As the new school term approaches, a rucksack that has been used all summer often shows a torn seam or a fraying strap. Rather than replacing it straight away, it is usually possible to mend the damage and keep it going for another year. Most rips along a seam can be sewn back together with a sturdy needle and thread. A little care now saves the bother of breaking in a whole new bag later.
Before starting any repair, it helps to turn the rucksack inside out, if possible, so the stitching can be done from the reverse side. This keeps the repair less visible once the bag is turned back the right way round. Reinforcing the area around the tear with a small patch of fabric adds extra strength where the seam has already given way once.
A little mending before term starts
Straps that have started to fray at the edges benefit from a few extra stitches before they wear through completely. Catching this kind of damage early is far easier than dealing with a strap that has snapped entirely. A quick check of every seam and strap before term begins helps spot problems while they are still small.
Zips that stick or catch can often be eased with a little care, rather than assuming the whole rucksack needs replacing. Gently working the zip back and forth, sometimes with a small amount of lubricant, frequently solves the problem. This kind of small fix takes only a few minutes but makes a real difference to how the bag performs.
A rucksack mended before term starts usually goes on to survive another full year of daily use without further trouble. This small effort means a bag that has already proven itself gets to keep doing its job, rather than being replaced too soon. Once the repair is done, the rucksack is ready to go, torn seam and all forgotten.
