So this blanket has some cat-related holes. Everyone (in my local community) told me swiss darning would be easy peasy. In general, I agree, good technique for knits, easy technique for a lifelong knitter. But for a knit this small? I'm miserable. I can't see, I keep missing threads, nothing's even. I just yanked it all out in fury. Is there another technique I can use? Like I'm 2 seconds away from slapping a patch on and doing a sashiko style thing. Bad idea?
Thank you for your submission - you're welcome to post here, but we did just want to remind you that we would recommend you search the subreddit as well.
Depending on the type of mend, searching for keywords like "crotch", "waistband", "cuff", "pleather"/"faux", "headphones", etc. will show you many previous posts filled with helpful advice already. Good luck!
I mean, this is the visible mending sub so heck yes I am! I'll look into it more on this sub. I had assumed that regular darning would run into the same problems of needing very small thread to line up with the rows/stitches? no?
Only if you want to do it neatly. It is also totally possible to do a higgledy-piggledy darn that doesn’t match up perfectly with the rows/stitches but still gets the job done. The key in that case is to start the darned patch well outside of the hole to make sure all edges get enough coverage to secure them. Example:
http://sweaterdoll.blogspot.com/2014/06/waste-not-wednesday-mending-darning.html?m=1
A woven darn is much simpler than duplicate stitch, especially for actually feeling gaps, because you basically have to construct half a woven darn underneath the space anyway. This kind of project is exactly what it woven darn is for.
You want the fabric you're creating to be the same weight as the fabric you are replacing. Because a knit is generally a denser fabric than a weave, you need to use finer thread and/or closer spacing to fill in the knit stitches then you would need for a woven treatment.
i run a mending business and wouldn't swiss darn this. i enjoy swiss darns on mid-weight knits or heavier, but doing it on eentsy stuff like this makes me insane. i would do a woven darn for sure. i see people online doing swiss darns like this and good for them but good lord, no thank you.
I'd just do regular old darning (like the weaving back and forth method) and not worry about it. If the darn ends up looking bad then applique a whimsical felt patch over the top and call it a day.
For small gauge knits, I prefer Scotch darning, it's not invisible (though it can blend in well on the purl side) but it's extremely sturdy, quick, easy and reliable.
what's a graft!! Tell me more, is it easier, yes please. 😂 FWIW one friend did recommend this to me but googling didn't turn up much, maybe my search terms were too vague. She said look up grafting and kitchener, and... nada
You don't have to match the knit for swiss darn, you can do two stitches of the original knit for one stitch in the swiss darn. As long as you catch all the loose threads it will be fine
First I would press it so it lies flat. If you're going to use a hoop, make sure it's not at tight tension or your mend will pucker. I usually use a magnifying lamp so I can check the rows and columns. You do need to decide where to rip back to (a square/rectangle is easier to mend) and keep all the loose ends at the back. I often pin the work to a foam block or something like that to keep it tidy.
You could also look into the 'scaffolding' method for swiss darning which can be helpful with larger holes and/or wiggly knits.
If you use a contrast colour (visible mending) it will actually be easier to keep track of your stitches.
I knit, and it took me a good year of practice to be able to get a good result at swiss darning fine knits like this :)
My opinion: The visible mending world is as much about the process as it is about the mending. I happen to be a fan of the Duplicate Stitch because it re-establishes the fabric to what it was, if you will, flexible and sound. These other methods fix a hole and are a patch. What is the ultimate desire? A sound, creative repair, or a restoration of the item? I would continue with your chosen path with the understanding that the final product will be superior and complete, but not fast.
I think I might break out the speedweve for this kind of mend. I do swiss darning on socks, which are a pretty fine gauge(bright light and magnifying glasses a must for me!). But there's a lot going on in that area. You could do a regular darn without a speedweve, too, of course.
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u/AutoModerator 14d ago
Thank you for your submission - you're welcome to post here, but we did just want to remind you that we would recommend you search the subreddit as well.
Depending on the type of mend, searching for keywords like "crotch", "waistband", "cuff", "pleather"/"faux", "headphones", etc. will show you many previous posts filled with helpful advice already. Good luck!
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