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The question is, does one darn or patch? Each mending job calls for a different technique. The size and location of the damage determines which one should choose.
The invisible technique of linen darning is worked on the wrong side of the fabric by laying in a warp and weaving a plain-weave weft across. Photo by George Boe
Darning is best for small holes and creates a less visible repair than patching. Books on needlework and mending define darning as the repair of a textile by interlacing (or interlooping) threads across a hole or tear. The color of the darn should match the garment as closely as possible, using threads taken from a seam allowance or other accessible place inside the garment, closely matched darning cotton, or embroidery floss.
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