Must-Know Mend: Creative Swiss Darning

Swiss darning, or duplicate stitch, is a method of working new knitted stitches over the surface of a knitted fabric, duplicating the thread path below. It’s easy to learn and only requires a little yarn and a tapestry needle! Swiss darning can be used to create invisible mends that cover thinning fabric or add colorful pops anywhere you like. Have you ever tried adding Fair Isle patches on plain sweaters?

Mends don't have to be plain! This DK weight sweater was mended with Brown Sheep Company Waverly Wool Needlepoint Yarn, which is easy to divide for finer knits and comes in a wide range of colors.

Just because Swiss darning is easy to do doesn’t mean it can’t be used to create complex and artistic additions to your handknitted treasures. I love creating colorful geometric yet organic shapes that nest together. A bit like Tetris, you can just keep building over time. This is great for reinforcing larger areas that have become threadbare, such as elbows and sock soles.

Kate used colorful leftovers from her Cymru Socks to patch an old pair of superwash Merino handknit socks. Garthenor Organic Snowdonia Sock is much stronger and great for mending.

Like any technique, there are tips and tricks that can help make it better and easier. I like to secure my darns to the surrounding fabric, which is a bit different than most tutorials show. (Check out Steps 4 and 5 below to see how it works.) This small change also made it much easier to create tidy duplicate-stitch darns—game changer.

Mend-Along with Us!

I love watching other people mend, and I think it can be easier for all of us to tackle our mending pile if we have company. So, we invite you to join us for a mend-along this month! Here’s what we’ll be doing:

Week 1: (This post) Swiss Darning Tutorial and Tips

Week 2: Mending Tools: Basics and Beyond

Week 3: Woven Darn Tutorial

Week 4: Live Session with Kate Larson! Diagnose Your Damage and Make a Mending Plan

Week 5: Mending Inspiration! Freehand Mending Techniques and Tips

Go off the grid with embroidered stitches. Learn some surprisingly easy stitches. Photo by Kate Larson

All of these techniques can be used on anything in your closet—handknits and fast-fashion alike. If you are new to mending or feeling a little rusty, start with low-stakes mending, such as a sweater you no longer wear or a pair of socks that was destined for the rubbish bin.

Now, let’s jump into Swiss darning how-to. This technique is easiest to work over fabric that has not broken into a hole. Truly, “a stitch in time saves nine,” as the saying goes. So, grab a needle, and get stitching!

— Kate

Swiss Darning—Give it a Go!

Begin by securing your knitted fabric over a darning form. Here, I’m using a darning mushroom, but many objects can be used: an orange, an empty soda can, even your phone in a pinch. Secure with a ribbon or elastic so the fabric is stable but not stretched.