NaBloPoMo: Make?...Darn those Socks!

Darning socks

Today's NaBloPoMo prompt is, "What is something that is no longer made that you miss a lot and wish you could show future generations?"

Many years ago when I was still living at home with my family, my Mom, and my sisters and I darned our socks AND nylons! Yes, hard to believe perhaps, but true!

And as silly as this may sound, for those of you who may not be familiar with the word 'darn' other than an exclamation (as in Darn! or Darn it!), in this context it means, "mend (knitted material or a hole in this) by weaving yarn across the hole with a needle" as per google. See a great example of HOW to darn socks.

There was this thingamajig - do not know the name of it - that was rounded and wider at top. It looked somewhat like a spinning top without a point at the tip. See picture at top.

The hole of the sock or nylon was placed at the top on the widest part of this gizmo. And we would mend it with somewhat thick thread - three strands - well at least for our torn nylons. Not sure what we used for socks as I only remember that in shades of brown.

It may seem like a weird thing to wish for...actually they may still make it, though I suspect it is a European gadget as I have never seen it here (in Canada).

Let me explain or justify my reasoning for wanting to show future generations, until there will no longer be holes in socks, right? Someday perhaps?

At the time when I was growing up, this was one chore I detested. It felt like a chore and I think it was in one sense of the word. Now though, I can truly understand and appreciate its value.

Not only does this gizmo save money on having to buy new socks and/or nylons, it also saves socks from going into the landfill. At least, I imagine a lot end up there unfortunately.

I mean, how many people get holes in their socks? It happens way too frequently for me though, rather ridiculous I say, and I trim my toenails pretty regularly!

Can there not be an invention to slow this down or even better stop this from occurring? Oh, of course not! (Read that in a sarcastic tone.) We live in a world where the economy is fuelled by the purchasing and repurchasing of items, and that includes socks and nylons!

I used to donate my clean but holey socks to a children's program where I had the boys and girls make sock puppets. Now I prefer to fix them; however, I no longer sit in front of a television which would be an ideal spot and time to do so. I wonder if I should consider mending them when I'm travelling to and from work by bus rather than reading or resting my eyes.

Until then, I prefer to donate them. In Canada, there is at least one store, H&M - hopefully other stores do this or will consider - that accept donations of clean used socks and clothing that is torn. The fibres are broken down, i.e., separated into making new clothing. Now isn't that a concept? ;)

And after I pose the question below, I see this online about recycling socks. Now answer the question below first before you take a look at some of the possibilities! ;)

What do you do with holey socks and the like? Do you fix it, throw it away, repurpose it, and if so, how? I would love to know (and I may not be the only one)! ;)