This technique is used to visibly mend a hole or stop the fabric from fraying further. It is derived from the technique for finishing fabric edges, which was traditionally done with a blanket stitch on woollen blankets. The edges of the hole are finished using a blanket stitch or stem stitch. This not only highlights the hole but also prevents further fraying.

This darning technique was developed to mend holes or ladders in knitted fabrics, but you can also use it to repair worn areas in woven fabrics or to mask a stain. Essentially, you weave a new piece of fabric by criss-crossing threads over the hole or stain. The repair can be done almost invisibly by using the same colour yarn, or you can make it stand out by using a completely different colour.

Sashiko is a 17th-century Japanese sewing technique for repairing, quilting or reinforcing fabric. The technique is characterised by the application of white running stitches (sashiko means running stitch) the size of a grain of rice on indigo fabric. Originally, the running stitches were used to sew patches on worn areas. Later, the stitches were used to create geometric shapes or organic patterns. The motifs and patterns, many of which have a symbolic meaning, have become increasingly decorative over the years.