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How to Fix Socks With Holes: Darn It or Replace It?

A small hole in a good sock is a 30-minute darn. Learn when mending beats buying new, how to fix heel holes, and how to stop the next one.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read

Time
30 min
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Easy
A gray wool sock with a hole in the heel stretched over a wooden darning mushroom beside a needle and balls of mending yarn
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Darn it or replace it? A quick test
  9. How to stop socks from getting holes
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

How to fix socks with holes: darn them. Stretch the hole over a smooth round form, then weave yarn over and under across it to build a new patch of fabric. This works on heel holes, toe holes and most big holes, as long as the knit around the hole is still thick. A darning mushroom kit holds the sock in its natural shape, so the patch lies flat and does not rub your foot. If the knit is thin and see-through, replace the sock.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 30 minutes

Darn it over a smooth jar

  • Check that the knit around the hole is still thick
  • Slip a smooth jar or tennis ball inside the sock
  • Weave yarn over and under across the hole
  • Keep the stitches loose so the sock stays stretchy

How long it lasts: Holds for months on a small hole if you use yarn. The patch can feel lumpy when the sock has no proper form under it.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Sock darning mushroom and kit (illustration)
Illustration

A sock darning mushroom and kit

The free jar method works. The mushroom's curved head holds the heel or toe in its real shape, so the weave comes out even and flat. Blunt needles with large eyes slide between the loops without splitting them. That makes the repair neater, faster and easier to repeat.

What to get: Sock darning mushroom and kit

How long it lasts: The repair holds through many washes, and the kit works on every sock after. You can reinforce a thin heel before it ever turns into a hole.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Sewing scissors

    For trimming the loose ends

    You have it

  • Smooth jar or tennis ball

    Holds the sock open if you have no mushroom. Skip a light bulb, since it can break in your hand.

    Free
  • Our pick
    Sock darning mushroom and kit (illustration)
    Illustration

    Sock darning mushroom and kit

    Mushroom, blunt needles and mending yarn in one box

    Check price
  • Mending yarn and blunt darning needles (illustration)
    Illustration

    Mending yarn and blunt darning needles

    Match the fiber, so wool yarn for wool socks

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Friction at the heel and toe

Heels rub the back of the shoe and toes press the front. The yarn thins first, then the knit opens. Cheap, thin or old socks go fastest.

2

Toenails and rough spots in your shoes

A sharp toenail snags the toe. A rough seam or worn lining inside the shoe saws at the heel. Holes in the same place on different pairs point to the shoe.

3

Hot washing and drying

High heat weakens elastic and thins fibers over many cycles. Washing socks loose with hook-and-loop strips or zippers adds snags.

4

The wrong size

Socks that are too big bunch up and rub. Socks that are too small stretch the knit thin at the heel.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Check the knit before you start

    Wash and dry the sock first, so it shrinks before you mend it. Hold the hole up to the light. If the knit around it is see-through, the darn will tear at the edge, so plan to replace the sock. If the knit is still thick, go on.

  2. Set the hole over a form

    Tool used: Sock darning mushroom and kit

    Slide a darning mushroom, or a smooth jar or tennis ball, inside the sock so the hole sits on the curve. The fabric should lie flat with no stretching.

    Sock darning mushroom and kit (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Sock darning mushroom and kit · Mushroom, blunt needles and mending yarn in one box

    Check price on Amazon

  3. Anchor the yarn

    Tool used: Mending yarn and blunt darning needles

    Thread a blunt needle with yarn that matches the sock. Sew a ring of small running stitches about 1/2 inch outside the hole, in healthy knit. Leave a short tail on the inside.

    Mending yarn and blunt darning needles (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Mending yarn and blunt darning needles · Match the fiber, so wool yarn for wool socks

    Check price on Amazon

  4. Weave across the hole

    Tool used: Mending yarn and blunt darning needles

    Lay long stitches up and down across the hole, stopping at the ring. Then weave side to side, going over one thread and under the next, and switch the pattern on each pass. Leave a small loop at each edge so the patch can stretch.

    Mending yarn and blunt darning needles (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Mending yarn and blunt darning needles · Match the fiber, so wool yarn for wool socks

    Check price on Amazon

  5. Tie off and test

    Tool used: Sewing scissors

    Weave the tail through the stitches for about an inch and trim it. Pull the sock gently both ways. If the patch feels tight, snip a stitch and redo that row looser.

When free fixes aren't enough

If the knit around the hole is thin, the darn will keep tearing at the edge. Either darn a wider area, reinforcing an inch past the thin part, or retire the sock. For cheap cotton or polyester socks, buying a new pair often costs less than the time a repair takes. A kit pays off for wool, hiking and merino socks, and for anyone who mends more than a couple of pairs a year. A mushroom also lets you reinforce a thin heel before it breaks through, which a jar makes awkward.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Sock darning mushroom and kit (illustration)
Illustration
Sock darning mushroom and kit
heel and toe holes, with a flat repair that does not rub Anyone with good wool or merino socks, or who has more than one pair to mend. Check price
Budget pick
Mending yarn and blunt darning needles (illustration)
Illustration
Mending yarn and blunt darning needles
the yarn and needle for a hole you darn over a jar Anyone who already has a smooth jar and wants to try one repair first. Check price
Best pick
Sock darning mushroom and kit (illustration)
Illustration

Sock darning mushroom and kit

Fixes: heel and toe holes, with a flat repair that does not rub

Look for: A smooth wooden or plastic darning mushroom with a curved head; Blunt needles with large eyes; Mending yarn in several colors; Simple printed steps.

Who it's for
Anyone with good wool or merino socks, or who has more than one pair to mend.
Honest downside
You only wear cheap multipack socks. Replacing them costs less than the time.
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick
Mending yarn and blunt darning needles (illustration)
Illustration

Mending yarn and blunt darning needles

Fixes: the yarn and needle for a hole you darn over a jar

Look for: Fine, tightly spun yarn that matches your sock fiber; A few shades, neutral and bright; Blunt needles with large eyes.

Who it's for
Anyone who already has a smooth jar and wants to try one repair first.
Honest downside
You plan to reinforce heels before they wear through. A mushroom is easier for that.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on mending and darning guides, sock care labels, and the fixes and complaints owners share in reviews. We do not test products by hand.

Darn it or replace it? A quick test

  • Darn it: wool or merino socks, the knit around the hole is still thick, or you simply like the pair.
  • Replace it: thin cotton or polyester socks, see-through knit around the hole, or a hole that returns in the same place after a darn.
  • Borderline: reinforce the thin area with a few rows of yarn first. If the hole is on the heel, mend it now before it grows.

How to stop socks from getting holes

  • Trim and file your toenails, and run a hand inside each shoe to find rough seams or worn lining.
  • Pick socks that fit snugly without bunching, with a reinforced heel and toe and a wool or nylon blend.
  • Wash them inside out in cool water and dry them on low heat or on a rack.
  • Rotate pairs so one pair does not take all the wear.
  • Reinforce a thinning heel with a few rows of yarn before it opens up.

What to skip

Fine sewing thread pulled tight

Thin thread cuts into the knit, does not stretch with the sock and leaves a hard ridge that rubs your skin. A flat patch sewn tight across the hole causes blisters. Use yarn or soft thread, and keep the weave loose and flat.

Frequently asked questions

How to fix socks with holes in the heel?
Use a darning mushroom or a smooth jar so the heel keeps its curve. Anchor the yarn in thick knit around the hole, then weave across. Heels wear in a wider oval than the hole, so extend the patch a little past the worn area.
How to fix socks with big holes?
You can darn a big hole if the edges are still solid. Stitch a larger ring and weave a wider patch, working across in sections. If the edges keep fraying, sew a scrap of sock fabric inside as backing, then darn over it. If the whole heel is gone, replace the sock.
Why do my socks keep getting holes?
The usual causes are friction in the shoe, sharp toenails, hot washing and drying, and socks that are the wrong size. Holes in the same spot on every pair point to the shoe lining or your nails. Thin cotton socks wear out in months.
Can I fix a sock hole without sewing?
Iron-on mending patches can work on flat spots, but they feel stiff inside a sock and can rub at the heel. A darn stays soft and stretches with the sock, so it is the more comfortable fix.

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Sock darning mushroom and kit (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Sock darning mushroom and kit

Check price