How to Darn Stockings
The darning of a stocking can be done in different ways. The way most generally adopted is that of cross-work darning, which looks very well when neatly worked. But the darning in imitation of the knitted stitch, although more tedious, is preferable; for, when it is well worked, it cannot be told from the knitting, except on the wrong side.
No. 19—Cross-Work Darning.—Trim neatly the place which is to be darned, then work a foundation of threads length-wise across the opening, as is shown in illustration No. 19. This done, begin to darn across this foundation, in rows, to and fro, by taking up every other thread of the foundation. In every following row take up the thread which was not taken up in the preceding row. See illustration No. 19. The darning must be prolonged to a little distance on each side of the original opening.
No. 20—To Imitate the Knitted Stitch in Darning.—This work requires careful preparation. Loosen the damaged part, above and below it, in the width, in such a way that there will remain 2 even rows of perfect loose stitches. The first and last stitches of the upper row must correspond to those of the lower row. Cut the damaged part through the middle. Fold each half back upon the inside of the stocking, where it will have to be trimmed and fastened. Work a foundation of threads across the opening, width-wise, inserting each thread into the second stitch from the edge of the opening, and making it correspond with every knitted row. See illustration No. 20.
Then work on this foundation as follows: Place the darning cotton at the left, pass the darning needle downward under the lowest of the threads of foundation, and pull gently the darning cotton, so as to form the half of a stitch. Work in same manner on the other foundation threads. After making the half stitch upon the top thread of foundation, pass the needle through the nearest upper stitch of the stocking. Turn the work. Place the darning cotton towards the right. Pass the needle downward, under the top thread of foundation, draw the cotton lightly, and in this way the first whole stitch will be formed. Continue to work in same manner on the foundation threads, until the entire work is done.
Illustrations 21 to 23 show a different way of imitating the knitted plain stitch in darning.
To darn after this method, remove the damaged part and prepare the opening for foundation threads in same manner as already described in preceding number. Take for foundation thread a cotton finer than the one with which the darning stitches have to be worked. Work the foundation threads length-wise on the wrong side of the stocking, as shown in illustration No. 21. This done, turn the stocking on the right side and begin the darning in imitation of the knitted stitch. Work width-wise, as follows:
Pass the darning needle through the upper 2 stitches, as shown in illustration No. 22, then pass it, in the direction of the arrow, under the next 2 threads of foundation. Insert the needle into the last stitch, through which it has already passed, and pass it through the stitch next to it. Then pass it under the next 2 corresponding threads of foundation. Continue working in like manner. When the end of the row is reached, work in same stitch over the next 3 stitches of the knitting.
After working over the third stitch, insert the needle downward—along the part which is not yet darned—into the upper part of that third stitch, take up the cross bar of the stitch and draw the cotton through. Then turn the work from left to right and begin the next row. When the work has come down to the lower edge of the opening, work the last row in the usual way; but, instead of passing the needle under the foundation threads, pass it through the corresponding stitches of this edge, as is shown in illustration No. 23.
When the darning is done, withdraw carefully the foundation threads. Trim the damaged part on the wrong side of the stocking, and fasten it neatly, as already stated in directions No. 20.