In the video tutorial above I am going to darn a pair of woollen socks with a sturdy darning technique where you create a weave effect by simply weaving yarn across each other vertically and horizontally.
This is one of the most common sock darning techniques as it’s easy and it creates a strong & sturdy darn. To distinguish this technique from other darning techniques I will call this the warp/weft darn. If you know any other names for this technique please leave a comment down below!
If you do this technique along the length (the rows) of the knitting it will be sturdy and not stretchy. On socks it’s perfect to do this at the heal or other areas where the stretchiness of the knit isn’t used.
If you do it across the knit-stitches instead of along the rows it can follow the knit stitches width and tension and create a darn that has a similar stretchiness to the garment itself. It’s perfect to use this technique on elbows and knees.
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To darn your socks you will need:
- Yarn – In a matching or contrasting colour
- Darning needle
- A darning mushroom or darning egg
If you wonder which yarn to use, how to pick a darning needle and if you really need a darning mushroom or egg I have created a blog post & video where I share general tips & tricks on darning.
Want to learn more about darning?
- All about darning socks & knitwear + tips & tricks!
- Make a simple weave (warp/weft) darn
- Scotch darning
- Machine darning
Let’s start darning!
Put in your darning mushroom/egg (or whatever object you will use) inside your sock and stretch slightly around the area that you will darn.
Then thread your darning needle with yarn. I will show you how to darn in a red yarn so it will be easier for you to see, but if you want a more invisible darn pick matching yarn.
Carefully weave in and out around the edge of the hole in the sock. This is done to reinforce the outer edge of the hole before beginning to darn.
Do not pull the yarn tight! Rather make sure to keep the yarn a little loose whilst ensuring that it lays flat & smooth.
Do not pull a knot in the yarn either – this can cause blisters and sore spots on your foot and you do not want that! I am speaking from experience here… 😬
Now it’s time to create the warp! Once you have loosely stitched around the hole begin to create the “warp” over the hole. The warp is the lengthwise yarn that will create the structure for the weft to be woven through.
I often feel at this stage that it looks like a complete mess – but be patient once you begin you will slowly see how it all comes together!
Now it’s time to create the weft! The weft is woven over and under the warp. To begin weaving the weft yarn, begin on either the top or bottom edge of the hole.
Start at one end and weave your darning needle and yarn over one of the warp yarns and then under the next. You will continue weaving over and under until you get to the other side.
Once you get to the other side, you will turn around and go the other way, but this time you will go under the warp thread you went over on the previous round, and over on the warp thread where you went under on the previous round. Repeat these two rows.
The aim is to create a woven effect that locks in the yarn so it stays in place.
The next step is optional and that is to weave in some extra threads to make the darn look tidier. You do not need to do this to have a strong repair, as the warp/weft darning technique is pretty strong & sturdy already. This is mainly to make it look good if you feel the darn needs it!
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