How to Darn a sock.
Got a sock with a hole in it? Don’t toss it out—darn it instead!
Darning is a simple, satisfying way to extend the life of your favourite socks and keep them out of the landfill.
You don’t need fancy tools or expert skills; just a bit of thread, a needle, and a dash of patience.
Follow these easy steps, and you’ll have that sock back in action in no time.
Let’s get started!
You will need:
Darning Mushroom or Speed Weaver:
You can pick up a darning mushroom from your local haberdashers for around £5.
Speed weavers are pricier but you can achieve beautiful patterns and use them on a wide range of garments like shirts and jeans.
In a pinch, you can even use a smooth, round object like a tennis ball or an apple!
A Needle:
If working on woollen garments like jumpers and woolly socks, its best to use a Darning Needle as they are blunter than standard needles and don’t catch on the wool. However, for standard, stretchy socks, regular Hand-sewing Needles work fine.
Thread:
You can use a variety of threads and yarns for darning. Try to use thread that is a similar “weight” to your garment for example: use Mending or Knitting Wool/Yarn on jumpers and woolly socks and Embroidery Thread on standard stretchy socks. Just DON’T use Sewing Machine Thread as it’s way too thin and catches easily.
Scissors or snips:
Embroidery Scissors or Snips are designed for thread and are easier to use than regular scissors. Most people have one lurking in a drawer somewhere.
Instructions.
The general idea behind darning is that you must “weave new fabric” over the hole you intend to repair.
Prep Your Sock
Slip your darning mushroom or substitute into the sock so that it fills out the hole. This keeps the fabric smooth and gives you a stable surface to work on. Trim any loose threads around the hole so that the area is clean and tidy.
2. Create a weave of threads.
Thread your needle and snip the thread to about the length of distance from your wrist to your elbow. You don’t want your thread to be too long as it can get caught or tangled and can fray the more times it passes through the fabric. Sew parallel stitches across the hole vertically, making sure to go slightly beyond the hole’s edges to anchor the stitches securely.
2. Finish the weave.
Once you’ve filled the area with vertical stitches, turn the sock and start weaving horizontally. Go over and under the vertical threads, creating a woven patch.
When the hole is covered, secure the thread by tying a small knot at the edge of your darning. If needed, trim any extra thread.
Feel around the patch and check if it’s comfortable and smooth. If it’s a bit bulky, press it down gently with your hands to flatten it out.
