Stitches

What does the saying "a stitch in time saves nine" mean?

Public Comments

1. MEANS:...If you take your time and do something right the first time, then you would not have to go back and do it again.....
2. Benjamin Franklin wrote that little saying, and it means, if you fix it quickly while it's still small, it will save you a larger repair later. Though it's not only used in sewing but the saying can be used about anything.
3. It's saying that if you fix a problem in the beginning when it is only a small problem, you will save yourself a lot more work later on if the problem grows. In the literal sense, if there is a hole in some article of clothing of yours (say, a sock) then if you take the time to stitch it up you won't have to do it later, whereas if you just ignore the hole it might get bigger and you'd have to make nine stitches to fix it, which would take more effort. So: a stitch, in time, saves nine.