Darning a hole in a sock

Short answer: A hole smaller than a coin can be darned in ten minutes with a darning needle and yarn of the same thickness. It often lasts the rest of the sock's life.

What you need

A darning needle, yarn in roughly the same thickness and color as the sock, and something round to stretch the fabric over while you sew. An egg shape or a drinking glass works just as well as a real darning mushroom, so you need not buy special gear to start.

How to do it step by step

Stretch the fabric over the round shape, and sew a square of parallel threads across the hole in one direction. Then weave threads across, in and out of the first ones, like a tiny weave. Finish with a few stitches at the edge so the threads do not fray loose.

When it is not worth it

If the heel is thin across a large area, or the shaft is loose and worn out, the sock is generally worn through. Darning works well on a single hole, not on general wear across the whole sock. See bamboo socks for men if your socks have reached that point.

Choose the right yarn

Use yarn as close to the sock's own thickness as possible, since thick yarn leaves a noticeable lump under the foot. Cotton yarn is easiest for beginners to work with, while finer yarn takes a bit more practice. See bamboo socks for women for examples of thinly knitted material.

Stretch the fabric correctly

The fabric should lie taut and smooth over the shape, not wrinkled or loose, or the stitches turn uneven and the hole can grow larger while you work. Use an elastic band to hold the fabric to the shape if you are working alone without a third hand to help.

Stop the hole from growing

Never cut the edge of the hole to tidy it up, since that only makes it fray further. Darn the hole as soon as you notice it, while it is still small, rather than waiting until it has grown much larger and harder to repair properly.

See all bamboo socks for men

If you have several socks with the same kind of wear, it can be worth darning them together one evening. See all bamboo socks for men if you are considering adding a few new pairs to an older collection while you are repairing anyway.

Store leftovers for later

Keep both yarn scraps and a darning needle in one fixed spot, so you are ready the next time a hole appears. A small bag with leftover yarn in various colors makes future repairs faster, since you avoid hunting for the right match every single time.

In short about darning

A small hole does not have to mean goodbye to the sock. With a darning needle, the right yarn and ten minutes of patience, the repair often lasts the rest of the sock's life. Do not wait too long, since a small hole is always easier to fix than a large one.