15. Making and mending clothing:

A. Making new clothing:[1]

It is forbidden to make new clothing or new shoes during the nine days.[2] [This applies even to socks.[3]] The women are likewise accustomed not to weave the warp during the nine days.[4] It is permitted to weave strings during the nine days.[5] It is likewise permitted to weave items that are not clothing.[6]

A tailor making for others: It is forbidden for a Jewish tailor to make this item even on behalf of another person [which is a Jew]. This applies whether he is doing so in exchange for payment, of for free.[7] This applies even if one intends to sell the garment in the market place.[8] However, the custom is to be lenient in this [and make new clothing even for a Jew[9]].[10] This, however, is only allowed if the material was already given to the tailor before Rosh Chodesh, however to give him the material after Rosh Chodesh is obviously forbidden.[11] ]Furthermore, some Poskim[12] are only permit one to be lenient until the week of Tisha B’av.] It is permitted however for a Jew to make the item on behalf of a gentile, if it is well known that the work is being done on his behalf.[13] [It is permitted to do so even if the Jew receives the material after Rosh Chodesh.[14]] It is likewise customarily permitted for a Jew to give material to a non-Jew to make for him a new garment, so it be ready after Tisha B’av.[15] [This applies even during the weeks of Tisha B’av.[16] However some Poskim[17] are stringent to only allow it up until the week of Tisha B’av.] Nonetheless, it is best to diminish in this matter when possible.[18]

 

B. Mending and fixing Clothing:

It is forbidden to remodel[19] even old clothing beginning from Rosh Chodesh Av, throughout the nine days.[20] However, it is permitted to sew a loose stitch, or sew a tear of a clothing, [or resew a button[21]] throughout the nine days, even in the week of Tisha B’av.[22] It is likewise permitted to sew a patch onto clothing during this time.[23] [This may be done even professionally and with the use of sewing machines.[24]]

 

Q&A May one fix broken or damaged shoes during the nine days, such as to replace the sole, or stitch the parts together?[25] Yes.   May one hem a pair of pants during the nine days?[26] It is permitted to hem an old pair of pants. One is not to hem a new pair of pants.   May one weave Tzitzis strings during the nine days?[27] Yes.   May one tie Tzitzis to a Tallis Katan/Gadol during the nine days?[28] Yes.   May one sew a tear in a Tallis?[29] Yes.   May one give sewing classes during the nine days?[30] If delaying the classes will cause one to incur a financial loss, one may do so during the nine days.   May one practice sewing during the nine days?[31] A student is to delay practicing sewing until after the nine days, unless they use material which is not planned to be made into a clothing.   May girls in camp learn to sew during the nine days?[32] Some Poskim[33] rule that if there are no other activities available for them to do, one may be lenient until the week of Tisha B’av. This however is on condition that they leave the completion of the clothing for after the nine days. Other Poskim[34] however rule it is not permitted at all during the nine days.   May one sew or weave clothing for therapeutic purposes, such as to calm one’s nerves and the like? Some Poskim[35] rule it is permitted to do so.   May a Chasan/Kallah make new clothing during the nine days for the sake of their wedding?[36]  A Chasan and Kallah who are scheduled to get married after Tisha B’av may make new garments throughout the nine days.[37] This applies even to garments of importance. This applies even on the week of Tisha B’av.[38] This however only applies if the Chasan does not yet have children, and has hence not yet performed the Mitzvah of Peru Urevu. However, some Poskim[39] are stringent in this matter. Likewise, some Poskim[40] limit this allowance to only a case that one will be unable to make the garment after Tisha B’av.

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[1] 551:7-8

Letter of law or stringency? From Rosh Chodesh Av until the week of Tisha B’av this matter is forbidden due to a stringency, while during the week of Tisha B’av it is forbidden from the letter of the law. [See Michaber 551:7]

[2] Michaber 551:7 in name of Yeish Omrim [Hagahos Maimanis in name of Rokeaich and Tur 551 in name of Rabbeinu Shmuel] that it is forbidden the week of Tisha B’av and that one is to be Machmir from Rosh Chodesh; Tur ibid; See Mateh Yehuda 551:6 and Kaf Hachaim 551:93 that everyone agrees it is forbidden during the week of Tisha B’av, and the wording of Yeish Omrim was used to negate the requirement to start from Rosh Chodesh according to this opinion; The Michaber ibid writes it is forbidden to “fix” new clothing. The M”B 551:46 explains this to mean to make new clothing

The reason: As the warp is called the Sheti, and on Tisha B’av we lost the Even Hashetiya, and we thus likewise avoid making the Shetiya warp in weaving due to this reason. For this reason we certainly avoid making new clothing during the nine days. [M”A 551:23; Tur 551; Kaf Hachaim 551:94]

[3] Derech Hachaim 4; M”B 551:46; Kaf Hachaim 551:97 and 100; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:27

[4] Michaber 551:8; Yerushalmi Pesachim 4

The reason: As the warp is called the Sheti, and on Tisha B’av we lost the Even Hashetiya, and we thus likewise avoid making the Shetiya warp in weaving due to this reason. [Yerushalmi ibid; M”A 551:23]

[5] M”A 551:23

[6] M”A ibid; Elya Raba 551:16; Chayeh Adam 133:15; M”B 551:54

[7] Rama ibid; Terumos Hadeshen 152; Taz 551:7 in name of Beis Yosef

[8] M”A ibid; Terumos Hadeshen 152; Biur Halacha 551:7 “Shel Hanachri

[9] M”A 551:24; P”M 551 A”A 24; Chayeh Adam 133:14; Derech Hachaim 4; M”B 551:51; Kaf Hachaim 551:108

[10] Rama ibid

[11] M”A 551:24; P”M 551 A”A 24; Chayeh Adam 133:14; Derech Hachaim 4; M”B 551:51; Kaf Hachaim 551:108

[12] Mateh Yehuda 551; Biur Halacha 551:7 “Venahagu” based on Gr”a; Kaf Hachaim 551:109

[13] Rama ibid

The reason: As he certainly does not receive joy from this. [M”B 551:52]

[14] M”B 551:52; Kaf Hachaim 551:110

[15] Rama ibid

The reason: As the prohibition against making new clothing is omitted from the Talmud and therefore receives additional leniencies, unlike laundering which is Talmudically prohibited and thus may not be done by a gentile even for after Tisha B’av. Furthermore, buying is more lenient than laundering, as “his name is not yet on the clothing.” [M”A 551:25]

[16] Kaf Hachaim 551:112 that so is implication of M”A 551:25

[17] Mateh Yehuda 551; Biur Halacha 551:7 “Venahagu” based on Gr”a; Kaf Hachaim 551:109

[18] Rama ibid

The reason: As it is no different from other forms of business from which we diminish during the nine days. [Rama ibid]

[19] The Poskim in next footnote simply write “To fix old clothing”. However, in order for there to not be a contradiction between this statement and the next statement which allows sewing tears, one must explain that this refers to a full remodeling job rather than a simple mending. [See Orchos Rabbeinu 2:129; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:29 footnote 156 who explains likewise]

[20] Bach 551; Kneses Hagedola 551:10; Elya Raba 551:16; Kaf Hachaim 551:99

[21] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:29

[22] Moed Lekol Chaiy 10:18; Kaf Hachaim 551:107

[23] Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 10; Kaf Hachaim ibid

[24] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:29

[25] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551 footnote 157

[26] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:29 footnote 157

[27] Rav Poalim 4:29

[28] Betzeil Hachochmah 4:152

[29] Sheilas Yaavetz 1:82

[30] Betzeil Hachochmah 4:44; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:30 based on Rama 551:7 who allows a Jew to make new clothing for others

[31] Betzeil Hachochmah 4:44; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:30

[32] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:30

[33] Betzeil Hachochmah 4:54; Mishneh Halachos 7:77; Lehoros Nasan 2:35

[34] Kinyan Torah 2:110

[35] Lehoros Nasan 2:35

[36] Siddur Yaavetz; Machazik Bracha 551:10; Shaareiy Teshuvah 551; Chayeh Adam 133:14; M”B 551:14 and 46; Kaf Hachaim 551:101-102; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:10 and footnote 66

[37] The reason: As from the letter of the law it is even permitted for them to get married during the three weeks, if the Chasan has not yet performed the Mitzvah of having children. [ibid]

[38] Betzeil Hachachma 4:152

[39] See Kaf Hachaim ibid and 551:30 and 33

[40] Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid