Darning
Repairing holes or worn areas with needle and thread alone, weaving rows of running stitch across the gap.
What it is
Weaving new threads across a hole with needle and thread.
Who it suits
Anyone with holey socks or jumpers, and anyone wanting to waste less.
What you need
Yarn, a darning needle and a darning mushroom (or a jar).
A first project
Darning a sock.
The darning guides
Beginner's guide
What you need
Techniques and stitches
How to darn a hole (woven darn)
The classic grid of rows and columns.
How to close a small hole in a sock
A quick criss-cross for small holes, worked right side out.
First project
Mistakes and fixes
Next steps
Sources
All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.
