Darning

What you will learn

• Weaving thread
• Building a woven patch
• Mending holes

Materials and tools

• Darning needle (size 3 or 5)
• Darning yarn or thread to match
• Darning mushroom, jar lid or wooden egg
• Scissors
• Sock or sweater with a hole

Before you start

• Place the darning mushroom or egg under the hole to hold the fabric smooth.
• Trim any loose threads around the hole.

1. Thread the needle with an 18 in (45 cm) length of yarn or thread. Do not knot it. Leave a 2 in (5 cm) tail on the surface.
2. Start 1/2 in (12 mm) beyond the edge of the hole. Sew rows of running stitches across the hole, about 1/16 in (1.5 mm) apart, in one direction, and go 1/2 in (12 mm) beyond the hole on the far side. Where a row crosses the hole, the thread lies across the gap. These rows are the base threads you will weave through.

3. At the end of each row, turn and sew back in the opposite direction. Leave a small loop at each turn so the darn does not pull and pucker the fabric.
4. Turn the work 90 degrees. Weave across the rows, passing the needle over one thread and under the next. Alternate the pattern on each row.

5. Keep weaving until the hole is covered and the weave is firm. Keep the threads close but not tight.
6. Trim the tails on the surface to 1/4 in (6 mm), or secure them with a stitch on the back. Press lightly under a press cloth, matching the heat to the care label.

Tips for a neat result

• Use a darning mushroom to keep the fabric flat.
• Weave over and under in alternate rows, like a basket.
• Pull the thread only until it lies flat.

Common mistakes and fixes

Check your result

• The hole is filled by a flat woven patch.
• The darn stays firm when the fabric is stretched gently.

Projects that use this