Repair A Commando Sweater

So I recently jumped on an offer for an XL size British commando sweater. These are surplus but I wasn't expecting holes based on the description. I like the British style as it does not have a V-neck and the German ones I've seen at various vendors have all been pretty worn out.

It's get three holes in it where the threads are pulled apart. A small one dead center of the chest, and a thumb size one right next to another small one near the bottom. Unfortunately I can't hide it by just rolling the sweater up, it's a bit too far up.

It's not worth it to try and exchange it as return shipping is $7.50 and I only paid $21.00 for it anyway, plus they are out of XLs. So anyone have suggestions on sewing this up? Suggestions for thread?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...guvupt2m-1.jpg

Mending a sweater isn't that hard, can be done with a large needle and wool. It might be easier to go to your local sewing clutch and ask the old women there. They'll explain it in a nunce. You can do it your self, we taught the troops to mend their own socks, they never did it though.

We had to darn our socks for the three years that we were apprentices BAR. On our first leave, my mum showed/taught me to darn them over a KIWI boot polish tin. We also had to darn our jumpers too, especially where the brass buckles of our web belts caused it to rub through. I seem to remember that in the 'housewife' we were issued with contained buttons, some thread and wool, a thimble....., you know the kind of stuff. A 'housewife' was a little roll up thing. I was trying to think of a joke to make about it but can't because the whole time wasn't funny!

Back to darning socks....... They wera all about size 13, for a foot that size too. The big toe always went first so you'd darn it several times and so on but my friend would darn it a few times then instead of darning yet another hole, he would just cut the whole first 1" off and simply sew the split up where he'd cut the front off. And so it went on. He used to recon that by the time the heel had come around to the toes it was about time to get a new pair.

Easy to repair, as said above. Large needle, correct colour wool, darn from the inside. Don't pull too tight, otherwise it makes a noticeable knot in the weave. Take your time, about one beer per hole per day.

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

I seem to remember that in the 'housewife' we were issued with contained buttons, some thread and wool, a thimble....., you know the kind of stuff. A 'housewife' was a little roll up thing.

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Yes, I remember well. Matter of fact, mine still has my name and last three on it for kit inspection...and I still use it.