlieseline, Vliesofix, Bondaweb — double-sided varmevinyl that is activated at 125–175 °C.

Materials

• Varmevinyl — available from a haberdashery, ~100–200 kr per pack
• Fabric patch — can be cut from an old garment you no longer use
• Iron or ski-waxing iron
• Cotton towel as protection between the iron and the patch

Large tears or holes

1. Clean the area — scrub with a cloth to remove grease and dirt
2. Cut the patches:
   • First cut both the varmevinyl and the fabric into a square, one on top of the other
   • Then cut into a round shape — rounded edges spread the load and hold better than sharp corners
   • The vinyl can be ~1 cm larger than the fabric patch for better edge bonding
3. Place the patches over the tear:
   • First the varmevinyl
   • Then the fabric patch on top
   • Remember to remove the protective film from the varmevinyl first
4. Apply heat and pressure:
   • 125–175 °C — check the manufacturer’s instructions
   • Always a clean cotton towel between the iron and the patch — it protects, and absorbs adhesive residue
   • A ski-waxing iron is ideal because you can adjust the temperature precisely
   • Press lightly while you apply heat for 15–30 seconds

Small or clean tears

If the tear is clean (no fabric is missing, it is just split):

1. Place the varmevinyl patch on the inside of the garment
2. Bring the fabric around the tear together on the outside of the varmevinyl patch, the edges meeting
3. Apply heat — the tear holds together, and the result is much less visible than a patch on the outside

This is the greatest advantage of varmevinyl: it does not bond until you apply heat, so you can adjust the position before you seal it.

The fabric patch

You can take the patch from:

• An old garment that would otherwise be thrown away
• Fabric scraps from old repairs
• A haberdashery if you want a matching colour

Varmevinyl bonds to most things — cotton, wool, synthetics, blends.

Machine washing

The garment can be machine-washed after the repair. The vinyl is activated at 125–175 °C — a normal wash temperature (30–60 °C) is far below the activation point.

Reversible

Varmevinyl can be released again by applying heat. That means you can:

• Remove an old patch and swap it for a new one
• Adjust the position if you placed the patch wrongly
• Apply more adhesive under a partly released edge

Back to Repair → · Sew holes and tears → · Gluing holes and tears in outdoor gear → · Tear in the crotch of trousers →

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Text: Lars Peters and Snuitide (2022), revised 2026.