Do People Still Darn Socks?

luxor4t

I have an elderly darning mushroom and mend DH's favourite/ newest socks on it, if they have holed in a place that won't cause rubbing when being worn.
I haven't actually 'darned' for a very long time. It's quite an art!

eamon

I wear steeleys for work. Really sore on socks plus I don't trim my toe nails as often as I should, So Sunday is sock repair day. Just a few stiches with cotton thread and its enough to get a few more months wear. My tiny bit against waste.

maryb

I bagged a Speedweve on eBay- it's a miniature loom arrangement for darning and it's brilliant. I use it to darn jumpers where they go thin under the arms so I get another year out of them as scruff wear. But I don't darn socks other than occasionally fixing the little hole that develops at the ankle turn.

Anyone old enough to remember darning stockings/tights? We were checked to make sure ladders had been darned every Monday at school. Ridiculous making 11 year olds wear them especially as they were expensive back then compared to nowadays. Which, of course, is why we darned them

FrugalinShropshire

I knit all our socks and always darn and repair. I reknit cuffs or toes if they get a hole. We have some socks that are over 10 years old. I always have a couple of pairs of socks on the needles for gifts etc. The only time they need replacing is if they accidentally get put in the washing machine and shrink:o

ampersand

Thankyou oystercatcher for the ravelry crochet socks link.
Tried to do so earlier, but usual connectivity notspottery here did its thing.
I like them and like the name: survival socks:-)

oystercatcher

ampersand wrote: »

Thankyou oystercatcher for the ravelry crochet socks link.
Tried to do so earlier, but usual connectivity notspottery here did its thing.
I like them and like the name: survival socks:-)

Good luck with them.
Keep trying them on as you make them and adjust stitch count up or down to fit.
Warning , sock making is addictive !!

Mistral001

maryb wrote: »

I bagged a Speedweve on eBay- it's a miniature loom arrangement for darning and it's brilliant.

I am impressed. These are presently selling on ebay for between £40 and £240! Are there any cheaper makes?

8ofspades

Mistral001 wrote: »

I am impressed. These are presently selling on ebay for between £40 and £240! Are there any cheaper makes?

They look great but they really have gone up in price since a few people on instagram shared them. There are apparently other brands - 'russian darning machine' may occasionally find you something cheaper! Hope someone picks up the design and creates a modern version that's actually affordable.

oystercatcher

Ooooh ! Now i want a Speedweve ! What an amazing invention.

Can't justify the expense but I will keep my eyes open for maybe a bargain !

maryb

I thought I was paying over the odds when Adrenalin went to my head and I paid £20!!