How To Darn A Sock: 7 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Darn Socks: Choosing Thread, Weaving a Patch & More PDF download Download Article Breathe new life into your favorite socks with a fast and simple patch Co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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  • Choosing Thread
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  • Darning the Hole
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This article was co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 852,661 times.

When cold weather comes, it’s time to pull out your favorite coats, scarves, and warm socks. Just one problem—your trustworthy winter socks are getting holes in them! If you can’t bear to part with your high-quality socks, darning is an easy way to mend them yourself and get a few more months or years of wear from them. In this article, we’ll walk you through the entire darning process, from choosing thread to weaving over those pesky holes. Let’s get started!

Things You Should Know

  • Choose thread that matches the color and thickness of the sock’s threads. Try yarn for thick or wool socks, or embroidery thread for thinner socks.
  • Make a series of parallel running stitches that span the entire hole. Begin and end your stitches in solid fabric about ½ inch (1.3 cm) from the hole.
  • Then, make running stitches perpendicular to your first set of stitches. Weave the thread under and over the previous stitches to create a woven patch.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

Prepping Your Thread & Sock

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Darn a Sock 1 Choose thread close to the color and thickness of the sock’s threads. Try to match the thickness as close as possible for a sturdy repair—choose darning yarn for thick, wool socks, or embroidery floss or regular thread for thinner materials. Go for cotton or strong synthetic threads rather than something stretchy. The color doesn’t have to match exactly—choose something similar to the sock color to blend in, or a contrasting color to add some visual interest.[1]
    • Yarn and embroidery floss may come in several thicknesses. Bring your sock to a craft or fabric store to compare if you’re not sure which size to get.
    • Choosing a contrasting thread color (like white on a dark sock or vice versa) will help you see what you’re doing more easily if you’re not an experienced sewer.
    • If you want to add multiple colors to blend in with a pattern, select one color for your horizontal stitches and another color for your vertical stitches.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Darn a Sock 2 Turn the sock inside out and pull it over a darning egg or mushroom. Darning eggs are wooden ovals that maintain the curved shape of the sock and hold the hole in place so you can make clean stitches (mushrooms are similar but have a base to stand the egg on). Roll the egg into the sock so it’s underneath the hole, then wrap rubber bands or hair ties over the sock on either side of the egg to hold it in place.[2]
    • If you’re using a mushroom, stretch the sock inside out over the mushroom “cap” and place a rubber band around the base of the mushroom to hold the sock in place.
    • If you don’t have a darning egg or don’t want to buy one, try using a tennis ball, the rounded end of a baseball bat, maracas, a plastic Easter egg, the bottom of a jar, or any curved, hard surface you can find.
    • If you’re concerned about the stitches feeling uncomfortable on your foot, keep the sock right-side out so the stitches go on the outside of the sock.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Darn a Sock 3 Trim away any ragged edges from the hole with scissors. Use little sewing scissors to snip away any threads or flyaway strings that are hanging from the hole before you fix it. Just make sure that you don’t actually snip one too many times and make your hole even larger. Removing loose threads makes the outline of the hole clearer and easier to stitch over.[3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Darn a Sock 4 Thread your darning needle. A darning needle is an extra long needle with a big threading eye that’s useful for sewing over large holes. If you don’t have one, try to find a regular sewing needle with an eye big enough to hold your thread. Thread one strand of thread through the eye if your thread is thick enough for the sock, or thread 2 strands to double up if your thread is too thin.[4]
    • Don’t worry about knotting the end of the thread. Your patch will hold without one, and knots can feel uncomfortable if they’re too big or ill-placed.
    • For most holes, thread about 12 in (30 cm) of thread. It’s always better to use way too much thread than too little!
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

Darning the Hole

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Darn a Sock 1 Sew a running stitch around the hole if the surrounding fabric is worn. This step is optional, but if your sock is threadbare around the hole, the fabric may not support your darning efforts. To stabilize the hole, stitch a perimeter circle about ⅛ inch (0.3 cm) to ½ inch (1.3 cm) outside the hole (or outside of the weakened fabric area). Make sure you’re only stitching into undamaged fabric.[5]
    • When you’ve encircled the hole, leave a tail of thread hanging to use later.
    • A running (straight) stitch is the most basic stitch. Run your needle and thread up through the inside of the sock and out, then make a stitch by running the needle back down through the outside of the fabric in a different location. Keep repeating until the circle is complete.
    • Make your stitches no more than ¼ inch (0.6 cm) long.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Darn a Sock 2 Begin a running stitch ½ inch (1.3 cm) from the hole and stitch over it. Make your first stitch in solid fabric (or from your perimeter circle stitch if you made one). When you reach the hole, make one long stitch that spans the entire gap, then continue your running stitch for up to another ½ inch (1.3 cm) on the other side to ensure you’re anchoring the thread is sturdy fabric.[6]
    • If the hole is circular, approach it from any side. If it’s an irregular shape, start stitching from the side where the gap is narrowest (like the long side of an oval).
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Darn a Sock 3 Continue making parallel stitches until the entire hole is covered. Once your first pass over the hole is complete, reverse the direction of your stitches and repeat the process over and over. Try to make your stitches as close together as possible—this will make your patch stronger and more resistant to wear-and-tear.[7]
    • If you’re running out of thread after covering the hole, snip the thread so you’ve got a tail about 2-3 inches (5-7.6 cm) long, then re-thread the needle for the next step. If you have lots of thread left, continue on with the same thread.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Darn a Sock 4 Turn the sock and weave perpendicular stitches through the parallel stitches. Begin a running stitch about ½ inch (1.3 cm) away from the hole in sturdy fabric. When you reach the hole, weave the tip of your needle under and over the previous stitches all the way across, then continue your running stitch into solid fabric. Reverse direction and repeat these weaved stitches across the hole until you have a solid patch.[8]
    • If needed, use the tip of your needle to push your stitches closer together to make tighter weave.
    • Creating stitches that go perpendicular to your previously made stitches will reinforce the patch you have essentially created out of thread.
  5. 5 Weave in the loose ends of your thread to secure the patch. There’s no need to knot the thread at the end—knots tend to be bulky and uncomfortable, and the patch will hold if it’s woven tightly. Just thread any loose ends through your needle and weave them into the patch (a few passes over the hole will be plenty to hold the thread in place). Snip any remaining loose ends with scissors and you’re done mending your sock![9]
    • If needed, iron over your new patch to flatten out the fabric.
    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

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  • Question What's the best kind of thread to use? Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France. Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Answer Match the color of the thread to the fabric as close as possible. Also, use a thread that is more on the cotton side or a strong synthetic thread as opposed to something that has more stretch to it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 3
  • Question What size needle should I use? Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France. Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Answer The smaller the needle, the less chance that people will be able to notice the stitching. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 4
  • Question I am unable to find darning thread. What can be substituted? Community Answer Community Answer You can use any thread. Try to choose one of a similar weight/thickness to the threads the sock is made from. You can use any thread you have on hand or even embroidery thread, but you would probably only need 1 or 2 strands of thread from embroidery thread. You can use yarn for wool socks. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 42
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Video

Tips

  • Consider backstitching several of your stitches throughout the darning process. This way, all of your work won’t be undone if the thread breaks during the repair. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Darn holes in your socks as soon as you notice them (don’t keep wearing them!). The sooner you repair them, the easier and less time consuming it will be. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • Darning is worth the effort for thick, high-quality socks you want to preserve (it may be overkill for a cheap tube sock from a big box store, for example). To be green, consider repurposing worn out or cheap socks as cleaning rags or packing material. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 3
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Be careful not to poke your thumb or fingers while threading the needle or stitching. Wear a thimble if you keep pricking yourself on accident. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
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Things You'll Need

  • Sock with a hole or worn patch
  • Darning needle
  • Darning yarn or embroidery floss to match the sock
  • A darning egg or similar object
  • Sewing scissors
  • Thimble (optional)

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References

  1. ↑ Chloée Ohayon-Crosby. Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.etiquetteclothiers.com/pages/etiquette101-chapter-15-darning-a-hole-in-your-sock
  3. ↑ https://www.knitfreedom.com/blog/darn-socks/
  4. ↑ https://www.etiquetteclothiers.com/pages/etiquette101-chapter-15-darning-a-hole-in-your-sock
  5. ↑ https://craftingagreenworld.com/articles/how-to-darn-a-sock/
  6. ↑ https://www.etiquetteclothiers.com/pages/etiquette101-chapter-15-darning-a-hole-in-your-sock
  7. ↑ https://www.etiquetteclothiers.com/pages/etiquette101-chapter-15-darning-a-hole-in-your-sock
  8. ↑ https://craftingagreenworld.com/articles/how-to-darn-a-sock/
  9. ↑ https://www.etiquetteclothiers.com/pages/etiquette101-chapter-15-darning-a-hole-in-your-sock

About This Article

Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Co-authored by: Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist This article was co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France. This article has been viewed 852,661 times. 17 votes - 100% Co-authors: 35 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 852,661 Categories: Sewing Repairs Article SummaryX

To darn a sock, start by picking thread that’s about the same color as your sock, then thread your needle and knot the end of the thread. Be sure to trim away any loose threads or ragged edges around the hole. Then make a running stitch across the hole by pushing your needle through one side of the hole, going under it, and pulling your needle back up through the other side of the hole. Keep making running stitches like that across the hole until your sock is mended. If you want to learn how to make perpendicular stitches to make your sock stronger, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

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    "Visual easy and simple steps to follow. Nice to have a few different options to choose from."
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Co-authored by: Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist Co-authors: 35 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 852,661 100% of readers found this article helpful. 17 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote Anonymous

Anonymous

Oct 16, 2025

"Visual easy and simple steps to follow. Nice to have a few different options to choose from." Bonnie Rorabaugh

Bonnie Rorabaugh

Jul 25, 2017

"Being 90 years old, it was very enjoyable to read about darning a sock, an almost lost art these days of..." more Mat Palmer

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"I have lots of socks with holes in the toes. I work in heat and use bamboo socks which keep my feet nice and dry...." more Melanie Bender

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