Hi All,

Can anyone out there answer some questions about darning? Pat, I specifically thought of you, but others may know as well.

I learned HOW to darn when I was in Europe 20 years ago (even came home with a wooden darning egg). So that's not the problem - I think I will remember the mechanics of it.

My question has to do with needles and darning thread. It seems to me that you need special needles for darning - not too sharp, and with big eyes, because the thread was thick, more like embroidery thread.

I went to the local sewing store, and tried to get help today. I was directed to an aisle that did indeed have embroidery thread in it, but there were several kinds there. Realizing I was in over my head here, I tried to get more help from the clerk. No dice.

Can anyone give me some direction??

Thanks much,

The Big Seester
 

 The needles you need are called (believe it or not) darning needles, and you can usually find them in the notions department or wherever they sell yarn and crafts. They're blunt because sharp tips will snag strands at the wrong place when you darn with sharp tipped needles. Needles made for needlepoint are ideal for darning as they come in a wide variety of sizes and you can match the needle to the fabric. Match the embroidery thread or whatever thread or yarn you use, with the original in size and color as much as possible. You can separate and combine strands of embroidery thread to make the right size. As a rule, cotton embroidery thread works best, but if you have a pair of silk socks, use silk thread. If you're darning wool, look for wool knitting yarn or fine rug yarn.

I hope that helps, but maybe someone else can add to it.  

You can buy darning yarn/wool in a swatch of about 6-8 different colours. It has been around forever and I always see it at Safeway or dollar store. about 8-12" long. There is about a doz threads of each colour grey, blk, red etc. It is  for darning. Under $2.  It is something that was around but of course since people don't darn socks much anymore it is harder to get. In the notions dept.  I have one just because!  I live in canada though.

 I've never seen darning wool for sale here, that's why I recommend embroidery thread or knitting yarn. Embroidery thread runs less than fifty cents a skein - sometimes far less if you can catch a sale, but it's all one color, of course. 

Thanks for the replies, ladies! If I can be a little... forward... I'm actually hoping to darn very small holes in panties - the crotch seam area. The panties themselves are FINE. Just teeny little holes that will only get bigger.  They are 100% cotton.

When I went to Joann,  they had embroidery, crochet, knitting and cross stitch stuff all together. Nothing (NOTHING) in the aisle was labeled "darning" and I was lost. They had needles that were for sewing knitting together (which I sincerely hope makes sense, because it sure doesn't to me!) and some crewel needles.

Then they had things that said things like "crochet thread size 20" and "Cotton thread 100 grams".  What I was gravitating towards was

something called "embroidery floss," but I was in Europe about 20 years ago, so I'm not sure that's right. It just seemed right, if you know what I mean.

Does that sound right to you?  Also, I have a distinct memory of my aunt telling me to darn on the reverse side, so that where it touches your body would be smooth. Right or wrong?

Thanks again for your help. I just posted on my blog the other day about the lack of knowledge with this kind of stuff. Both my grandmothers could sew, mend, darn, knit, quilt, crochet and etc. My mother can mend (although she won't anymore) and used to sew a few things. I'm the most handy of my sibs: I can re-sew on a button (although I'm trying to add snaps to some blouses I have which are a little... more revealing than I'd like, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make them line up)! I can also pick up a dropped hem reasonably well. I've done some cross stitch, and I can knit, but only your most basic - I can cast on and knit and purl. Like a scarf. Although I've never actually casted OFF, so I don't know how that would work. I knit for a while, realize the thing looks hopelessly crooked and lumpy, pull it off the needle and start over. I've been working on the same skein of yarn for about 5 years now.

Pathetic! If I had to fend for myself, I'd freeze to death!

On the other hand, what prompted me to post about this topic in the first place is that I actually saw somebody buy a jar of "cinnamon sugar" at my grocery store. Even I know how to make cinnamon sugar!!!

TBS
 

OK, I just went to the Joann website and searched under "darning" - 3 things came up, one of which is a sewing machine accessory. (so, no)

There were 2 kinds of needles:

1. Clover Chibi Darning Needle Set (3 needles on sale for $3.84) But they look like 3 different needles - not identical

2. Cotton Darners Hand Needles "3/9" (whatever that means) 12 for $1.28

I know which ones are cheaper (new math wasn't THAT useless), but is there a reason why I should buy the expensive ones? Cheap is only a bargain if you can use them.

Thanks again! 

TBS 

How fine is the knit in the panties?  If it is fairly fine, I think I would use embroidery cotton but only one thread, maybe two, and a regular needle.  Anything else might be lumpy.  If you have access to a sewing machine,  you could simply machine darn the holes closed.  By that, I mean just go back and forth across, then back and forth the other way.  It is not as if it will show!!!!!
Patrink

 The needles for sewing knitting together are the same as large darning needles - blunt to keep from snagging. Yes, "embroidery floss" is what you need, but if you're going to darn something as fine as underwear knit, sewing thread will probably match better. Look at the threads in the knit and try to match the size as much as possible. And, yes, darn on the outside of the garment to keep it from feeling bulky.

To help line up the snaps, use straight pins or a pencil that will wash out. Put a mark on the garment on the part that goes underneath, then put the snap precisely on that. then put the top side over it and mark where you can feel it. There are probably better ways and hopefully someone who is more of a seamstress can tell you, but that's the way I do it.

I saw the cinnamon sugar at the store and almost laughed out loud. That's on the same level as "Baking potatoes, ready for the oven." Ridiculous.  

(Keep working on that skein of yarn. One of these days you'll take off knitting like you were born to it.) 

Dear BigSeester, The way that you get snaps lined up correctly is to take a piece of chalk (sewing stores sell it, or you can get it cheaper as a school supply) & rub it against the half of the snap that you have sewn (presumably on the upper piece fo the clothing, facing down & inside).  Then push the 2 sides of the fabric together & you'll have a chalk impression where you should sew on the 2nd, inside snap.  Hope this helps!

 Thank you, Deb! :)