# How much should I pay for sewing/mending Tshirts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 19, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-sewing-mending-tshirts/814455 "2018-05-19T12:51:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-sewing-mending-tshirts/814455/1 "2018-05-19T12:51:51Z")
I have three Carhartt Tshirts with poorly sewn-on pockets with “holes” at the seams. Perfect for losing pens, combs, etc. But since I don’t need to lose things, I’m wondering if it would be worth it to get a tailor/seamster to fix the pockets–What might the charge be for such relatively simple mending? It’s a shame that formerly reliable clothing brands like Levis, Carhartt, Lands’ End, have such crappy quality control, but I guess that’s another thread… ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-sewing-mending-tshirts/814455/2 "2018-05-19T13:26:08Z")
No clue at all about the cost to hire this out but is that really required? If it just is an open seam then repairing it yourself should be quite simple. There should be a sewing/knitting supply store or section in a larger department store near you. Go there with one of your shirts and find a helpful looking person. Present your shirt, explain that you need a needle and thread to repair it. For a few buck and a few minutes of time you can certainly create a serviceable if not perfect repair. If you ask nicely, It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if the clerk at the store will repair it for you free of charge if you can manage to be both polite and charmingly befuddled. Failing that the person at the sewing store can probably tell you where to take your shirt for a professional repair and how much it will cost. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-sewing-mending-tshirts/814455/3 "2018-05-19T13:38:31Z")
We take sewing stuff to a local dry-cleaner/seamstress. I do not wear long sleeves, so I’ve had her cut sleeves off of shirts. My gf has had her hem dresses. Her minimum fee is $10, which is what she usually charges us. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-sewing-mending-tshirts/814455/4 "2018-05-19T15:52:14Z")
I would mail them straight to Carhartt. I can’t imagine them not either fixing them or sending you new and better ones. That is really surprising coming from them. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-sewing-mending-tshirts/814455/5 "2018-05-19T18:47:45Z")
By a non-professional? (You’re bound to know one or a friend of one if you ask.) No more than lunch and the cost of the thread. Really, it’s such a simple task, make it dinner and they’ll teach you. Note: knits are harder than woven cloth, and an open seam is much easier than a hole in the cloth itself, which requires darning. I’ve never been able to make the latter look decent. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-sewing-mending-tshirts/814455/6 "2018-05-19T19:04:49Z")
The dry cleaners is your best bet, if no one of your friends and family know how. I doubt it would be over $5. I would do it for free. The color of the shirt might require a matching thread, that your may have to purchase on your own. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-for-sewing-mending-tshirts/814455/7 "2018-05-19T19:29:15Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I would mail them straight to Carhartt. I can’t imagine them not either fixing them or sending you new and better ones. That is really surprising coming from them. I agree with this, although you should call them even before mailing them back. They might just send replacements without needing the defective ones returned. Or they might send replacements and a prepaid mailer to use in returning the defective goods. (They might want to see the defects to try to figure out what went wrong.)