Learn How to Machine Darn Socks

In this tutorial, I will show you how to darn socks quickly & easily on a sewing machine. Machine darning has a very little stretch, unlike some other darning methods, but it’s worth doing as it’s fast and easy!

You can darn your sock on a sewing machine with a free arm and/or with an embroidery hoop-attachment, or a makeshift embroidery hoop like I will use in this tutorial. If you are wondering.. makeshift what? Do not worry I will explain more later… 😉

I have a pair of merino wool kneesocks, which I have owned for maybe 10 years now. They have lasted really well over the years but they start to get worn out, sure you can buy new socks, but I haven’t found any good replacement socks yet. On top of that, they are sadly from a brand that does no longer exist. 😢
As such I would love recommendations on good quality merino wool socks – if you know of any please leave a comment down below! But until I find the perfect pair I will make sure to darn them so I can use them a bit longer.

At first, I really wanted to hand-darn the socks with embroidery floss in two matching blue shades but I found this method very tedious so I thought maybe I should try out to machine darn them instead.

The other pair of socks I will repair is my husband’s favourite socks and he was pretty sad to discover that they had holes in them. I thought I could darn them for him so that he could keep wearing them a bit longer.
If you know of any similar looking socks out there, ideally ethically and sustainably made, please let me know in a comment below!

Want to learn more about darning?

To machine darn socks you will need:

Sewing machine with a free arm and/or embroidery hoop-attachment – If your machine does not come with an embroidery hoop attachment (mine didn’t) you can make a makeshift embroidery hoop. I got this idea from Leah Day when she darned socks on her sewing machine on Youtube.
To make a make-shift embroidery hoop you will need a mason jar lid-ring and a pipe-fastener from the hardware store. You will also need a screwdriver to fasten and loosen the pipe-fastener.
Good quality threads – In this video I used polyester thread in both matching and contrasting colours, but you can use cotton thread too. I am trying to use up the odd colour polyester threads that I have. Sock darning is a perfect way to use up those odd colours you might have if you would like to make a visible mend.
Universal or Microtex sewing machine-needles
Free motion quilting/darning presser foot
Old socks or scrap jersey fabric to cut patches from
Fabric snips & fabric scissors to cut the patches and snip off threads with
Tape measure to measure your patch with

Set your machine up to darn!

Set your stitch length to 0.0, if you want to you can also lower the feed dogs.
Attach the free motion quilting/darning presser foot, correct needle as well as making sure to put in a fully winded bobbin into the machine.

I initially thought I was going to be able to darn these socks using my make-shift embroidery hoop, but as you will need proper access to the socks inside the hoop it was hard to darn the socks this way as they are knee socks that got in the way. Therefore I decided to use the ‘free arm darning method’ instead.

However, if you are interested I am darning another pair of socks using the makeshift embroidery hoop later on in this tutorial.

How to machine darn using the free arm-method

Pull the socks around the free arm, roll sock tops around the free arm until the part you want to darn is on top of the needle plate & feed dogs.

Cut socks or jersey fabrics into patches that can cover the hole or worn-out area. Place the patch over the hole/worn-out area.
You can stitch both from the right side as well as the wrong – on this pair of socks I am stitching from the right side, and at the other pair which I darn using an embroidery hoop, I am darning from the wrong side.

Make sure stitch length is set to 0.0 and start moving the socks in circular motions like you are scribbling on paper. As the stitch length is set to zero you will need to move the socks to create stitches, otherwise, it will just stitch in the same place.

Keep on stitching to cover the patch and the hole. Make sure your stitches cover the patch and the hole/worn-out area to create a strong repair, but you do not need to stitch overly densely for this.

To create a matching look to the part which I darned by hand I am after awhile switching thread colour to another blue shade.

When doing this I am pulling my sock off the free arm but I am not taking it off completely as I want to still have the presser foot & needle attached, be careful that the needle does not grab the stitches of the socks. Then I am replacing the bobbin, pulling the socks back over the free arm and then replace the over the thread.

Keep on stitching moving the socks securing the patch in place. Do not worry if you have cut a too big patch. You can cut off any excess fabric later.

Cut off thread tails short and then go back and stitch over that area a couple of times.

Make sure the open toe does not catch stitches and edge of the patch. Secure the edge in place with zig zag motions.

Bonus tip: How to attach a toe patch

As I thought it was going to be too hard to pull the worn-out toe area into the machine I decided that the best method would be to attach a patch to t. I have attached patches to socks before – even if making a darn is generally stronger & longer lasting.

To make my toe patch I did cut a piece of the black socks in the shape of the worn-out toe area. Then I attached the patch using running stitches in black embroidery floss similar to what I did in the Kantha-stitching tutorial.

I was working the stitches in a circle from the outside in, and then using blue embroider floss I made a blanket stitch around the edges to secure the patch in place further as well as creating a decorative look.

How to machine darn using the embroidery hoop-method

I have already repaired this pair here with thread matching the stripes of the holes/worn-out area. I will show you now how to repair the hole here at the heel.

First I attached my embroidery hoop over the hole of the sock by pulling the mason jar inside the sock, and placing the pipe fastner around it and then fasten it with a screwdriver.

Cut socks/jersey patches and place over the hole/worn-out area. On this pair of socks, I am placing it on the inside of the sock and stitch from the wrong side. But as I mentioned earlier you can stitch from the right side as well depending on the look that you want to create.

Push socks attached to the embroidery hoop under the sewing machine with the needle & presser foot removed. Once in place attach the darning presser foot and the needle.

Set stitch length to 0.0 and start moving the embroider hoop with the socks around in circular motions. Keep on moving the hoop in circles like you are scribbling on paper. As the stitch length is set to zero you will need to move the socks to create stitches.

Make sure to not stitch too fast to avoid creating bulging areas in the fabric. You can also zig-zag back and forth – I did both the circle movement and the zig-zag movement on these socks.

Make sure to secure the edges without the prongs of the darning foot getting caught.

You can stitch as much as you like but if you want a softer feel – I recommend you to not stitch too much – just enough to secure the patch and the hole.

Re-hoop if you have more space to stitch. I found that I had to do this a couple of times as the needle bar otherwise would hit the hoop.

How densely should you stitch?

One of the worries I heard from you on Instagram were if you can feel the stitches. In the merino wool socks, I could only feel that the area was slightly stiffer initially but it wasn’t uncomfortable rather just a bit firmer part of my socks until I had worn them in a bit.
Also, I think you might be able to feel the repair more if you let the hole become too big so I advise you to darn your socks as soon as they start to be worn out instead of waiting until a hole appears.

I really hope you found this tutorial helpful and that it will inspire you to machine darn your own socks. If you do not forget to tag me on Instagram @missmatti and use the hashtag #mendwithmatti so that I can see how it turned out!