Been working on going blind and getting smarter by viewing tutorials about my new sewing machine. There are a few built-in stitches made to darn/join problems like this. One of them is really extra-nifty. The completed stitch actually looks as though it replicates the split fabric. And the look can vary from fabric type to fabric type. Just for fun, before moving any farther on the fix, maybe check to see if there is a stitch like that on your friend's machine. I have used it and was pleasantly surprised.
A.