
Darning Holes in Clothing and Other Items
- 1 Thread your needle. ...
- 2 Turn the garment inside out or to the wrong side. ...
- 3 Use a curved object as a guide. ...
- 4 Stitch across the hole going in one direction. ...
- 5 Weave the thread or yarn through the stitches. ...
- 6 Tie a knot to secure the yarn or weave it through a few more times. ...
Full Answer
How to darn a hole in a jumper or cardigan?
Here’s Shelley’s advice on how to darn a hole in a jumper or cardigan in three easy steps: Create some ‘warp threads’ by stitching back and forth across the hole in one direction. These should be nice straight lines, evenly spaced. Tension is really important. Try to have a looser tension in your stitches than in the item you’re repairing.
How to darn a jumper?
Adding reinforcing stitches at either side as you go. To darn a jumper you will need: Thread/yarn of a similar weight to what you are mending ( Shelley recommends using stranded cotton from DMC Threads or Anchor Threads. And wool from the French brand Laine St. Pierre ). A darning mushroom or small embroidery hoop (optional).
How to fix moth holes in wool sweater?
How to fix moth holes in a wool sweater. Now, you’ll need the felting needles. Pull the fabric together so that bits on either side of the hole are sort of close to each other. Then, use the needles to pull the individual threads closer to each other, and push the needle into the wool and the foam block. It makes a satisfying scrunching sound.
How to darn holes in clothes?
It is easy to darn holes and you can darn a hole in minutes. Just make sure to darn holes as soon as you spot them or they may get bigger and require much more time to repair. Thread your needle. Begin by threading your needle with your matching thread or yarn.

How do you darn a hole in a wool jumper?
1:245:41How to mend holes in knitwear, sweaters, jumpers, cardigansYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow we're going to do is we're going to catch the vertical loops of the knitwear. And go up the way.MoreNow we're going to do is we're going to catch the vertical loops of the knitwear. And go up the way. Little bit over the hole. And then back down the way. Going back really ideally down the next loop.
How do you fix a hole in a knitted sweater?
2:4431:37How to Repair a Hole in Your Knitting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is just a length of yarn that also got pulled. So these loops are not on the same row that'sMoreThis is just a length of yarn that also got pulled. So these loops are not on the same row that's okay we'll fix them up later. Let's see how many look there's another loop. It's on the row above.
What do you need to darn a sweater?
0:234:06Sewing For The Family | How to Darn A Sweater - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I'm gonna start with a little knot. Pull it through. And this might take a while we basically areMoreSo I'm gonna start with a little knot. Pull it through. And this might take a while we basically are faking the weave of the material. This is quick darning not meticulous darning by the.
How do you fix a big hole in a wool sweater?
How to Fix a Knit Sweater HoleStep 1- Make a knot. Locate the area of the hole and put a sheet or cardboard of contrasting color to the sweater to allow you to see your work better. ... Step 2- Frame Stitch. Stitch around the hole like the on the image below. ... Step 3- Cross it. ... Step 4- Net it.
How do you sew a hole without it showing?
0:541:49How to fix a hole in clothes - Sewing holes shut by hand no ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo again you're just going on to one side of the fabric. Through the hole picking up fabric from theMoreSo again you're just going on to one side of the fabric. Through the hole picking up fabric from the other side and then pulling it shut and you just do this all along the hole.
How do you knit darn?
Starting at least a quarter-inch outside of the worn area, weave darning thread in and out of the purl bumps, reinforcing the worn area. Go up and down and back and forth until the worn area has the same density as the original knitting. Make sure not to pull too tight, or the fabric will be stiff and might pucker.
What does a darning needle look like?
A darning needle is simply a really large big needle. It isn't very sharp, and has an eye on it that is large enough to thread with yarn or embroidery floss. There are a few sizes of darning needle.
How do you fix a hole in wool?
2:073:35How to Repair Moth Holes with Felting Wool | Needle Felting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd i'm going to add a few more fibers to the hole. And starting the process again stabbing theMoreAnd i'm going to add a few more fibers to the hole. And starting the process again stabbing the fibers from the front. And the back. And i keep going until all the holes in my fabric are covered.
What are the types of darning?
There are three common forms of darning known as pattern darning, net darning and needle weaving.
How do you darn a large hole in a jumper?
4:3823:27Swiss Darning: How to Fix a Big Hole // Visible Mending for Your Knits ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLet's start with the first technique as it is easier to demonstrate. We are going to pretend thereMoreLet's start with the first technique as it is easier to demonstrate. We are going to pretend there is a big hole in elbow of my sweater here with weak stitches all around the hole.
How do you darn a large hole?
1:258:11Colorful Sock Mending: How To Fix A Big Hole - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure to leave a long tail of about 10 centimeters hanging off the side of your project. WithMoreMake sure to leave a long tail of about 10 centimeters hanging off the side of your project. With your darning needle. So once around the hole a centimeter from the edge all the way. Around.
Can you fix a big hole in a sweater?
No matter the reason, finding a hole in your knitwear is disheartening. However, it's not hopeless. Although holes can appear devastating, you can repair them using darning. Darning is a repair technique that fills a gap with new material, rather than requiring you to patch it or sew it closed.
Can you fix holes in knitting?
Put a stitch marker right below the hole. What is this? Put crochet hook into bottom-most ladder rung and twist it once to tighten the yarn over stitch. and pull that stitch through the stitch on the crochet hook.
How do you repair a hole in a knitted fabric?
StepsTurn the jersey knit fabric inside out. ... Thread a needle with thread that matches the color of the fabric. ... Make a stitch across the hole and pull gently. ... Keep stitching the fabric to sew the hole shut. ... Tie off the knot and trim excess thread.
How do you repair a hole in a sweater?
0:395:45How to Repair a Hole in a Sweater - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to go ahead and tie a knot so I'm wrapping it around my finger. And then with my thumbMoreYou're going to go ahead and tie a knot so I'm wrapping it around my finger. And then with my thumb rolling.
How do you repair torn knitting?
Start making your patch by working across the stitches in the stitch pattern of your choice until you reach the final stitch. Work the final stitch together with one of the stitches from the vertical DPNS, then turn your work to continue. Repeat the last step until you have adequately covered the hole.
How to make a sweater with a darning needle?
Get the yarn threaded through your darning needle. Now weave your darning needle in a straight line (and parallel to one of the directions of the sweater's weave) in-and-out of the sweater, starting about 1/2 inch to the left of the hole and starting about 1/2 inch below it. After your first pass, turn the needle around and repeat ...
How to finish the ends of a sweater?
You can finish your ends in several ways. Some prefer just to weave the last row a little longer and leave the yarn untied. Others prefer a small knot, although you have to be careful that it's on the inside of the sweater and doesn't show. Or you may prefer to use a little thread to stitch the beginnings and ends of both the horizontal and vertical weaves to the sweater's adjacent yarns.
What to do if you are not sure what your sweater is made of?
If you're not sure what your sweater is made of—all wool or a blend —get advice from an experienced store clerk. Matching thread. While you intend to repair the sweater by darning it, sometimes damaged sweaters will also need to be sewn. A mushroom darner.
What is the best way to fix a hole in a knitted sock?
Darning is an old technique that is most often used to fix and reinforce holes in socks. With darning , you are weaving the yarn over the hole, creating a new patch that replaces the missing knit fabric. Here's a brief step-by-step account of the process.
How big should a patch be for a sweater?
If the hole's about 1 inch in diameter, your patch will probably be a little under 2 inches in diameter. You can finish your ends in several ways.
Can knitted sweaters last generations?
Sweaters can last generations, but those handmade sweaters of yesteryear (or even last season's purchase) can look the worse for wear. The nature of knit material makes it difficult to simply stitch up a hole. To repair knits, you need to learn how to darn. Darning is an old technique that is most often used to fix and reinforce holes in socks.
What is your favorite method to repair a damaged sweater?
I personally love the look of a worn sweater. A worn sweater is full of stories. I'm always looking for ways to preserve the clothing that I love. This sweater still had lots of life left so with a quick repair, I'm hoping I'll have it around another 10+ years. Do you have a quick and easy repair method for worn out/damaged clothing? Share in the comments section below.
What yarn do you use for patching a sweater?
The yarn and patch color will vary depending on your sweater color or personal preference. Again, just be sure you’re using 100% wool yarn so it will felt properly.
How to use a patch on a sweater?
Once again thread your needle with some yarn and tie off. Grab the patch you want to use and place it over the area you just felted. From the back side, begin stitching the patch to your sweater. Be careful that you are stitching it on straight. Stop every couple stitches to check the position of the patch.
How to tell if yarn is felting?
If you look closely at the felting needles, you will notice very tiny little barbs on them. This is actually pulling those fibers apart and pushing them into the other fibers. The yarn is starting to felt. You can tell because it starts to look a bit fuzzy.
Why do I store cedar in bags?
I store them in bags during the summer with cedar pieces for protection against moths when they aren't being worn frequently.
Can you sew a patch on a quilt?
You could also find a great piece of coordinating quilting fabric, make a patch and sew that on as well. But if you don't have a sewing machine lying around, then that isn't a good option either.
How to make a net with yarn?
Weave the thread or yarn through the stitches. After you have covered the entire hole one time with stitches going in one direction, you will need to weave through these stitches to form a net. Insert your needle under the first stitch on one end going perpendicular (like you are forming “T” shape) to the stitches.
How to make a sleeve?
Thread your needle. Begin by threading your needle with your matching thread or yarn. Thread the thread or yarn through the eye of the needle, and then pull the thread or yarn through so that most of the thread is on one side and the other side only has a few inches (about 5cm).
What needle do you use for darning?
If you need a needle with an extra large eye to fit yarn through it, then you can use a yarn needle. If your garment is a medium or bulky weight knit item, then you will need to use a darning needle or yarn needle with a large eye.
How to stitch a hole in a sleeve?
Stitch across the hole going in one direction. Insert the needle about ½” (1.3cm) before the hole begins and stitch to ½” (1.3cm) beyond the hole. Then repeat this stitch going in the opposite direction. Make sure that you stitch ½” (1.3cm) beyond the edges of the hole on both sides to ensure that the hole is well covered.
What can you use as a guide for darning socks?
For example, you can use a standard light bulb as a guide for darning socks, or you can use the curve of a large bowl as a guide for darning a sweater or blanket. For some items, such as cloth napkins and tablecloths, using an embroidery hoop may be a better option. ...
How much thread do you need for a small hole?
Keep in mind that you will need more or less thread or yarn depending on the size of the hole. For example, a small hole may only require about 12” (30.5cm) of thread or yarn, while a large hole may require 24” (61cm) to cover it. Thread your needle with more thread or yarn than you think you will need.
How to secure yarn when knitting?
When you have finished weaving through your first round of stitches, you can secure the thread or yarn to finish darning. Secure the thread by tying a knot through the last stitch, or by weaving the thread through the item a few more times .
What is your favorite method to repair a damaged sweater?from homemadeonourhomestead.com
I personally love the look of a worn sweater. A worn sweater is full of stories. I'm always looking for ways to preserve the clothing that I love. This sweater still had lots of life left so with a quick repair, I'm hoping I'll have it around another 10+ years. Do you have a quick and easy repair method for worn out/damaged clothing? Share in the comments section below.
How to make a sweater with a darning needle?from thesprucecrafts.com
Get the yarn threaded through your darning needle. Now weave your darning needle in a straight line (and parallel to one of the directions of the sweater's weave) in-and-out of the sweater, starting about 1/2 inch to the left of the hole and starting about 1/2 inch below it. After your first pass, turn the needle around and repeat ...
How to finish the ends of a sweater?from thesprucecrafts.com
You can finish your ends in several ways. Some prefer just to weave the last row a little longer and leave the yarn untied. Others prefer a small knot, although you have to be careful that it's on the inside of the sweater and doesn't show. Or you may prefer to use a little thread to stitch the beginnings and ends of both the horizontal and vertical weaves to the sweater's adjacent yarns.
What was the last sweater I had to darn?from edwinzee.com
The last sweater I had to darn was my cardinal sweater from Gant by Michael Bastian. The sweater suffered over 14 moth holes and really looked like it was on its last legs. I reached out to Stu at RaveFabricare to see if they could professionally reweave it. He was honest and told me that the cost to reweave this sweater would be significantly more than what I paid for it originally.
What to do if you are not sure what your sweater is made of?from thesprucecrafts.com
If you're not sure what your sweater is made of—all wool or a blend —get advice from an experienced store clerk. Matching thread. While you intend to repair the sweater by darning it, sometimes damaged sweaters will also need to be sewn. A mushroom darner.
What is the best way to fix a hole in a knitted sock?from thesprucecrafts.com
Darning is an old technique that is most often used to fix and reinforce holes in socks. With darning , you are weaving the yarn over the hole, creating a new patch that replaces the missing knit fabric. Here's a brief step-by-step account of the process.
How to tell if yarn is felting?from homemadeonourhomestead.com
If you look closely at the felting needles, you will notice very tiny little barbs on them. This is actually pulling those fibers apart and pushing them into the other fibers. The yarn is starting to felt. You can tell because it starts to look a bit fuzzy.
How to make a stitch in a hem?
Make the smallest possible stitch; it will show on the right side of the fabric. Bring the thread down and to the right of the diagonal, and make a stitch in the hem, piercing only the top layer of fabric, again pushing the needle from right to left.
What do you need to make a darning sock?
For this mending task, you will need a needle and thread, a tennis ball or darning egg, and scissors.
What do you need to mending a garment?
For this mending task, you will need a needle and thread, buttons and scissors. Two-hole button. Step 1 – Select a suitable button and thread that matches the garment. Thread the needle and create a knot at the end of the thread. You can double thread the needle to make this job quicker.
How to make a sock out of a tennis ball?
Step 1 – Place your sock inside-out over a tennis ball or darning egg (you can also just stick your hand inside the sock if you prefer) and cut off any loose threads. Step 2 – Thread your needle and sew a running stitch along the edges of the hole, sewing back and forth.
How to re-hem a hem?
For this mending task, you will need a needle and thread, an iron and scissors. Step 1 – Turn the hem inside out and press flat with the iron. Start your stitches at least two centimetres from the rip.
What do you need to repair a wool sweater?
For this mending task, you will need a needle and thread, an iron and scissors.
How to repair a hole in a shirt?
Step 1 – With small scissors, cut the hole into a clean square or rectangle. This will make the repair neater and easier. Trim any loose threads . Step 2 – Turn the garment inside out and pin the swatch of spare fabric to the inside of the rip and in line with the grain of the fabric.
Can you patch a sweater with wool?
I placed the wool over the holes and started poking. It was really fun, and, because the sweater is 100% wool the new wool took almost instantly. I pricked at the wool with the felting needle for less than a minute before the patch was completely attached, but I kept at it for a little longer, just to make sure it was blended well.
Is a cardigan 100% wool?
Since the cardigan isn’t entirely wool (it’s a blend also containing nylon and cotton), it took a lot longer for the woolfiller to adhere this time than it did with the 100% wool sweater I’d used it on before. The star turned out well, but there was one problem.
Who is Katie from New England?
Katie is a born and bred New England Girl, as passionate about the crunch of fallen leaves under her boots in September as she is about running into the Atlantic on a perfectly clear July day. A dreamer at heart, Katie is always soaking up inspiration and ideas on the streets of Brooklyn and the pages of tumblr, pinterest, and various design and style blogs.
How to close a hole in a sweater?from ourpastimes.com
Start at one end of the hole and poke short jabs with the needle, up and down repeatedly, to felt the layers of sweater together. Repeat this along the length of the hole to the other end to close the hole entirely.
How to stitch a hole in a crochet?from ourpastimes.com
To do this, weave up from bottom to top through the bottom right stitch, then pass the needle from right to left through the center of the top right stitch. Pass the yarn up through the center of the stitch immediately to the left of this from back to front. Bring the needle back down from top to bottom through the center of the bottom right stitch. Repeat this step working right to left across the hole until you have created a new row of stitches to fill in the hole.
How to get a sweater out of the way?from ourpastimes.com
Lay the sweater out flat on a work station in front of you. Pull any loose threads surrounding the hole to the back or inside of the sweater to get them out of your way as you work. Thread a length of matching yarn onto a large eye blunt needle or an embroidery needle. The yarn may have come with the sweater or you may have to shop ...
How to secure a sweater in place?from ourpastimes.com
Weave in your loose end of yarn on the wrong side of the sweater, working through several stitches to secure it in place.
What is the first thing you do when sewing a garment?from besthiking.net
The first thing you do is to turn the garment inside out. While the majority of the sewing process happens on the outside of the garment, you will start and finish the sewing on the inside of the garment to hide the knots which will ensure that your stitches remain intact.
How many knots to tie a needle into a fabric?from besthiking.net
Insert the needle into the fabric one last time, but only pull so much thread through the entry point that you on each side have enough thread to comfortably tie 3-4 knots, till you feel that the thread is securely fastened to the fabric and your stitches will remain safely in place.
How far should a threaded needle be from a rupture?from besthiking.net
Typically, this will be about 1-2 mm from the rupture itself.
Why is invisible knitting easier than holes?
But, invisible repairing is much easier on cuts and splits than on holes. This is because holes require new yarn, rather than just joining existing yarn.
How to repair knitwear?
Compare the knitwear to the yarn options if you can, and make sure you get pure wool. Most repair yarns available are partly synthetic. Create the right gauge . Mimic the lines of knitting with your lines of sewing - the same number across and down.
Why are mills good for repairs?
That’s another reason mills are usually best for repairs: they’re repairing their own knitwear, so chances are they will have exactly the same yarn. Or they can order it wholesale.
How much does it cost to fix invisible?
Some shops, brands and mills offer an invisible repair service. Sometimes for free, but usually with a small charge - say £20 to £50.
How to make a woven panel?
You’re simply sewing parallel lines across the hole, from one side to the other, and then doing the same in the opposite direction, creating a woven panel. (You don't need as many stitches around the hole as shown in the image above, unless the material is very delicate.)
What can I say from personal experience?
One thing I can definitely say from personal experience is they're very satisfying to be able to do well.
What is the importance of buying less on permanent style?
Just as important, however, is to recycle well (finding a good home for things you don’t wear) and to look after clothes well. They are three sides of the same approach - and self-reinforcing.
