SOCK DARNING: How To Repair Holes In Your Handknit Socks, by Emtothethird Knitting on YouTube. 11 min 6 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 6 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Turn the sock inside out and push a darning egg or mushroom into the toe or heel so the hole sits flat and slightly stretched over the curve.
Thread a blunt tapestry needle with leftover sock yarn. Leave the tail loose instead of tying a knot, since knots rub against your foot.
Push the needle up through solid fabric about 1 cm below the hole and pull the yarn through, leaving the loose tail inside the sock.
Work short running stitches back and forth across the gap in parallel lines. Start and finish each line on solid knit at least 1 cm past the torn edges.
Keep the lines about 3 to 5 mm apart until the bare area is covered. Leave the stitches slightly loose so the patch can stretch with the sock.
Turn the needle 90 degrees and weave over and under the first set of stitches, picking up a little solid fabric at each edge.
Alternate over and under on every row until you have a small woven square that fills the hole and overlaps the edges.
Slide the egg out, turn the sock right side out and stretch the patch gently. Weave the loose tail into the inside of the sock with the needle tip.
Tips and common mistakes
Match the repair yarn to the sock: wool yarn on wool socks, and the same weight so the patch sits level.
Do not pull the stitches tight. A puckered patch will feel hard under your heel and can tear again.
Fix thin, see-through spots with the same weave before they open into a hole.
Skip knots entirely and weave the ends into the inside of the sock so nothing rubs your skin.
Questions
Do I really need a darning egg?
It helps a lot because it holds the hole open and keeps your stitches even. A tennis ball, a smooth stone or a burned-out lightbulb works just as well.
What yarn should I use for darning?
Use leftover sock yarn in a similar weight and fibre to the sock. Thin yarn makes a weak patch, and a cotton patch on a wool sock will shrink differently in the wash.
Can I darn the heel and toe?
Yes. Those are the most common worn spots. Slip the egg into the sock so the curved area sits smoothly and work the same woven patch over the thin section.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
