Pick up one of these unusual preloved wooden darning mushrooms that would make the perfect tool for essential repairs to tops, trousers, knitwear, socks & more!
Each mushroom is a little different to the traditional style - some feature a groove & spring band, another has a rare concave cap, and a couple have some unusual stamps.
A darning mushroom is useful for holding the fabric in place whilst you make your mend – it holds the fabric slightly taut keeping an even tension as you stitch and means you can put down your work whenever you need to with none of the repositioning faff when you’re ready to begin again. You also eliminate the chance of stitching two layers of fabric together and creating any loose thread tangles on the reverse side of your mend.
To darn a hole simply pop the mushroom under the hole (or damaged spot) and either hold the fabric in place under the cap. with your hand or wrap the elastic band around the stem to hold the fabric in place.
Suitable for:
darning most items of clothing.
mending holes, tears, threadbare spots and covering a stain.
patching and embroidery.
Carefully sourced by us from a vintage market 'cause second-hand is better than new in so many ways! Each one has a little 'character' - minor chips, surface scratches, dents, tiny holes and marks from their previous life but is still in usable condition with an authentic vintage feel.
Measurements:
#1 (Grooved cap with original spring band) Height = 12.8cm
#2 (Margaret Towers) Height = 14.5cm
#3 (Concave cap) Height = 12cm
#4 (Grooved cap) Height = 12.5cm
#5 (CWS Goods) Height = 10.2cm
Quirky Preloved Wooden Darning Mushroom
This darning tool was an essential item in 19th and early 20th century household as self-reliant women often had to make and repair all their clothing.
They were commonly made using wood as it was widely available and not too expensive, but following the invention of early plastic many were made using Bakelite.
They made it much easier to stitch a repair: not too tight and not too slack. The top part of the mushroom was placed behind the hole to hold the darning area taut for working. Its 'stalk' with the rest of the fabric around it was held in one hand and the darning needle was worked with the other hand.
Some are made with detachable handles so you can store a few needles and a small amount of thread which is easily to hand an emergency!
