Darn!
Today I put on my favourite socks, and there was a hole in the heel and in the toe.
when they were new
These are my favourite socks because I knit them from wool that I dyed and spun myself. These are my favourite socks because they don’t match, but they do go together. These are my favourite socks because of the memories that are knit into them (I remember one particular orange stripe that was knit while listening to Stephen Lewis speak).
Some people would throw away a sock that has a hole in it. I can’t bear to part with these ones, so I’ll darn them instead.
Here’s how to darn a hole in a knitted garment:
Step 1: Thread a darning needle (long blunt needle with big eye) with matching yarn.
Step 2: Insert a darning egg, or a lightbulb (old incandescent kind) into the sock/garment to keep the area taut.
Step 3: Sew loosely around the hole, make sure that all live stitches are caught so the hole wont get bigger.
Step 4: Sew across the hole area in one direction, sewing through each stitch on the edge. Leave threads crossing the hole, loose enough to keep the fabric from puckering.
Step 5: Sew across the hole area in the other direction, going over and under the threads left from step 4. Catch the stitches at each end.
the end result will be a woven area instead of the hole.
NOTE: It is considerably easier to darn socks BEFORE they get a hole. Examine your socks as you wash them, or wear them. If you see areas that are getting see-through it is time for a “pre-emptive darning mission” to prevent any holes from developing.
