One idea would be to put a tear in the other knee, as well as a couple other random rips and make it look intentional and stylish. Another would be to try to prevent the rips, maybe by having a towel or cushion you kneel on to help protect your jeans?

A patch over the knee almost always holds up better than sewing a tear, in my experience. I have younger brothers - they were always sliding on their knees! -  and I remember fixing torn or thinned jeans knees many times when we were kids at home.

Ugh! Our poor clothes had no idea the dangers they would be facing on an ostomates body!! lol!  I have 2 suggestions for you....

1 - use a Gardeners Mat to kneel on. They are often a plastic covered foam that could be cut into sections and then transportable as well.  I have one made with the same materials as pool noodles & my arthritic knees do not even grumble when I'm using mine outside. 

2 - I think I would use some velcro and secure a big enough patch & create a door secured well with velcro,  keeping your jeans looking neat and tidy for that example you want to set for students. lol! You could remove the patch to kneel or  open a patch like door to kneel on your new handy-dandy Gardners Mat to accomplish your goal.  If it were me I'd go with the door, this would prevent a crooked patch.  If you go this route, have the sewer reinforce your patch areas with extra Jean material much like a picture frame.  Use your older jeans to measure were the "door" would go allowing room for the bent joint without causing another issue for the jeans.  Thrift stores are a great place to find old jeans for patching clothing. Check the front & backs of the lower legs to match Jean colour & thickness. Because adding velcro or reinforcing the sides is difficult to do in the leg of pants, have the door open from bottom to top or vice versa for easier velcro or even snap placement. 

Hi Eric,

I am a kneeler as well. I usually kneel on a cushy bath mat. After almost three years doing this, I haven't any issues with worn out jeans. So far, these old knees of mine haven't worn out either :-) .

Stella

Posted by: @veganostomy

 

And I guess as a question, is there an easy to way mitigate this? I'm not a fan of putting patches on my jeans, but sewing them up seems to only create another rip above or below the original hole :( 

Wear shorts - a short answer LOL

@chrisandbagpus

try a volleyball knee pad..slips over knee and is transportable..

Posted by: @sjlovestosing

Hi Eric,

I am a kneeler as well. I usually kneel on a cushy bath mat. After almost three years doing this, I haven't any issues with worn out jeans. So far, these old knees of mine haven't worn out either :-) .

 

Stella

I may have to try a pad or something. My assumption was that friction from any source would still wear down the denim, but l suppose that kneeling on a more gentle surface is going to be more forgiving than hard tile. LOL 

@veganostomy A folded wash cloth might work well to kneel on (for you one-knee kneelers) - and at the end of a day or two can just go into the laundry.

Eric

Another occasion where a D-shape memory foam bolster can been useful. stop the hole in trouser and should reduce the compression on the patella which could cause problems later in life!

Your sewing repair engineer would appreciate the extended service schedule, unless its a DIY stich up :-)

@chrisandbagpus I'm doing all the "repairs" myself, but I don't mind it - it's enjoyable to fix things, even holes in jeans! LOL

I think I might have found the true culprit to my issue. My upstairs (main) bathroom is just tile floor (like stone tile). The bathroom downstairs, which is one I tend to use more often during the day, has carpet.

So the last few times I've been mindful of how I'm kneeling and I can "feel" more friction on the knees when I'm kneeling on the carpet. I'm certain that the friction between the carpet and demin just don't mix.

But as shorts weather is upon us at any day, this may be a problem that goes away for the season! 😂😂

I thought all those teenagers were wearing jeans with holes as a fashion statement but now I get it: they're all kneelers :-D 

Your other option is of course to rip a hole in the other knee and tell your wife and kids that you're going through a mid-life crisis :lol: 

Back in the 50's, our maid had a rubber mat for kneeling.  She did all our floors by hand.  1" thick w/ a waterproof cover on both sides.

@llholiday I'm a Javaholic, too.  Stood on line @ Starbucks#1 for 30 mins(Pike's Pl.)  Sadly coffee floods my pouch like a fire hose. Only drink when a toilet is nearby.

@madrad

I have the same problem. It used to be my favorite thing to get a big iced coffee drink when we would go on a road trip. Another thing in my life that has changed. 😂

PS: I love Pikes Place Market!! Do you live in the Seattle area?

@squeakyandliza  I'm from Iowa.  Three yrs ago before UC/Crohn's totally ate me up, I spent a mth. on the Pacific Crest Trail.  Flew into Seattle for 2 days. Love the EMP museum. Drove to Mt Davis & hiked south.  Finished in CA. Easy, as the Trail can be done as day hikes.  Used the many E. to W. roads & motels.  They all cross the PCT.  My fav? Steven's Pass. By the time I got back to Seattle, I hit every popular attraction.  Used to hike all over the world.

@madrad

Wow, that is great!!  I grew up in Portland and our family used to go camping in a campground on Mt Hood. There was a 3 mile hike around the lake and at one point there was a sign and another trail leading to the PCT. I was always curious about it, and I have read Wild. 😀

Also, if you went over Stevens Pass, did you check out Leavenworth?  It is a cool little Bavarian city. Just beautiful views through that area. I live in a Washington and there is so much beauty in both Washington and Oregon. 

@squeakyandliza  Loved Washington Park/Zoo/Rose Garden.  Inspired by The Shining, I hiked above the lift from the Timberline.  Nasty wind/snow-Hot Rum Toddy after.  Drove around Trillium Lake.  Hiked N.Cascades & Icicle & stayed 2 nights in Leavenworth.  Loved Smith Rock, Tumelo & Bend.  Breathtaking views-I will go back, someday.

@madrad

Timberline is beautiful. My best friend got married up there. Did you make it to the coast?  The Oregon Coast is so nice. That is where my hubby and I got married. And we are going for a long weekend in about 9 days. It is my happy place. The sound of the waves and the ocean air. It fuels my soul. 

The zoo is fun. There is some hiking up near the zoo, at Hoyt Arberateum. Another great, though very touristy place to visit is Multnomah falls on I-84 about 30 miles east of Portland. It is a pretty easy walk to the top. My mom was in the mazamas about 20 years ago and her group hiked Mt St Helens and they started up Mt Hood another time but the weather prevented them from reaching the summit. A friend of mine just hiked Saddle Mountain over by the coast. It is a 4.5 mile out and back and they really enjoyed it. 

Bend is my other favorite place in Oregon. There is a little resort area about 15 miles south of Bend, called Sunriver.  We have been going there since college.  It is a very nice place. Lots of walking/bike paths and all the rental houses have hot tubs. And there are deer roaming around everywhere.

I’m glad you got a chance to visit our little corner of the country. 😀

Spent 2 nites at Mt. St. Helens.  The Devil's Elbow was scary.  One week later, I hiked back part way from Spirit Lake.  Coastal magazine's editor had me drive from Reedsport to the Redwoods.  Neat coastal rocks/paths. Hiked the PCT on both ends of Crater Lake.  Tracked a wildcat in the snow at Union Peak.  Long drive to Bend & skipped Sunriver.  Did stay at the neat old Prospect Hotel, gourmet food.  Rain/fog at Columbia River Gorge.  Did all the falls. Too much fog at Vista Pt, bummer.  Finished my trip w/3+ days at Rainier. Many hikes. Skyline, Christine Falls & Naches Peak(PCT) was my fav.