Mending · Next steps · 30 minutes

Darn a Sock or Sweater

Darning weaves brand-new fabric right across a hole, like a tiny loom. It's how socks and sweaters were kept going for generations, and it's still a great way to save a favorite pair.

Darn: lay threads across the hole and into the good fabric, then weave over and under them the other way.

You'll need

darning egg or mushroom (or a smooth, hard ball)
darning or tapestry needle
yarn or thread close to the sock's color and thickness
scissors

Step by step

Tick each step as you go if you like; ticks stay on this device.

Tidy the holeSnip off long, loose ends. On knits, catch the loose loops around the hole with a few small stitches so they can't run.
Pick your yarnUse a single strand close to the sock in color and thickness. Yarn pulled from a hidden spot of the same garment matches best.
Slip in the darning eggPut the darning egg inside the sock under the hole, so the area lies smooth. Don't stretch it.
Lay the first threadsStart about 1/2 inch beyond the hole in good fabric. Sew rows of small running stitches back and forth, straight across the hole and into the good fabric on the other side.
Leave little loops at the turnsAt the end of each row, leave a tiny loop instead of pulling tight. The darn stays flexible and won't pucker.
Weave acrossTurn and work the other way. Pass the needle over one thread and under the next, then do the opposite on the next row, like weaving a basket.
Finish without a knotWhen the hole is filled, run the end back through the darn on the inside and trim it.

Tips

Darn thin spots before they become holes. It's quicker and the darn is smaller.
If you don't have a darning egg, any smooth, hard, rounded object will do, such as a wooden ball.

If something goes wrong

Problem	Fix
The darn is lumpy and hard.	Use thinner yarn, and leave small loops at the turns instead of pulling tight.
The edges of the hole keep running.	Before weaving, catch all the loose loops around the edge with small stitches.

See it in the old books

Pictures and lessons from sewing and knitting books published more than a hundred years ago, free at the Internet Archive.

Sources

These are free how-to guides for families. There's nothing to earn, pass or send in.