Falling Leaves, Darning Socks, and Other Autumn Ramblings

Hello Friends and Happy Fall!

This week, I've decided to take a bit of a break from my usual quilt making content.

I've recently been taking the time to step outside, go for walks, and experience the changes carried by the autumn breeze. I've revelled in the sights, smells, and feelings that fall-time brings, and the nostalgia carried with them.

Fall is a time of change, of transformation, of recreation. It is a farewell to the vibrancy of summer and a time to prepare for the cold coming of winter. I wanted to share some of my own fall-time experiences with all of you, and to prepare myself for the coming winter, though it is still a few months off, by taking the time to catch up on some mending.

So Friends, I hope you'll join me on this autumn adventure!

Fall-Time Feelings

Out of all seasons, I feel very deeply that fall is a time meant to be spent outside. Fall is for camping, for hiking, for feeling the chill wind on your face. It is for watching the leaves change, curled up with a blanket and a warm cup of tea.

There are many sights that I commonly associate with fall; asters and goldenrod, overhead formations of migrating geese, the bright reds and golds of changing leaves. Fall brings many beautiful but fleeting sights, and year after year they come and go, giving way to the cold clutch of winter.

Darning Socks

While I still have lots of time before I need to worry about the chill and snows of winter, I am very aware that it's approaching. Before it arrives though, I would very much like to catch up on some mending by darning a few pairs of socks in sore need.

In my family, these thick socks are affectionately known as barn socks. They're great for filling out space in a pair of boots that are just a little too big, and keeping feet warm on the coolest days of the year!

I've been wearing these particular selection of socks for several years now, and as is the case with people who walk heavily on their heels, I've developed a few thin spots and holes. Those started to become most noticeable this past winter, and while I meant to darn them in the spring, the warm days of summer pushed holey socks far from my mind.

But now, as the days grow short and the nights grow cold, it seems an important task to tackle.

I've said before that I'm not particularly adept at darning, in fact I've never actually tried it on socks before, but I do have some experience with mending other garments.

My favourite reference of late is Cathy Hay's video exploring a Victorian era darning technique. This is a great reference if you're interested in darning holes in clothing and I've watched it many times!

I also conducted a brief search for sock specific darning which led me to an article by The Woolery which provided a good summary of a few different methods. The site is aimed at knitters, so it does use some knitting specific terminology I wasn't familiar with, but I found it easy to follow nonetheless!

Definitely check those out if you're interested to learn some darning for yourself!

To get started, I assembled my materials; various socks with various holes, a ball of yarn donated to my cause by my amazing sister, some scraps of embroidery floss, several large needles, and a baseball bat.

You read that right, a baseball bat. Generally, darning is done with the project stretched into shape over a darning mushroom, unfortunately, I didn't have one handy. Fortunately, a baseball bat is a similar shape and an adequate substitute.

I experimented with several different methods; some drawn from the sources above, others somewhat more improvised, and one by one, my socks became whole once again!

As I worked through each darn, I ended up discovering that I really love the duplicate stitch method! According to The Woolery, that method is best used on thinning sections of a sock that haven't quite developed a true hole.

I genuinely found this method to be relaxing and enjoyable due to the repetitive movements and the beautiful pattern that forms quickly on the work. I'm glad to have my barn socks back in autumn hiking condition and whole for the winter to come!

More Fall Ramblings

Before I wrap up this post, I wanted to share just a little more of my autumnal experience this year! For some reason, this chilly, overcast season has left me feeling poetic, so I hope you'll enjoy these few fall verses:

I took a walk alone today,

stepped into the world and heard its voice.

The leaves on the breeze swirled around me in dance,

the wind in the trees spoke of change in advance.

I wish I could share these deepest of feelings,

the gift the world gave to me on this day,

but can words truly capture the essence of autumn,

the impending changes, clearly now on their way?

I delight in these changes that fall-time brings,

and I want, in my heart, to share all of these things;

The sound of the wind through the dying leaves,

the crisp chill of the autumn breeze,

the beautiful overcast light in the sky,

the feeling of feet tripping up in dried vines.

The face of the moon in a starry night sky,

the cries of the insects wondering why

the weather is shifting, the clouds rolling in,

fall-time is brewing who knows what it brings?

Darning socks, thinking autumnal thoughts, and walking through the world as it changes around me has been a lovely and inspiring break from my usual quilt making explorations. I expect some of the sights of the season will sneak their way into some of my upcoming projects in their own ways!

Friends, I would love to see some of the fall-time scenery from around your own homes! Feel free to share photos in the comments below!

I'll be back again next week with more of my usual quilt making content. This has been, in my opinion, a truly relaxing and necessary break, and I've loved sharing a walk through the autumn world with you!

Friends, thank you so much for joining me again this week, I can't wait to see what the rest of this fall will bring our way!

Until Next Time Friends, Happy Fall!

VA