Sorry to use such strong language, but I have no choice, because this… is a darning egg. A practical sewing implement that was used to repair holes in socks, stockings, gloves, silks, wools… everything! A darning egg was placed beneath the fabric and a matching shade of thread or yarn was used to finely stitch the frayed material back together. It was less visible and a much better match than a patch.
This darning egg is wood with a silver handle from the late 1800s. Sewing was a key pastime ands a practical skill that all young ladies were required to have. That said, you can find sewing implements that are quite ornately carved or embossed and made from precious materials such as ivory, silver, gold, or jade. Sewing scissor holders, thimbles, needle cases and other chatelaines were monogrammed and given as gifts.
This sweet darner is for darning gloves, hence the long shaft with double ends of different sizes. Darling!
This black wooden darner has a gorgeous silver inlay piece. This would add a bit of style without the price of a full silver handle.
I found this fun and novel darner (and the cool box!) when I was on vacation in Kansas City. A figural darning egg of a lady made of porcelain with the message “Darn It” at the bottom. Aren’t the little blue feet precious? The box with the verse was just so fun I has to have it too!
This darner is made from blown glass. I’ve not run across another yet. I thought one in every color would make a nice bouquet in a glass vase, right?
Darn it, I hope you found something of interest in this post that might cause you to “darn it” too. Hmm… like a milk glass bowl of them displayed in your sewing or crafts room perhaps? Just saying!
Hugs,
Patti
And thank you all for participating in our
"What's It Wednesday" linky party!
Don't forget to grab a feature button.
"What's It Wednesday" linky party!
Don't forget to grab a feature button.
73 comments:
I have tried darning a sock and it isn't easy. I didn't have a darning egg but I still think it takes some skill and practice. I found your post very interesting, Patti!
Thanks for featuring my grasshopper Squares :)
Wow! You have so many wonderful collections.
Thanks for hosting the party!
Dee
You always have the most wonderful collections. I've never seen one with such a pretty silver handle. I just linked up and appreciate you hosting. Hugs, Sherry
I remember my mom sewing holes in my socks (eggless) and when I had kids it seemed the thing to do.... till I had another kid, and another, and another, etc.... Then I just decided they were cheap enough at Target to go buy more because I didn't have time to sew them. I bet it's a lost art.
~Bliss~
I remember that my mother had a sewing kit including a darner, I think it was made of ivory ~ long gone. This is a great collection.
You have a darn nice collection. Thanks for hosting.
You do find the darnedest things. hehehe
Oh "darnit" Patti!... every time I look at your posts, I want to start another collection!... tee hee hee... my mama ALWAYS darned our socks!... and I remember her using one just like those, she had a special "darning" box with all of the threads and such... my, how times have changed... I miss those times... thanks for sharing your fabulous collections!... and yes, I bought my first vintage pill box (after seeing yours)... to go with my newer ones... it is a vintage Limoges and I can't wait for it to come... also can't wait to see what all else you collect, I know it will be stunning!... Happy Spring!... xoxo Julie Marie Hello Paula!
Gosh darn it...you have the most incredible collections I have ever seen...Each week I am in awe of what you are featuring...magnificent!!...
Thank you again for featuring my post from last week. You are the sweetest!...I look forward to reading our blog and participating in your party each week!!
Great collection of darning eggs!
Another wonderful collection. I love the cute person darner - adorable - and that little sewing machine and sewing bird too. Thanks for hosting the party.
xo,
Danielle
Hello Lovely Ladies...
You two do have some amazing collections! And I loved reading everyone's darn comments about this one!!!
Thank you so much for featuring my new backsplash. Mr. Rosemary Lane is pretty proud of it too. Now that his hard work got featured maybe I can use it to finagle him into doing a few more projects around here!
Have a great week and thank you again so very much!!!
You always have such amazing things to share-I love learning something new every week! Thank you!
~Trisha
Your collectibles are always so unique and fun:)Love all the different intricate handles of the "darning eggs" and the hand blown glass one is so pretty! Thanks for sharing your awesome collection and for the party!Have a great week!~Poppy
What a great collection of darning eggs. I didn't know there were so many different ones. I thought they were all made of wood.
Where in the world do you find such great unique things? It's really puzzeling!! They are lovely and especially the one with the silver handle.
Patti- Those are some pretty fancy looking darning eggs. Love them! I have two that belonged to my gramma and they are both just the plain ones. I can remember her sitting and darning my Uncle's socks! xo Diana
What a great post! The darning egg. I haven't thought of those in some time. What a handy and attractive item to have :)
What a great post. A handy and attractive item, the darning egg :)
I love your collection of darning eggs. I did not realize there were so many different kinds.
Thank you for sharing your collection and the information. I really enjoyed it.
The two of you always have the best collections. They usually have an elegant feel to them. Love the daring egg with the silver handle. Thanks for hosting again this week, Laura
Hi There. I have linked to your post from a post of mine last month featuring English darners which I thought you might find interesting. You have a wonderful collection!
Cheers!
R
Hi Gals, just linking up some of my bedroom things, this old frenchy table. thanks for hosting, xo
That reminds me of my mom darning socks and how careful she had to be so there wasn't an uncomfortable bump underfoot. Thanks for hosting! ~ Maureen
LOVE that silver darner. And all of your other pretty sewing goodies.
Thanks for hostessing the party Patti!
Hugs,
Judy
Fabulous collection! This is not a sewing implement that I collect so I don't search these out, but even so I have never seen a darner with a silver handle before...how common (or uncommon) were they for the time?
Hello!
I hope you don't mind that I linked up several post but if that is not allowed then I will not do it next time.
Thanks again for your invitation to join your party!! And thanks so much for hosting!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Me again! By the way, you have an amazing collection! I have the black wooden kind that was my grandmother's.
Hugs,
Deb
I so love vintage sewing aids, Yours are just lovely.
x jeanetteann
Ps I forgot to say,my dad used to mend all our socks with a darning mushroom. He was really perfect at it.
x jeanetteann
What an amazing collection! I have to tell you though....I just learned something..I have never heard of a darning egg before. Thanks for educating me and thanks for hosting, Gail
Beautiful collection!
... Thank you for hosting week after week :)
Greetings from Australia♥
So happy to be joining in this week. Thanks for hosting.
Laura
Your collection of darning eggs is spectacular. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hugs,
Penny
So enjoyed your features Patti. And thanks for hosting such a fun linky party. I love to be a part of it.
Nann
Love the collection of darning eggs, they are great.
Thank you for hosting.
These are wonderful! I have actually darned a few socks in my "career".
Great collection!!! Thank you for hosting this fun party.
Blessings,
Linda
What a fun collection! Great features this week! Thanks for hosting this party!
I think these are like works of art!!
Your treasures are shown in such artistic vignettes. I have never seen silver handled darning eggs before. How wonderful.
I love learning new things and today it was about darning eggs. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
And thanks so much for hosting this party, too.
Laurel
I am amazied at all the beautiful things you have
I use to have a lot of darn it things and sold them
I do still have my old sewing bird
love ya party
Hi lovely lady.
You have a wonderful collections of Treasures in your lovely home, all are so beautiful. Thanks so much for hosting your linky party.
I also hope you have a wonderful week with your family.
XXOO Diane
Love your collection!! I only have one lonely darning piece, but I am looking for more! I love sewing notions and have quite a few, but always I'm looking for more! Love your displays as usual!
Thanks so much,
Doni
Love the darning eggs. Thanks so much for hosting.
I would never have know about the darning egg! You share so many beautiful collectibles. Thanks for hosting.
~Emily
The French Hutch
Thanks for hosting a fun party! Lot's of inspiration here!
Blessings,
Janet
I have a couple of wooden darners, but I have never seen an silver handled one.
- The Tablescaper
I know that darner ever so well. I remember watching my grandmother use her darner, which I have, to mend grandpa's socks. Yours are beautiful.
Hugs...Lu
Thank you Patti for your beautiful visit, best of all your comments that always lift my spirits with your encouraging words...Your such a doll :)
I am always inspired with the pieces you drum up to post :)
Keep inspiring the best.
xoxo
Dore
Thanks so much for hosting. It was nice of you to stop by and hope you can come back and visit my Simple & Sweet Fridays Party.
Jody
Patty,
You have no idea how much I enjoy reading your posts and looking at your collections. Thank you! I adore the sweet little silver pin cushion with the bird.
Deborah
Hello, this is Orchid.
Thank you very much for your very generous comment for my blog. I am glad to be your friend.
Today I'm going out for errand from now and not much time to read your blog at the moment, but I'll come back later and maybe leave a comment again.
Your new friend from Japan♪ orchid*
:) I remeber my Granny using a light bulb for this :)
Thank you so much, Patti, for stopping by and inviting me.
I'm humbled by the fact you found my recycled wreath suitable for linking up with your fine blog.
Blessings
I tried darning socks once and it was a major fail. LOL Thanks for hosting!
Sherry
I am in love with these 'darn' things!
Until tonight, I never knew they existed...never seen them before, but they make perfect sense. Thanks.
Honestly I thought it was a baby rattle or something at first!
Ciao Bella
Creative Carmelina
I love the way utilitarian objects were made so beautifully. I guess it made everyday chores more interesting. Thanks for hosting, I'm thrilled to link up.
HI MOMS!!!!!!!!
I LIKE YOUR BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE BLOG!!!!!!!
THANK YOU FOR VISITING.
KISSES FROM GREECE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for stopping by. Posting the hummingbird too!
The nest is in a chandelier and it is hanging in our patio area. I can see it looking down from our bedroom window. Couldn't ask for a better spot to peek.
Jody
I love the little collection. So charming plus unusual. Jane
Funny, the way my Mama darned things was to say darn, darn, darn as she tossed the holy thing in the trash! Heeehehehe!
Several of your beautiful darners reminded me of some my Granny Walden used when I was just a wee chicklett.
You have so many lovely collections sweetie!
Have a blessed and beautiful weekend sweetie!!! :o)
As always I love to see collections on your blog. Very interesting. Thanks for hosting!
oh wow!! I love looking at all these wonderful posts. And most of all i love learning something new everyday...darning is soo darn interesting...thank you for this information!!
I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.
Dear Patti, thank you, as always, for sharing such fascinating pieces! These darning implements always make me think of my grandmother. She was constantly darning!! heee..:)
I now have one of her little pieces, but do not have a clue as to how to use it. So I think I will just enjoy the memories!
Hugs,
- Irina
The silver handled darning egg is the prettiest one I've ever seen! At first it looked like a chocolate egg sitting on a silver spoon and I thought: yummy! lol
Happy spring!
XO Diane
Oh Patti...you just made my day!! Thank you so much, dear friend, for those BEAUTIFUL, loving words.
I feel the same way about you!
Much love,
- Irina
DEAR PATTI,
I AM SO HAPPY AND THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG.
YOUR WHITE SOFA IS VERY PRETTY!
YOUR WOODEN EGG IS IN MY MEMORY ! THE SAME HAD MY GRANDMOM.
SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH...
KISSES MY SWEET FRIEND.
Your collection of darners is amazing. You have some beautiful ones in your collection.
Thanks for stopping by, Mary Alice
I don't have any darning eggs, couldn't use them if I did - Darn it! I did love this post and the way everything, even common household items used to be made to be beautiful. I miss that now. By the way, that first image is stunning.
I love your bird third hand. It's in such good condition. I have bird too too, but my little pincushion part is missing, so now I know what it should look like... I always thought the fabric should be red, but I love our blue. Wonderful collecion and I love the title! Nice blog and I'm glad I found you!
Terri
You are a hoot! Thanx for coming to the party!
I thought I had quite a number of varied collections...until I started visiting you two. lol You do have the most wonderful and unique treasures.
Thanks for linking to Time Travel Thursday. Hope to see you again this week.
Blessings,
Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage
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