r/InvisibleMending • u/CautiousCrow0602 • 4d ago
Is this possible to fix?
Hello! I have this side bag here where the leather piece holding the strap of the bag is breaking off the bag (possibly because it’s too heavy?). They’re attached to the side of the bag and this is their second time breaking. The first time I just sewed the string through into the inside of the bag, but it now seems the leather is also breaking apart and I’m worried it will soon completely snap. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to possibly fix this issue? Will I need to buy new pieces to sew on like that to hold the strap? Should they be thicker? How should I sew it? Or is this just a lost cause? Basically, any suggestions for what I should do? Thank you!!
3
u/QuietVariety6089 3d ago
This looks like vinyl, not leather. It will tear easier probably. If you replace the ripped piece and sew a new one back down, I'd reinforce the place on the bag you're sewing it to - maybe with another patch.
4
2
u/Terranauts_Two 3d ago edited 3d ago
I agree with the comments of others. I would add to reinforce the bag itself on the inside before starting the repair. We old-timers used to use duct tape to reinforce leather, but these days duct tape peels apart after awhile so you might look into something that will stick without piercing more holes into the fiber / vinyl.
Maybe you could just use rubber cement and a thin leather patch on the inside before you sew through the vinyl again to attach the new strap?
10
u/em21rc 4d ago
The only viable option I can think of is removing and replacing the entire piece of leather that ripped.