How to Mend a Sock

I have been doing this for a while now. I have always been interested in doing things myself and saving money in the process. With so many socks with little and big holes in them I figured that there must be a way too fix that without going out and buying new socks every week! It is better if you can mend them before all the thread is gone but if they have gotten out of hand not too hard to fix. I like to do this when I'm watching a movie or helping with homework. No stitches to count, and if you make a mistake you walk on it anyways:) I started out doing them with matching thread and yarn but then one of my little guys asked me why I ALWAYS use white!! So I started mending theirs with colorful yarn, but hubby asked that his be done the "boring" way since he goes out of town and has to share a room with his co-workers:)

Step 1: What You Will Need

You may already have all you need at home. If not, you don't need much of anything so if you have a friend or family member who sews, let them know what you need and I'm sure they will give it too you.

1 pair of scissors

1 light bulb, the old kind, it is great way to use the old light bulbs you have in the garage when you switched to the new energy efficient kind.

thread. I use mettler purple label (100% cotton) but you can use whatever you have. A good rule of thumb is use the same kind of  thread that your sock is made out of. Poly thread for poly socks, silk thread for silk socks etc...

yarn I like to use the baby sport weight. Very easy to thread in the needle and it's soft.

2 needles- a regular sewing needle and a yarn darner, which is just a needle with a big eye

a rubber band, mine held together my asparagus. I was saving it to make a rubber band ball but I  will after I'm done mending.

and last but not least some holey socks!

Step 2: Prep Your Sock

The first thing you need to do is put the light bulb into the sock. Then secure it with the rubber band.

Step 3: Clean Up the Hole

You want to cut away all the balls of fluffies and all the stray threads.

Step 4: Threading Your Needle

Now it's time to thread your needle with the thread. I find it's best to wet the needle not to lick your thread. Make sure you have enough thread to double it over. Two arm lengths is good to start with.

Step 5: Time to Whip the Sock

Ok so now you need to whip stitch the edges of the sock. I switched socks because I was having a hard time seeing the thread on the first one:) When you make the first stitch keep long tail. You can hid it at the end so don't worry! Go all the way around the sock. Your stitches don't need to be extremely close, mostly you are keeping the hole from getting any bigger. If you have a sock that is bare and doesn't have a hole you can skip this step. Like the one in the sixth picture. The hole is super tiny and mostly the sock is bare.

Step 6: Criss Cross

Now you will be creating the base for your yarn to come. Just stitch back and forth to cover the hole.

Step 7: Time for the Yarn

Ok now it's time to thread the yarn into the yarn needle. Then you will be weaving in and out of the base you just stitched. Again your going to want to leave a tail no knots.Keep doing this till the hole is closed up! If you are working on your bare sock weave in and out of the threads already there. Image 6&7

Step 8: Time to Try It On!

Now it's time to show off your creations:) I know you can't really see the sock in the first picture but he's happy and that's what counts!!!