When you find a hole in your beloved knitwear, fret not! With the art of darning, you can easily fix it and breathe new life into your garment. Darning is an age-old technique for repairing holes in fabric by creating a weave-like pattern using thread or yarn. In just ten simple steps, let’s learn how to darn a hole and give your clothes an extended lease on life.

1. Gather materials: You’ll need a darning needle, thread or yarn that closely matches your garment’s color, and a darning mushroom or egg (or any curved object that can fit into the hole).

2. Turn the garment inside out: This will make it easier to access the weakened area and provide a cleaner finish on the right side.

3. Position the darning mushroom or egg: Place it under the hole to provide tension and make it easier to weave your repair stitches.

4. Thread the darning needle: Choose a thread or yarn that will blend in with your garment’s color and thickness.

5. Begin stitching: Start at least half an inch away from the hole to anchor your thread securely. Create a row of small, evenly spaced running stitches across the width of the hole, extending slightly beyond both sides.

6. Make vertical rows: Continue creating vertical rows of running stitches parallel to your first row, spacing them approximately 1/8 inch apart.

7. Weave horizontally: Once all vertical rows are complete, turn your work 90 degrees to begin weaving horizontally through them. Without securing the stitching on either side of the hole, pass your needle over one vertical stitch, then under the next, repeating this pattern until you reach the opposite side.

8. Complete horizontal rows: Create more horizontal rows using the same weaving pattern until they are around 1/8 inch apart, similar to your vertical rows.

9. Finish your stitching: When the weaving covers the entire hole, make a small knot on the wrong side of the garment to secure your thread before trimming any excess.

10. Examine your work: Turn your garment right side out and inspect the darned area. It should blend seamlessly with the surrounding fabric.

And there you have it – in 10 easy steps, you’ve mastered the art of darning! With this newfound skill, you can breathe new life into your well-loved garments and minimize waste by repairing rather than discarding them. Happy darning!