The Art of Darning Socks by Jo-Ann Roberts

 

It's no secret that I enjoy handicrafts (quilting, sewing, and crocheting). I am okay with sewing on a button, turning a hem, or adding a binding around the perimeter of a quilt. I am, however, grateful that I don't need to darn holes in our socks or clothing, particularly, socks.

Yet, when I began my research for this blog, I was surprised to learn that the art of darning socks is still alive, particularly for those hardy souls who maintain a sustainable way of living or create intricate embroidery technique designs, popular in Northern and Eastern Europe, India, Japan, and Mexico.

A hundred years ago, could anyone imagine that darning tools would now be unrecognizable except to antiques or craft enthusiasts? There always used to be a steady supply of darning in the family mending bag. A woman sitting darning was a common sight, and so was a darning egg. Inside a stocking or sock with a hole, the "egg" or darner made it easier to stitch a neat repair.

Darning is a sewing technique for repairing holes or worn areas in fabric or knitting using needle and thread alone. It is often done by hand, but it is possible to darn with a sewing machine. The darning stitch is a simple running stitch in which the thread is "woven" in rows along the grain of the fabric, with the stitcher reversing direction at the end of each row and filling in the framework.

Darning is the traditional method for repairing fabric damage or holes that do not run along a seam, such as on the heel of a sock.

Darning Tools

A darning egg is an egg-shaped tool, made of stone, porcelain, or wood which is inserted into the toe or heel of the sock to maintain the proper shape for repairs. 

A darning mushroom is a mushroom-shaped tool usually made of wood. The sock is stretched over the curved top of the mushroom and gathered tightly around the stalk to hold it in place.

A darning gourd is a hollow dried gourd with a pronounced neck. The sock can be stretched over the full end of the gourd and held in place around the neck for darning.

Often, darning eggs opened to reveal neatly stowed sewing accessories.

There's something about a clever design with small things unexpectedly tucked inside a well-crafted piece of hardwood.

Glove Darner

When a glove needed darning, little darning eggs were pushed into the fingers. Some glove darners had different-sized balls on each end of a handle. With big sock darners, the handle itself could sometimes be used for glove repairs. Not all glove darners had a handle. Some were single egg shapes dropped into the finger. 

Upcoming Release!

Years ago, Lily Sutton was drawn to the new orphan boy in town. Unfortunately, she soon became the target of Grady Walsh's mischievous deeds in school.

Lily is back home in Harmony, Kansas for good. It appears history is about to repeat itself when the first person she sees when getting off the train is Grady. Everyone says he's changed but is she willing and able to forgive the boy who made her childhood unbearable.

Grady Walsh lost his heart to the sweet girl the day she made him a quilt. Can this man, now well-respected and liked by the townspeople, make up for the reckless actions of his youth?

Or will another steal her away before they have a chance to discover a kind of love that might just heal the pain from the past?