FIX IT!! HOW TO: Swiss Darning

[@uberliner503]

I have basic sewing (and zero knitting) skills, but I just mended a hole in my daughter's favorite sweater flawlessly. What?! I can't believe it. This tutorial is easy to follow and Ms. Storta is a BRILLIANT teacher! 👏 It took a few tries, but if I can do it anyone can!

[@HeatherStorta]

You are too kind! I'm glad you were able to mend it!

[@morgaaaaaa]

thank you for this video! i bought a proper wool cardigan from a charity shop in Edinburgh, and whilst i was still there i realised the massive holes (not moth holes). whilst i was there i had the foresight to buy some local wool to repair it in the future, but the cardigan was so complex i really doubted my darning capabilities. after watching your video, i've just mended one of the holes and i feel so accomplished! really looking forward to finsihing the rest

[@HeatherStorta]

Oh that's wonderful!! So glad I could be of help -- and best of luck with the rest of the repairs!

[@kathleenleslie5527]

I've offered to repair my sister in law's cashmere jumper which she was given as a birthday present. The hole is in the rib, I have a feeling it was from a security tag. I have an almost matching ball of yarn and matching 'thread' but as it's in the rib in wondering how to do it now. Any help would be hugely appreciated.

[@elizabethpowers7706]

That was just fantastic! It's a lost art really. I'm going to try to repair a shawl now! People like you help out alot of folks with this kinda stuff ❤️ Thanks for sharing!

[@HeatherStorta]

That's very kind of you to say! I'm so glad it was helpful!!

[@Sutton_Bea_Still]

This is by far the best Swiss darning tutorial I have seen as of yet!! I keep coming back to learn and observe the specific ways you manipulate the needle and fabric. Thank you!!!!!!

[@HeatherStorta]

Wow, thank you for the compliment!! Glad to have you here!

[@rukeyser]

Just found out TODAY that I don’t have to learn how to knit in order to mend a knitted piece. This is the second video - and your much more precise set-up and your *thread ladder /duplicate stitch* approach complements the *all yarn ladder* demonstration perfectly. I don’t know if I will ever use this technique, but having such a delicate option is wonderful . Thank you so much !!

[@HeatherStorta]

I'm so glad it was helpful!!

[@Jess-lk3gr]

Thank you so much for posting this! I'd been wanting to learn how to repair my jumpers and cardigans but have more of a sewing background than a knitting background, so lots of other, shorter tutorials on KZbin didn't make sense to me. I came to your video to try and understand the logic behind why certain stitches were placed where they were and why particular loops were joined etc. Thank you for such a clear explanation, I understand the process a lot better now!

[@HeatherStorta]

Glad I could help!

[@maureenmulligan5882]

Wonderful! The best I have seen for Swiss darning and now I will attempt the repair. Thank you.

[@HeatherStorta]

I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@doreenwatson-read]

that was great, I have watched others do this and have been left with no clue, but I believe I understood your video because you did it visually slow and turned to give better ideas of what was going on. Thankyou🙃

[@HeatherStorta]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jk-qj2qz]

Thank you for this, I have a fairly large hole in one of my favorite sweaters and even though it wasn't all that expensive, I want to get better at mending my clothes and not being so wasteful. Thanks again for sharing this, it's such a good skill to have.

[@HeatherStorta]

You are so welcome!

[@2cr8gdtimes]

I totally agree. Mending clothes attractively is a great hobby to have. I'm learning to do it. Thanks 😊

[@cherryheinrich9370]

This is the best tutorial I could find. My first effort was bodged but it was on a hat with much much finer yarn and ribbed and striped! The motheaten bit was black yarn. Not the best to start with but for a friend who needs it so I will definitely persevere. Thanks so much for the detailed instruction.

[@HeatherStorta]

I'm so glad it was helpful!!

[@2cr8gdtimes]

Thanks, Heather. You motivate me to try swiss darning again. I messed up my first attempt prior to seeing this video coz the other video omitted to mention, "release a few stitches and turn it into a square." I really want to get this right. You make it look so simple.

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome! Let me know how it goes!

[@sylvanaire]

I just need to darn the heel of a knitted slipper, so it doesn’t need to be perfect, but I’ve watched a couple videos, and yours is the first one that takes the time to anchor the live stitches before beginning the actual patch. Thank you!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!! Glad it was helpful!

[@immehanebuth123]

This video is very helpful and you explain the steps very good. I was able to darn a hole in a sweater my mother had knit for me. With the right wool it /is/ almost invisible.

[@HeatherStorta]

Wonderful!! Glad it was helpful!

[@sonnenengel6380]

Thank you very much for sharing this nice darning with us. I also belong to the people who repair their clothes and not easily throw them away. If I can also succeed in this darning, we will see. Have a nice Sunday! Many greetings from Germany 🐣🌷☘️☺️

[@HeatherStorta]

It's my pleasure! You have a nice Sunday as well!

[@kl8062]

Nice explanation! I was trying to figure out a way to do this, and couldn't make it work. Sewing thread instead of the thick darning thread and stabilizing vertically instead of horizontally were the keys I was missing. Thank you!

[@HeatherStorta]

So glad I could help!

[@jeffreybaltimore1]

That was really helpful and beautiful work! I feel like I can probably do it myself after watching your very clear demonstration. Thanks so much for sharing your skills!

[@HeatherStorta]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danbev8542]

Excellent demo! Good explanation, good clear camera work! Thank you! Now I have to find some matching yarn & work along with you again!

[@HeatherStorta]

Glad it was helpful!

[@carolbird7935]

CarolBird from Longtown Hereford England these little videos are worth gold I make toy and use wool effect you see to count stitches or see the knitting pattern so they spring holes Swiss darning is the answer thankyou so much for teaching me this stitch fantastic 8❤️🇬🇧🌹

[@dagcikedi]

This is an amazing mending technique! Thank you for explaining and showing it so clearly!

[@HeatherStorta]

You are so welcome!

[@pennydorrington8989]

I really liked this video, very clear and precise thank you, now I need to pluck up courage to mend the sweater.

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome -- you can do it!

[@yvonnewiggins4209]

I love this. Thank you. So much better than the method passed on by my grandmother.

[@HeatherStorta]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brendabollig6856]

Thank you. I just got a hole in my brother's sweater that passed away. You saved my remembrance item 🥰

[@HeatherStorta]

I'm so sorry for your loss. How wonderful that you can save his sweater as remembrance.

[@jmdenison]

excellent. I always struggle with a kirschner stitch, and this makes it easy to do one! love it.

[@HeatherStorta]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nagdeolife]

Thanks for demonstrating the trick with the thread. I never heard of that before, and it's brilliant!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're very welcome!!

[@helenefagan4896]

Helene Fagan That was brilliant, just what I was looking for...thank you!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're so welcome!

[@KatKat_9]

Oh my god thank you so much! That was the most helpful thing I found! I managed to repair a moth hole on the chest part of one of my handknit sweaters basically invisible!! I'm so glad I found this and so saved it for further mending needs (even though I hope the moth traps will do their proper job :D )

[@HeatherStorta]

I'm so glad it helped!

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

So much better than my usual basket-weave. Must give the Swiss method a try.

[@HeatherStorta]

Let me know how you like it once you give it a try!

[@eileenfb1948]

This is fantastic. Exactly what I need to mend a 'chewed' cuff on an expensive, favourite jumper. Amasing what can be done. Thank you.

[@HeatherStorta]

Wonderful, I'm so glad it was helpful!!

[@davidsillars3181]

Super technique and lovely result. I just last week bought good merino wool to repair an ancient much loved pullover, but I only know basic darning! The closest I have to a darning egg is a maraca, and of course puss will chase every bit of yarn that moves. But you have inspired me to have a go and subscribe to learn more! Thank you.

[@HeatherStorta]

Best of luck with the repair! Thank you for being here!

[@sharktoothjack8854]

Thank you so much! You helped me save my favorite sweater! And also I understand more how knitting actually works now

[@HeatherStorta]

You are so welcome!

[@eileenwalker5932]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I found a hole in a finished body and completely panicked. You are a goddess!!!!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're so welcome!

[@dianejoel717]

Thank you for creating this video. I own a darning egg but didn’t know how to use it ‘til now.😊

[@HeatherStorta]

You’re welcome 😊

[@martiedmondson1328]

This video is amazing! Thank you so much for showing how to do this so clearly. I'm going to repair a fairly large whole in a sweater I made for my husband.

[@HeatherStorta]

Glad it was helpful! Best of luck with the repair!!

[@norahg2011]

I wish I could this video a thousand times now I think I can repair my sister's favorite sweater thanks for your wonder instruction

[@HeatherStorta]

You are so welcome!

[@foofoo14ful]

Thank you very much for sharing how to mend with Swiss darning!!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!

[@gemmapeasgood3213]

Amazing. I find it just beautiful to watch. Very therapeutic. I've got a cardigan that's gone on the elbow. Gonna try and make restore it. 1😍

[@HeatherStorta]

So glad you liked it! You can do it!

[@randalllaue4042]

Why “Swiss” darning? Seems like all countries have mending rules, just found this trend of visible mending, so much “Binge watching…” thank you for answering questions that I never asked!!

[@HeatherStorta]

I'm actually not sure why it's known as Swiss darning -- I'll have to do some research there. (I think a better name (more descriptive of the actual technique) would be duplicate stitch darning.) I'm glad it was helpful!

[@Sophie-ic1kf]

Your video was so well done and easy to watch because you explained every step so clearly. Thank you for making this video..I have a few questions. My hole was caused by getting caught in the washing machine and so is cut & ripped with strands all over and I am wondering if I would be able to darn something like this and if I could, should I cut off the threads that are already cut or leave them alone?

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome! I would leave them, and then after the repair weave in what you can -- and then if they're still long you could cut them shorter - but after you've secured them.

[@noraanderson3503]

Wonderful video! Very analytical! Thank you so much 💗

[@HeatherStorta]

You are so welcome!

[@caro1591]

Great video. Super-clear. 🙏🏻❤️

[@HeatherStorta]

Glad you liked it!

[@vrma63]

Thank you, thank you, that is a beautiful thing to know!!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!

[@bettydohms2002]

Love this way of mending!!

[@gfitz6001]

WOW ! That was impressive.

[@lydiangeline]

This was facinating. Thank you!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!!

[@annh.8290]

This was wonderful, thank you!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!!

[@mzunnurain]

Hi, I can see that your first step was to unravel the stitches so that your hole was square. My holes in my socks are occurring at the very beginning of the heel turn, causing an uneven hole going 2 ways. One run towards the toe, another gap towards the ankle. Do you have any suggestions or videos for this kind of repair? They are cotton anklet socks and I am using heavy duty thread.

[@HeatherStorta]

Ah, when you have increases or decreases involved, then your hole might not be square. As long as you get the hole to follow a line of columns of stitches I think you should be able to perform the repair like I show here -- it might start as a shorter row at the beginning and widen as you go up, though, for example. When a hole occurs over an increase/decrease section, it can be tricky to recreate that fabric precisely - you might have to just repair and stabilize the hole as best you can in some instances. It sounds like you might have a run as well? Where one or more columns have intact yarn but the stitches have unworked? You would need to ladder those back to the start of the hole first before you repair the hole in that case. I hope this helps! Good luck with the repair!

[@norahg2011]

Sorry I wish I could like this a thousand times

[@HeatherStorta]

lol, I understood you! :-)

[@eviethedinobird8577]

Hi! This is great! I’ve been knitting for years, and haven’t yet tried to repair anything. Do you have a technique for the purlside as well? My first sweater is purl stitches on the outside and of course it has holes in it this winter. Thank you!

[@HeatherStorta]

I don't have one showing the purlside facing yet, but you could turn it inside out and follow this to do the repair! Then weave in your ends on the inside instead at the end.

[@feliciajocelyn3926]

Thank you mam.. that was a very nice tutorial 👌 👍

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!

[@ElisandeWalters]

I wonder if I didn't succeed so well because it was on the curve of a stokcing and I might have not created a perfectly square whole... will try again, this one was done with felt-anble wool so in the end it won't matter that it didn't turn out so great.. will try again because: very cool

[@HeatherStorta]

Yes, a nice square hole is the easiest to work with. Best of luck!!

[@lauraservidei5728]

I wanted to scream TURN THE WORK UPSIDE DOWN!!! when you were knitting left to right :-) Very informative thank you

[@HeatherStorta]

lol! And I do that when darning myself - I thought it would have been confusing to do that in the video, though! :-)

[@DrWhoGal1]

This was incredible!! Thank you!!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're so welcome!

[@stellachamorro9863]

Excelente explicación no hablo su idioma pero entendí todo. Muchas gracias 👏👏👏

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!!

[@miriambartley6622]

Thankyou for this very informative video.

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!

[@mabelluengo9415]

Is there anyone who could teach me English? I just want to speak with you about darning. Thanks. Su trabajo es precioso (Spanish) Seu trabalho é precioso (Portuguese). You became an icon on my pc work screen!!

[@HeatherStorta]

I don't know that I can teach English, but I'm happy to answer questions about darning!

[@mabelluengo9415]

@@HeatherStorta Thanks, I´ll try to explain it. If I have a an ordinary cloth sock, made of fabric. Could you teach me. Please? thanks

[@Honeybee1975..]

Really impressive!👍🥰

[@HeatherStorta]

Thank you! 😊

[@christinehowell]

Thank you. This is really helpful

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!

[@cremespeiseerdbeere8058]

Many thanks for brilliant explanation💓

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome 😊

[@CMneilB]

Marvellous. So clever.

[@HeatherStorta]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@kgunn5829]

Fascinating!! Thank you!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!

[@TheYogibear159]

Wondering if you could explain “weaving in” the tail and loose threads in the back? I don’t want to compromise the work at all. Thanks!!

[@HeatherStorta]

Hi! Yes - I'd weave in each tail using duplicate stitch heading away from the repair. I have a video that might be helpful, showing duplicate stitch tail weaves here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpiYk3ibibmMfcU

[@uschimyers]

I just pulled out my sweaters from the wash. 6 Merino sweaters and all have one or more holes. I don’t know what happened. They are new. They are very thin so I'm not sure how to mend them. So sad. I guess I’ll give it a try.

[@HeatherStorta]

Good luck!!!

[@maddalenadivincenzo8741]

Bravissima!

[@HeatherStorta]

Thank you!!

[@pyrotheevilplatypus]

I feel like an embroidery hoop would be SOOOOOO much less hassle than that egg thing.

[@HeatherStorta]

Yes, an embroidery hoop works well for larger flat pieces of knitting. The darning egg is handy for things like sock heels, though - where you couldn't get that shape of fabric into a hoop.

[@MorriganShay]

I only have one (possibly 2) stitches that the yarn has worn through (old wool sweater). Do I need to widen the hole so that it's 3×3?

[@HeatherStorta]

No, you wouldn't need to for that small of a spot! I'd start an stitch or two from the hole and then work over the hole and end a stitch or two on the other side of the hole. You might not need to work any repair above and below if the yarn looks in good shape.

[@peggymalloy8726]

What causes these holes? I don't have moths or silverfish. My latest hole was in a pair of socks in a sealed bag!

[@HeatherStorta]

Wear and tear can cause holes - especially in socks! Or a snag unnoticed can turn into a hole through wear. Sometimes, but usually not often, the yarn can have a weak spot and wear really easily in a spot as well. Puppies and kittens can be a culprit too!! A sealed bag should be fairly good protection from that, though!

[@GooGooDollss]

Nice 😊👍

[@HeatherStorta]

Thanks 🤗

[@theodarling5457]

What do you do if the hole is on the edge of the garment? My dog chewed a hole in one of his sweaters, right on the arm hole. Do you have to do anything special on the edge of the darn, then? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm not a knitter!

[@HeatherStorta]

Totally not a stupid question!! If the hole is on the edge, you can still do this method - it just might be a little bit more tricky. You could give yourself a base of breakaway fabric (you can find it in sewing stores) to stabilize things and then remove the backing when done -- that might help!

[@annawessman4029]

Thanks so much! :)

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!

[@patriciaesguerragalan4963]

Thank you!

[@HeatherStorta]

You're welcome!

[@birgik]

Can one do this on fine machine knits? I have some treasured cashmere and haven't found any invisible way to do it

[@HeatherStorta]

Yes, definitely you can do this with fine machine knits! You will need to use a thinner needle (and perhaps a magnifying glass) and take your time, but it can be done. There's a method to do this with a latch hook (I'll be filming a video showing that soon) that is the exact same repair, just using different tools - and that might be easier to perform on the fine machine knits.

[@birgik]

@@HeatherStorta Oh, I'm really looking forward to seeing that video! Thank you

[@soniaeroglu8081]

Yup, thank you for showing, but didn't understand anything, especially when you increased the speed of the video, plus skipping some few steps there! For under the egg, use a silicone mat, that way it will keep it in place.

[@gracegorman3306]

(I cannot help myself) For a smallish hole like that I would have locked the whole piece into a large embroidery hoop. It'd be a lot more stable than that egg. But otherwise good to see the process.

[@HeatherStorta]

Yes, an embroidery hoop can be of help! Sometimes the knitting is too small to fit in a hoop, though (like sock heels or toes).

[@verenabucheler3875]

Gibt es jemanden, der mir noch Tipps geben kann, damit ich es noch besser kapiere, es fällt mir unendlich schwer das zu begreifen, ich brauche Hilfe dafür, woher hat die Autorin hier das so gut gelernt? Bin dankbar um jeden Tipp, danke!

[@manimanivan]

Why do you use such a long long turquoise thread? I you have to use so much time keeping it straight that I can’t remember where you are coming from. You don’t need such a long thread!

[@HeatherStorta]

Hi! Yes, I could have used a shorter thread! I wanted to be sure I didn't run out, though, so that I could do the whole repair with minimal tails to weave in at the end. It's one of those things where you tend to overestimate how much you need (but better to overestimate than underestimate!)

[@manimanivan]

@@HeatherStorta Thank you for the response. I have never made a demonstration video, but if I were to I believe I would make a test video and ask somebody to watching for feedback. I think people watching this video are interested in learning the stitches, not how to bind off. Although I have watched the steps many many times, I am still not sure if the thread is wrapped around the ladder stitch, or between the two legs.

[@HeatherStorta]

The ladder stitches are there to stabilize and provide a framework vertically (think of it as a vertical lifeline) and the repair stitches go around the two legs of the ladder stitch and then into the base of the stitch below, coming out of the center of the next stitch before going around the next ladder stitch. You could also use a dpn horizontally, or a horizontal lifeline on each row of the repair as your stabilization method. The key is to anchor on each side of the hole before moving to the next row so that the edges of the repair have no gaps, and having some method of securing the live loops in each row that you are making as you make them.

[@JessicaJones-me6sp]

Why not use a crochet hook?

[@HeatherStorta]

You could certainly do that if you ran all the horizontal strands across first. You could use a crochet hook to ladder up each column. But you'd still have to use a tapestry needle to graft the last row to the knitting.

[@helenfountain7554]

Why use such a long piece of yarn? Takes so long to pull it through.

[@HeatherStorta]

Since the darning adds some bulk, I want to be sure to not have many tails to weave in afterwards, adding to that bulk. You certainly can use shorter strands to speed up the process, and then weave the tails in afterwards if you wish!

[@nicole73551]

:( My garment has a pattern...

[@HeatherStorta]

:-( That definitely makes it more tricky!!

[@shannahsnyder5653]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@djmac6215]

Very nice technique. May I suggest starting with much less yarn and securing your tails. Way to much video time spent pulling long yarn through and wrestling with the thread tail. It was distracting from the lesson.

[@gfitz6001]

WOW! That was impressive.