THE DARNING EGG — A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY
The darning egg, an extremely useful tool in past times, was once a part of every household. They were used regularly as a tool in knitting and darning, a needlecraft which involves fixing areas of wear and tear on garments. The darning egg is most closely associated with socks, since it makes darning socks much easier, but it can be used for other projects as well. Many knitting and sewing supply stores sell darning eggs to this day. As a mending tool, a darning egg was extremely useful. A darning egg held the textile being darned firmly, so that the darner can focus on making even, tight stitches. It can also be used at the end of a knitting project to firm up and even out tension. For socks especially, finishing with a darning egg can ensure that the stitches at the very end of the toe are tight and even, blending in with the rest of the knitted sock.
The classic darning egg is an ovoid or mushroom-shaped piece of stone, metal, ceramic, or wood. Many darning eggs also have a handle attached, to make it easier to work with the darning egg. The majority of darning eggs are made from wood, since it is easy to shape and work with. The smooth surface of the darning egg will not be easily scratched by a darning needle, and it keeps the textile stretched over it smooth and even. Vintage darning eggs have become highly collectible, and can be found in a variety of woods, some brightly decorated with painted pictures, and some with ornate sterling silver handles.
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The darning egg has long been used in thriftier times (or times with the luxury of a sewing woman) to darn stockings and socks. The English tend to favor the “mushroom” shape, and the Americans the “egg” shape. But, many people in industrialized nations do not engage in mending, especially for clothing items such as socks. Darning is done by hand and is, to a degree, a lost art in today’s throw-away society. The darning egg has remained popular as a piece of history, and can be readily found at shows, shops and on-line sites.
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