Letterman Jacket leather sleeves patch removal

[NoVaMom]

Looking to find a solution (other than simply sewing a larger patch over the spots) to fill the stitching holes from where patches have been removed from a high school Letterman Jacket.  We’d like to pass along this jacket so someone else can personalize with his/her own activity patches & graduation year. Sleeves are white leather. After removing the patches there is adhesive gunk I need to remove & teeny-tiny holes from the stitching. 
 

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH for any help & suggestions!!! 

[AlZilla]

The gunk might give way to saddle soap. I'd test it on an inconspicuous spot to be sure it won't discolor that white.

The needle holes, if you find a cure, patent it and you'll be a billionaire.  Maybe hand stitching back into the same holes with white thread would make them less obvious.

[dikman]

Eucalyptus oil is very good for removing adhesive and "shouldn't" harm the leather - also good for clearing the sinus! As for the holes there are three options as I see it - sew more patches over them (!), re-use the holes for decorative stitching or do nothing. That is the downside to sewing on leather, the holes are permanent.

[Jennifer Gates]

On 12/14/2024 at 12:44 AM, NoVaMom said:

Looking to find a solution (other than simply sewing a larger patch over the spots) to fill the stitching holes from where patches have been removed from a high school Letterman Jacket.  We’d like to pass along this jacket so someone else can personalize with his/her own activity patches & graduation year. Sleeves are white leather. After removing the patches there is adhesive gunk I need to remove & teeny-tiny holes from the stitching. 
 

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH for any help & suggestions!!! 

Taking patches off leather sleeves can be tricky, but with care you can save the jacket and still keep its charm.