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| What's in a name? ( Darnit Char's) |
| I have had a lot of strange looks over the years and some laughs at the name "Darnit Char's" and as I look back I have to laugh myself at how it all started. From the time I was very small, my mother (a seamstress) would set me down with a needle and thread and PRETTY colored fabric from a job she was working on (remember those large cabbage prints of the late 60's and early 70's??? I LOVED these!) I was using a needle and thread before I knew what to do with crayons. It kept me busy for hours and no I don't ever remember sticking myself! (I still have some clothing I made for my stuffed animals back then.) As I got a little older (8 years old!!) I was already embroidering and my Grandma taught me how to "DARN" socks. I was fascinated. I had worn a hole in my favorite pair of socks and she told me that when she was a little girl, they used to repair their socks with a type of embroidery floss; and the special way that you weave it was called "Darn"or "Darning." Well I was amazed, it was fun and I could repair that special pair of socks just like new again. It wasn't long 'til I was going around to family members asking if they had some old socks I could have! I got lots of socks and was repairing in my glory. These old socks were like little pieces of artwork to me because you could hardly tell where the repair had been done when I finished with them. (As you can see, I was a DIFFERENT kind of child. ha,ha) One day I asked my "Great Aunt" If she had any socks I could fix and I showed her all my little masterpieces. She laughed and said, "Honey, we don't DARN socks anymore, we just throw them out now days and buy new ones, I haven't seen a darned sock since the 20's" I didn't know quite what to think, I had spent so much time making these old socks like brand new again...and to find out people don't do that anymore? Which led me to another question in my 8 year old head..."Just how really old was Grandma?" Well, it was too late-by this time the name had already stuck,- I was now called "DARNIT CHAR" by family and friends who found it amusing that I took an OLD TIME DREADED JOB and thought I was making "ART." In later years when I bought a computerized Embroidery machine and opened my own sewing buisness, my Dad named it "DARNIT CHAR'S Custom Embroidery" and We both laughed. No one ever really got it or appreciated it like we did. It always brought a smile to our face especially when someone would call and ask for "Darnit Char." So as time has gone on, I still do a lot of sewing, and I'm amazed looking back, most of my jobs and money made was on REPAIRS. I guess it just shows that people like THEIR THINGS and treasure them and appreciate having "THEIR OLD MADE NEW AGAIN" Well, now I'm using WOOL fibers more- spinning yarn and felting. (another old Craft) I guess the more things change,the more they stay the same! I decided to keep the name "DARNIT" and incorporate it with the Farm. So now you know," WHATS IN A NAME!" |
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| "Swiss darning" to repair knits |
| "Cashmere darn", a fine darning technique for twill fabric, from The Dictionary of Needlework, 1885. |
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| Darning is a traditional method for repairing damage or holes that do not run alone a seam, and where patching is impractical or would create discomfort for the wearer, such as on the heel of a sock. Darning is a sewing technique for repairing holes or worn areas in fabric or knitting using a needle and thread alone. It is often done by hand, but it is also possible to darn with a sewing machine. Darning also refers to any of several needlework techiques that are worked using darning stitches: Pattern darning Net darning Needle weaving |