How to Darn a Sock

Thanks to all of you who left me such encouraging comments.  I truly appreciate it.

So, as promised, here is a guide on how to darn a sock.  I hope this makes sense.  The pictures should make up for my lack of eloquence in explanation.

First, you need to gather your materials:  A darning mushroom, which I don't have so I use a large plastic blue Easter egg.  You don't have to use blue if you don't want.  Any color plastic Easter egg will work.  You need a large needle and thread or yarn.  And of course, you need a sock with a hole in it.

Turn the sock inside out and insert the Easter egg into the sock.  You can see here the blue egg peeking through the hole.

Now you can begin to darn it.  Don't put any knots into yarn.  You don't want to be standing on knots.  Just leave a little hanging off at the end.  Sew in and out, in and out a little bigger than the hole in the sock.  When you loop around at the end, don't pull the yarn tight.  Leave the loop a little loose.  This way the sock won't gather when it is washed. 

Just keep going in and out, in and out, back and forth, back and forth.  The Easter egg keeps your sock stretched so it is easier to darn.

 When you have covered the hole in one direction, turn and start weaving the yarn in and out over what you just sewed.  Continue on until you have covered the entire hole and just a little beyond.  You can see here the darning needle and how I've woven the threads.  It's just like those pot-holders you wove as a kid.

 When you are done, cut the thread and leave a little thread hanging loose.  As you can see, the hole is covered with yard woven right into the sock.

 Take out the Easter egg, turn the sock right side out and admire your work.  The hole is repaired.  The sock is wearable. 

And that is how you darn a sock.  It takes time to do, but I love to throw on a great TV show or movie to keep me entertained while I work.  I keep my darning supplies in a bag and I'll take it along with me when I'm taking kids to lessons or activities.  If I'm just sitting and waiting for them, I pull out my darning and usually by the time the lesson is over, I can have two socks done (depending on the size of the hole.)

"Wendy's favourite time for sewing and darning was after they had all gone to bed. Then, as she expressed it, she had a breathing time for herself; and she occupied it in making new things for them, and putting double pieces on the knees, for they were all most frightfully hard on their knees. When she sat down to a basketful of their stockings, every heel with a hole in it, she would fling up her arms and exclaim, "Oh dear, I am sure I sometimes think spinsters are to be envied!”

from Peter Pan by J M Barrie 1911