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.
[Illustration: NO. 19. CROSS-WORK DARNING.]
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.
[Illustration: NO. 20. DARNING IN IMITATION OF KNITTED STITCH.]
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.
[Illustration: NO. 21. FOUNDATION FOR NO. 22.]
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.
[Illustration: NO. 22. FORMATION OF THE DARNING STITCHES ON
FOUNDATION NO. 21.]
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.
[Illustration: NO. 23. FINISHING OFF.]