Common repairs

Darn a Hole in a Sweater or Sock

Rebuild the missing knit by weaving new yarn across the hole in a grid. Hand darning is the usual method for knits, because machine stitching stiffens the fabric and stops it stretching. A darn shows as a woven patch and feels firmer than the knit around it.

Confident Beginner40 minHand

What you will learn

Weaving a darning grid
Choosing matching yarn
Keeping the darn flat

Materials and tools

Darning needle or tapestry needle (size 18 to 20) with a large eye and blunt tip
Yarn of the same fibre and thickness (or one strand of the garment's yarn unravelled from the hem)
Darning mushroom, egg or a smooth jar
Small scissors
Optional: wide rubber band

Before you start

Assess the damage. Find the edge of the hole and look at the knit around it. If the loops within 1/2 in (12 mm) are thin or fuzzy, you need to darn through them.
Check whether the hole is a run. If a column of stitches has laddered upward, catch it with a few stitches before darning.
Match the yarn. Use the same fibre, because mixing wool with cotton shrinks differently when washed. A slightly thinner yarn gives a flatter darn.
Slip the mushroom or jar under the hole to give a smooth, curved surface. Hold the knit in place with the rubber band if needed.

Step by step

Trim any loose or fuzzy pieces around the hole. Do not cut the hole larger.
Cut a length of yarn about 18 in (45 cm). Thread the needle, but do not knot the end.
Work vertical rows. Begin 1/2 in (12 mm) away from the hole in sound knit. Make running stitches through the loops, take the yarn across the hole, and carry it onto sound knit on the other side. Pass the needle through any open loop at the edge of the hole so it cannot run.
At the end of each row, turn and come back in the next row about 1/8 in (3 mm) over. Leave a small loop of slack at each turn so the darn can stretch.
When the hole is covered by parallel strands, turn the work. Weave horizontal rows by going over one strand and under the next, alternating each row.
Extend the grid at least 1/2 in (12 mm) beyond the hole on every side. Leave tails of 1 in (25 mm) at the start and end.
On the wrong side, weave the tails through nearby stitches for 1 in (25 mm) and trim. Do not knot.
Wash gently and lay flat to dry. The darn will relax slightly in the wash.

Tips for a neat result

Do not pull the yarn tight. A tight darn puckers and wears the edges of the hole.
A darned sock heel will feel firmer. For a smoother darn use a finer yarn and keep the rows close.
Darn before a hole grows. A thin patch is easier than a large hole.

Common mistakes and fixes

The darn is a hard, flat lump.

The rows were pulled tight or the yarn is too thick. Unpick and use finer yarn with some slack.

A new hole appears next to the darn.

The darn did not reach far enough into sound knit. Extend the grid at least 1/2 in beyond the thin area.

The darn shrinks and puckers after washing.

The yarn was a different fibre. Match the fibre, and wash on the care label setting.

Safety and fabric care

Darning needles are blunt but long. Keep them stored in a needle book and away from children.

Check your result

The grid covers the hole and extends onto sound knit.
The darned area stretches slightly with the rest of the knit.
No loose loops show on the wrong side.

Stop it happening againDarn thin spots before they hole. Trim your toenails, use sock liners, and rotate sweaters so elbows rest.

When to use a professionalTake cashmere, fine merino, or valued heirloom knitwear to a specialist invisible mender, who can rebuild the knit with a hook.

Projects that use this

Close a Small Hole in Woven or Fine Knit FabricConfident Beginner25 min