Darning needle basics for mending a hole in a sock

Short answer: A darning needle is a large, blunt needle with a long eye, used to weave yarn across a hole in a sock. With a darning needle, yarn of the same thickness and a little patience, you can close a hole in the heel and get the sock working again.

What a darning needle is

A darning needle is longer and thicker than an ordinary sewing needle, and its tip is blunt, so it slides between the stitches without splitting them. The large eye makes it easy to pull thicker yarn through when you weave a patch across the hole.

How to choose the right darning needle

Choose a needle whose thickness matches the knit, so it does not make the holes bigger. For thin socks a fine darning needle works best, while coarser knit needs a thicker one. The blunt tip and the long eye are the two features to look for.

Yarn that suits the sock

Use darning yarn or a thin yarn of the same thickness as the sock and preferably in a similar colour. Yarn that is much thicker or stiffer makes a hard lump in the heel that rubs against the foot, which you want to avoid. For socks for women, a soft darning yarn can be a good choice.

Prepare the hole

Wash and dry the sock first, and trim loose threads from the edge of the hole, so you can see where the fabric is still sound. Pull the sock over a darning mushroom, a light bulb or a smooth bottle, so the fabric is lightly stretched without making the hole bigger.

Weave the foundation

Start a little way from the hole, where the fabric is whole, and sew vertical lines across the hole and out onto the other side. Keep the lines close and parallel with a little slack, so the yarn does not pull tight when the sock is put on.

Weave across

Now weave horizontal threads over and under the vertical ones, so that a small woven patch appears. Do not pull the yarn hard, because a patch that is too tight can drag the sock out of shape, while one that is too loose soon comes apart.

Finish and secure the darn

Sew in the ends so they lie flat on the inside of the sock, and trim the yarn close. Turn the sock and check that there are no knots or edges that could rub against the foot, and that the patch lies flat and smooth behind the heel.

Avoid the next hole

The heel wears where the foot rubs against the shoe, so keep your toenails short and replace socks before they have gone thin all over. Go gently with clothes in the wash and everything lasts longer, including a bamboo bra and a bamboo hoodie for women.

Frequently asked questions

What is a darning needle used for

A darning needle is used to weave yarn across a hole in knitwear to close it. It is blunt and has a long eye.

Can all socks be darned

Most knitted socks can be darned if the hole is not too big and the fabric around it is still sound. If the fabric has worn thin all around, the darn will not last long.

What yarn should I use to darn a sock

Use yarn of the same thickness as the sock, preferably in a similar colour. Yarn that is too thick or stiff can make a hard lump that rubs.

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