What does it mean to darn socks?
The short answer
To darn a sock means to use a simple sewing technique to mend holes or reinforce worn out spots on a sock. You can also darn any knit clothing item, like sweaters and hats.
The long answer
"Darn it!"
You just slipped on your favorite pair of socks only to discover they've developed a hole. Your frustrated remark is also the key to fixing the problem – darn it!
Darning a sock (or any other knitted item) means to mend it using a fairly simple sewing technique adding thread to the worn out areas.
How do you darn a sock?
There are lots of methods on how to darn a sock, but I'll briefly go over the most basic one I found because I am an amateur at sewing.
The woven patch method
Image courtesy of The Daily Sew .
With this method, you'll need:
Yarn matching your sock's color (or go wild with a different color to make a statement!) and your sock's thickness
A sewing needle to fit your thread's thickness
A darning egg or mushroom
Look at this darning egg! What a lovely object. "Stëppelee" by Les Meloures is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Position the hole over the darning egg or mushroom in order to keep the surface flat and not bunched up.
Stitch vertical rows of yarn over the hole until the entire hole is covered.
Now start on stitching horizontal rows. You'll want to weave under and over the existing vertical rows of the repair yarn. Push down the rows after you weave a new one in order to create a tight weave.
You should have a woven patch at this point. Clip the tails and knot the ends so that the patch does not unravel.
If you're a visual learner, check out this video by WonderFil Threads :
Now you know both what it means to darn a sock and how to do it. Have a sock or sweater with a hole in it? Try out darning to extend the life of your favorite pieces!
Update: I attempted darning myself for the first time. My favorite sweater had a hole on the back and now it has a very ugly but practical woven patch. :)
Sources
Earle-Sigler, M. (2022, May 6). 8 Ways to Darn & Mend a Sweater. The Daily Sew. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.thedailysew.com/2022/05/8-ways-to-darn-mend-a-sweater/
Emily. (2020, January 23). How to Darn Socks 3 Ways. The Woolery. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://woolery.com/blog/how-to-darn-socks-3-ways/
WonderFilThreads. (2019). How to Darn a Sock by Hand. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDkMShaLX9c