Thimbleanna » Darn It!

Darn It!

February 20, 2013 on 8:35 pm | In Chat, Sewing | 42 Comments

Darn it — my sock got a hole in it, so I had to darn it.

{Sorry, you may groan now.}

After 7 or 8 years of knitting socks they’ve finally started to get holes in them. I don’t waste my time darning store-bought socks because they’re so inexpensive to replace, but hand-knit socks are expensive and take a lot of time to knit — therefore well worth the five minutes it takes to fix them.

So, while I was fixing the hole, I thought I’d show you how I do it. I can’t even remember how I learned how to darn socks and I’m by no means an expert. I don’t even know if it’s the right way, but it works for me.

You need a sock with a hole, matching yarn (or not, your preference), a needle, scissors, and a darning egg. (You can use a lightbulb. Make that an incandescent lightbulb — those goofy corkscrew lightbulbs probably won’t work.)

I thread the needle with a reeeeeeeally long piece of yarn and then I stitch a circle around the outside of the hole. Can you see it in picture below? I don’t knot the end of the yarn — I leave a tail hanging out to weave in later.

Then I stitch fairly close parallel lines back and forth until I’ve gone all the way across the circle. I make sure that each line starts and ends outside of the original circle that I stitched. My lines aren’t neat and tidy but I’m not entering them in a contest, so I don’t care.

After the base threads are laid down, I start at one end and weave perpendicular lines. Over and under every other stitch, just like we did with our little weaving projects in elementary school. When I have the needle all the way across for each line, I squish a little on the lines that have already been woven. This helps to pack the yarn in a little.

When the circle is filled in, I weave in the ends of the yarn. Then I go back and weave in the tail that was left when I started weaving. There’s nothing attractive about my little patch, but it will extend the life of my socks for a little while longer.

If you want more info about darning, a quick google search will turn up lots of resources. There are even different patterns that you can follow so that your patch will look much prettier than mine!

Happy Darning!
XOXO,
Anna

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Brings back memories of my mom. She had an entire basket of socks that she would darn. That, like ironing, and hanging clothes on the line are a little bit of the past.

Comment by Barbara Eliaon — February 20, 2013 #
Oops bad subject verb agreement. Sorry.

Comment by Barbara Eliaon — February 20, 2013 #
Thanks! I just saw a hole in one of my hand knitted socks this morning, I thought that was the end of it. Does your method work for holes in the toe part, too?

Comment by Michelle — February 20, 2013 #
you’re so darn talented … sorry – YOUR turn to groan – bwah ha ha ha!!!

Comment by dianne — February 20, 2013 #
I have yet to knit socks but in the event that I will SOMEDAY get around to doing so, I will have the knowledge, thanks to you, to darn any holes that come after. Thanks for sharing!

Comment by Connie H — February 20, 2013 #
So darn good to know (you asked for that)now that I’ve made a litle foray into the world of knitted socks.

Comment by Janet — February 20, 2013 #
How timely! I don’t knit my own socks, but I wear Smartwool, and my favorite pair is wearing thin in the heels. I was thinking I should learn to darn. You make it look so easy. Your post prompted me to order a darning egg!

Comment by Tracy — February 21, 2013 #
Reminds me of my mum! Darning socks was just one of the chores you expected to have to do back then. Very nice job! You’re right. It doesn’t have to be a thing of beauty, just help the socks to live a ittle longer…

Comment by molly — February 21, 2013 #
So wait… Do hand knitted socks last 7-8 years???

Comment by Sherri — February 21, 2013 #
That‘s bringing back memories!

Comment by nicolette — February 21, 2013 #
I love the colour of the sock. My mum taught me how to darn my socks as I always had holes in the toes. I was once to be seen at work one lunchtime darning the heel of my colleague’s daughter’s Highland Dancing socks since they cost about £100 a pair brand new!

Comment by Di — February 21, 2013 #
perfect timing Anna, there is a pair of handknits with holes sitting on my desk right now! x

Comment by driftwood — February 21, 2013 #
I had never seen how to darn anything before, although I have my mom’s darning thing. Thanks for sharing. I looked at your youtubes – the dogs are just too cute.

Comment by Teresa — February 21, 2013 #
That’s how I learnt do darn all those many years ago. Isn’t it interesting that “old” crafts are coming back? :o)

Comment by Anne — February 21, 2013 #
Beautify fix! i have a collection of darning eggs and have to say I’ve never employed them, lol.
pretty blue/green socks!

Comment by barbvedder — February 21, 2013 #
That’s rather cool…I tell you blogs and the internet are making the old ways of make do and mend much easier to access. Thanks for a great tutorial.

Comment by Sew Create It - Jane — February 21, 2013 #
Looks a lot more attractive than mine lol. I’m going to try that circle around the edge next time!! Thanks Anna

Comment by Shawn — February 21, 2013 #
I give you an A+! I really have to learn to knit a pair of socks. Why have I never done that?!! My husband’s aunt, who lives next door and just turned 99, has given me most of her sewing stuff over the years – she used to be a professional – I have her original darning egg. Now I know how to use it. Thanks!

Comment by Marsha — February 21, 2013 #
One of my favorite movies (Sun Valley Serenade) has a line where one of the characters is listing all the reasons she’s a catch: “I can sew and knit and darn socks…” You are the total package! ;)

Comment by Jana K — February 21, 2013 #
P.S. – Thanks for the Pin!

Comment by Marsha — February 21, 2013 #
Thanks for the tutorial. Your photos make the process so clear for me now.

Comment by Bertha Mallard — February 21, 2013 #
A beautiful fix to a beautiful sock. Handmade is so much prettier.

Comment by nanette — February 21, 2013 #
My Granny taught me to darn when I was about seven!!

Comment by frayedattheedge — February 21, 2013 #
Oh that reminds me of my lovely Granny! I remember her showing me how to do it too – only we used a darning mushroom! xx

Comment by lucy locket — February 21, 2013 #
Oh man. I totally darn storebought socks. Because I’m a total nerd. I have favorite ones that I wear and wear because they have eagle’s wings across the toe and ones with a skull and crossbones on the ankle and, well, I can’t give them up.

I have a problem with clothes and giving them up even when they work better as sieves.

I guess I need a darning egg though since I totally just do this freehand.

Comment by finny — February 21, 2013 #
I’m impressed! I love your knitted socks! :)

Comment by Jennifer Henson — February 22, 2013 #
I need to know which wool you’re using because my knitted socks NEVER last that long without a hole!

Comment by dottycookie — February 22, 2013 #
My MIL used to darn regular cotton socks. I thought she was mad, but I can totally see darning your knitted socks. I like your little patch. Good work Miss Thimble!

Comment by Jody — February 22, 2013 #
Where did you find your darning egg? I work in my LYS, and every once in awhile, someone will ask for one. I direct them to Lacis’ website—we don’t have enough demand for them to carry them in the store.

Comment by Brenda — February 22, 2013 #
So pleased you healed your heel!! I darn like you, except for the circle – thanks for that bonus information. I’ll be using it next time!

Comment by Meredithe — February 22, 2013 #
What a terrific job you did there! I think it looks wonderful. I used to have to darn Mr. Muddling’s socks when we were first married. We were so poor there was no choice. :) I know my darning did not look nearly as good as yours. But it did get the job done.

Comment by Elaine/MuddlingThrough — February 22, 2013 #
Your patch IS pretty, Anna :) I found a darning egg a couple of years ago….I love it because it makes me feel like an old-fashioned gal.

Have a great weekend!

Comment by Amy — February 22, 2013 #
What an excellent tutorial! You have (once again) helped save a lost art! Thanks so much for sharing. I love seeing all of the socks you have knitted. Any tips for an easy starter sock project? Thanks again!!!

Comment by Glassquilt — February 24, 2013 #
Thank you Anna! That is so helpful to know! I haven’t gotten any holes yet, but I know it will happen one of these day and I’m so glad to know there is a way to save them. :)

Comment by Doni — February 24, 2013 #
Thanks for the tutorial, Anna. It was interesting to see how that is done. Now if I ever
finish a pair of socks, I’ll know how to mend them.

Downton Abbey was so good this season, except for those two big things that happened. I hope none of that happens next season. Curious to see how Branson’s story plays out. Oh, maybe that shrink could talk to Cora about her annoying voice, too. :o)

Comment by Stacy — February 24, 2013 #
Is there anything you can’t do? You are so talented I’m jealous. I cant’ even knit and you can darn! Darn you I say!! lol

Comment by Sharon Yeager — February 25, 2013 #
Thank you for this. I have not darned a sock before but now I know what to do!!! Clarice

Comment by clarice — February 25, 2013 #
I had no clue how to darn a sock, so thanks for this. If my hand knit ones start to wear out, I will do this!

Comment by Stephanie in MI — February 25, 2013 #
i was wondering the other day, while wearing my pink socks, when they finally get a hole if i was going to have to jump from a cliff or if i would have a solution by then.
thank you, in advance, for saving me from impending doom.
:waves madly

Comment by brigette — February 26, 2013 #
Just the way I remember my mom doing it many years ago.

Comment by Jeanne — March 3, 2013 #
I’m still alive! Just so you know, you’re the first blog I catch up on! ;o) Nice socks. My mommy would unravel the heel and re-knit it. That is if the hole was big. Isn’t the heel stitched separate? Probably why she did it that way. Seems easier! I guess but I haven’t, as of yet, knitted socks. Cheers!

Comment by Carole — March 12, 2013 #
I’m going to add this post to my ‘helpful link’ “project” on Ravelry!

Comment by Karen — March 13, 2013 #