How to Visibly Darn Your Socks with Katrina Rodabaugh

Elevate the humble act of mending into a quiet statement of care and creativity. This project teaches the art of visible darning — a method that not only restores function but adds beauty and personality to worn socks.

Rather than hiding repairs, this approach celebrates them. With simple stitches and thoughtful colour choices, each darn becomes a decorative flourish, echoing the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi — the appreciation of imperfection and impermanence.

Accessible for beginners and deeply satisfying for experienced menders, this project encourages a slower, more mindful relationship with the things we wear. A small act of repair, a lasting gesture of respect.

This project was featured in Issue 102 Mend.

Free downloadable & complete instructions are available.

Delve deeper into the beauty of threads that tell stories—discover On Mending, Celia Pym and its tender meditations on care, memory, and the quiet art of repair.

Inspired by the artful approach to visible mending? Extend that creative care into conversation—watch the Caring for Your Clothes virtual event, where she joins Orsola de Castro and others to explore thoughtful, textile-conscious methods for sustaining our wardrobes.