A hole at the knee can be the beginning of a repair rather than the end of the jeans. First, though, have a look at the rest of the pair. Do they still fit? Is the cloth around the hole strong enough to hold stitching? Those answers matter more than finding the prettiest patch.
Small pant legs can be awkward to reach with a sewing machine. Hand stitching may be easier, and a repair professional is an option too. The aim is to work comfortably on the damaged layer without accidentally sewing the leg shut.
Give the patch sound fabric to hold on to
Look beyond the visible opening. If the surrounding denim is thin, the patch needs to extend past that area onto stronger cloth. Check the other knee, seat, waistband and seams while the jeans are laid out. You want to know what else needs attention before starting.
Our Lemon Patch Pocket Play Jean and Vintage Fabric Pocket Play Jean already use contrasting fabric as a visible detail. A repair can work that way too. It doesn't need to disappear into the denim if you'd enjoy seeing it.
Choose the cloth, then the placement
Use washable patch fabric that works with the jeans' care routine and feels comfortable at the knee. Very stiff cloth against a softer pair can make an unnecessarily bulky repair. If you're using new fabric, wash and dry it before cutting when its instructions allow.
Cut enough to overlap the whole weakened area. You can put the patch behind the opening or place it outside with finished edges. Lay it in position and look at the pair before securing it with pins or removable basting. This is the easy moment to move the print a little.
Keep the back of the leg out of the way
Slide a hand inside and check that you're reaching only the layer you want to stitch. On a narrow leg, hand sewing may give you better access. Opening and resewing a side seam is another route, but it adds garment-construction work to what might otherwise be a small repair.
For machine work, choose a needle and setup suited to your machine and the denim's thickness. Singer's needle guide identifies denim needles for jeans and canvas. Try your setup on comparable scraps before putting the actual pants under the needle.
Stitch the patch to sound fabric, adding supporting rows over the worn area as the repair needs. Keep the cloth flat and work slowly instead of pulling it through. If you're sewing by hand, make secure, even stitches and finish the thread ends firmly.
Try the repaired pair
Remove every pin and the temporary basting, and check both sides. Make sure the leg is still open and the inside of the repair feels comfortable. Then have the child try the pants before they go back into the drawer.
Use care that's compatible with both the jeans and patch, and look over the stitching after washing. Our Play Jean care guide covers the cool wash and flat drying we recommend for our denim. A loose edge is easier to deal with while it's still a small loose edge.
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