Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I'll see how I'll go about patching it further if/when it disintegrates any further. Currently there's some tape used to patch steam pipes behind the cracks, and it seems to stick nicely. The application wasn't the best though, so the stitches have some actual function in addition to good looks!

I don't know if we have Shoe Goo or anything similar where I live, but I do know that we have Gorilla tapes. I have a roll of the basic black one myself, and have been really happy with it.