Does anybody 'darn' anymore?

Austin_Allegro

Well folks I fell off the wagon today and bought 5 pairs of socks for £5 in Marks'.

I had a look in my sock drawer and realised most of them were beyond hope. Huge areas of the heels were worn nearly transparent and to fix them would have required big patching jobs which just didn't seem worth it.

I think my shoes are in a co-dependant abusive relationship with my socks and feet. The inner lining of the shoe heels is all worn through which causes the heels of the socks to wear out more quickly, and because I walk so much my feet get hard skin (eurgh sorry...) This acts like sandpaper on my socks. It's easily fixed by glueing some off-cut leather on the shoes and scrubbing my feet daily with a pumice stone, but I'm lazy.

So if your socks seem to wear out constantly check your shoes and feet also!

loracan1

Socks I'd not dream of darning, I tend to buy same colour so pair up that way, not averse to slightly different lengths. I did however darn a big hole in the sleeve of a hoodie top for my son last week - he was quite impressed!

maryb

I have some nice traditional tea towels made from a mix of cotton and linen. When they get small holes they very quickly turn into big holes. I don't darn them as such but I just zig zag round the holes on my sewing machine and that makes a huges differnce to how long they last

Mrsmastiffs

I have read through this thread with interest and am hoping that someone maybe able to point me in the right direction :-) I can't darn or even sew well for that matter but I do have a very nice, expensive cardigan which was bought for me as a gift. Sadly it has a hole in one elbow and I was wondering if anyone knew of someone or somewhere I might be able to get it repaired ? It is too good to throw away. Any suggestions please ?

kitschy

Mrsmastiffs wrote: »

I have read through this thread with interest and am hoping that someone maybe able to point me in the right direction :-) I can't darn or even sew well for that matter but I do have a very nice, expensive cardigan which was bought for me as a gift. Sadly it has a hole in one elbow and I was wondering if anyone knew of someone or somewhere I might be able to get it repaired ? It is too good to throw away. Any suggestions please ?

I recently rescued two cashmere sweaters as I wear through the elbows. I turned the sleeve inside out, popped a small dome shaped ramekin inside so the holey bit was on the top of the dome and with very careful stiches, brought together the sides of the hole. I usually mend with whatever thread I have that is vaguely similar in colour, but as one was a light leafy green I did bother to take it with me and choose an exact shade.

If I do the same again I might shorten the sleeves to 3/4 length, and use the bit I've cut off to patch it, and then put some pretty velvet ribbon around the raw edge of the sleeves. Hope that makes sense!

[Deleted User]

A couple of years ago I discovered how to darn properly. It isn't just a case of bringing the two edges together over a hole. I use the weaving method and it's a very relaxing thing to do. I enjoy darning my hand-knitted socks. (I keep some wool from each project for mending purposes). I'm looking out for a vintage darning mushroom for my sewing basket:j

LJM

am i thick what is a darning mushroom please ?

meritaten

its a piece of wood which looks like a mushroom! the top is nicely rounded then there is a little stick at the bottom which you gather the material around to hold. you can use a rubber ball too.
I darn my OHs work socks - they are really thick wool but he wears out the heels - and darned properly they last a lot longer! and if I do it right they arent uncomfortable! one tip is that you DONT use the same weight of wool to darn as is in the sock! you use HALF the wieght. so if the socks are chunky wool you use double knit, and if the socks are double knit you use 3 or 4 ply. I have even used embroidery silk to darn expensive silk socks!
I quite like darning - my nan taught me and it makes me feel close to her! and I wish I had a darning mushroom but make do with a rubber ball.
DONT use a tennis ball! you will stitch the sock to the ball!!!!!!!!!!!

GreyQueen

I love it. Am I sad or am I mad? My Mum taught me to darn when I was a nipper but I qucikly got better at it than her because I'm more patient with fiddly things. I darn socks, jumpers and even cotton or linen shirts with tear holes. Have also darned wool blankets in the past and woollen gloves.

In fact, I love darning sooooo much I'm wondering where that injured cashmere cardi is....come to Momma, I can make you whole!

Alison_Funnell

I agree. There is a satisfaction at a perfectly woven darn.

My MIL was a trained tailor (as well as an art teacher - go figure! courses were different in the late 40s!) used to be able to invisible mend. Where you take threads from the seam area and weave them in the to material. Impossible now as new clothes don't come with seam allowances.