How to Sew Up the Toe on Knitted Socks
If you have ever worn a sock with a hole in the toe you know it is really uncomfortable and can even cause a blister. Sewing up holes in socks is also called "darning." If you do not darn socks just right, you can get a rough spot that rubs a blister even faster than the hole does. A good way to darn a sock correctly is to put something smooth inside the sock while you are sewing.
Instructions
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Slide a light bulb all of the way into the toe of the sock. Pull the sock fabric so it is smooth but not so tight that it unravels more.
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2
Thread the needle by pushing the thread through the eye of the needle, but do not tie a knot in the end of the thread.
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3
Hold the sock in place by holding the base of the light bulb and the sock.
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4
Catch two threads past the hole of the sock with the needle and anchor the first stitch by going through the same spot twice. This method prevents the need for a knot that can make an uncomfortable bump.
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5
Make loose hemming stitches all the way around the edge of the hole. Poke the needle straight into the fabric an eighth of an inch back from the hole and then bring it out inside of the hole. Repeat this until you have gone all of the way around.
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Gently pull the thread and watch the hole slide closed, but stop pulling before the fabric puckers into a lump. If it puckers into a lump, let a little bit of the tension off of the thread and work the lump out with your fingertips.
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Anchor the last stitch the same way you anchored the first stitch. You are not done yet but you do not want the hole to reopen when you get it closed and smooth.
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8
Make sure the light bulb is still pressed against the toe of the sock. It is easy to let it slide back and then it is also easy to sew the knitted sock too tightly.
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9
Sew across the hole from each angle, weaving between yarn strands and making sure to catch behind the thread that encircles the hole. The yarn around the hole is already weakened, so you need to get part of the stitches back into the body of the sock.
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10
When the hole is completely sewn back together, anchor the last stitch at least three times and cut the thread with the scissors.
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Tips & Warnings
You do not want any stitches that are too long when darning socks because long stitches will unravel easily and catch on things.
