die Flickschusterei — cobbler’s patching. DWDS: an improper, improvised repair, and also an attempt to improve a bad situation that does not bring the hoped-for result. Die Zeit wrote in 2008 of making a few new shoes for once, statt Flickschusterei, instead of patching.
das Stückwerk — piecework, something incomplete. Seine Bemühungen blieben nur Stückwerk, his efforts remained only piecework.
mit heißer Nadel genäht — sewn with a hot needle, done in a hurry and therefore without care.
Wer billig kauft, kauft zweimal. — Whoever buys cheap buys twice.
einen Mangel abstellen — to stop a defect, to remove it.