Darning mushrooms help hold the shape of the item you’re mending and keep fabric taut, so you get a more natural-looking result. They’re most commonly used when darning socks (the mushroom cap replicates the curved shape of a heel or toes), but many menders like to use them for darning jumpers and other clothing, too.
These small party-style mushrooms (6.7cm/2.6” diameter cap, 10cm/3.9” total length) were custom-made for modernmending.com and are the perfect size for darning socks. For a larger darning mushroom try the Woodrock Turning large red mushroom or the Woollykins natural mushroom.
You don’t need a darning mushroom to start darning (I’m a big fan of using oranges and other citrus when darning socks) but it has a few benefits:
- Having nice tools can motivate you to mend more often.
- If you tend to find your mending mojo late at night, there’s no risk of panicking when you discover you’re out of oranges and it’s too late to go to the shops. Your darning mushroom is a lifelong, dependable, 24/7 friend.
- If you like to mend while travelling, your darning mushroom won’t squish in your bag and won’t be confiscated if you travel interstate or overseas (fresh fruit is often subject to quarantine restrictions).
- Every time I order more of these darning mushrooms, I get a note that says “Thank you so mushy!” and part of me dies of happiness.
Want to see how it’s done? Modern Mending the book includes 32 pages of detailed darning instructions.
This product is made from local timber that has been sourced second-hand, then hand-turned, hand-painted and lightly waxed in Brisbane, Australia, by husband-and-wife team Kerry and Rie at Woodrock Turning. They are inspired by fungus because of its healing, supportive role for forests, ecosystems and the planet.
NOTE: for best results avoid washing your darning mushroom with water; wipe with a damp cloth if dirty.
➕ This shop is closing for repairs ➕
The time has come again for the ELF herself to check in for repairs! I’m having sinus surgery this time and will need at least two weeks to recover, with lots of rest and no heavy lifting (including shop orders).
After 7pm on 5 August I will disable the shop checkout; you will be able to browse but not purchase anything (including gift vouchers) until the shop reopens in September – once I've made a full recovery. Mailing-list subscribers will be notified when the shop reopens.
➕
Weekly dispatch
This shop dispatches orders once a week so I can do alllll the things – including running this shop and running after two tiny tots – and enjoy my life. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.
I have a new work and childcare schedule for 2024 and am still working out the best schedule for postal dispatches; please allow approximately one week from time of purchase while I figure it all out.
Shipping carrier
I ship via Australia Post. If you select Express Post at checkout, it will speed up Australia Post's delivery timeframe but won't speed up my process.
After your order has been packed, you will receive an email notification with your Australia Post tracking number, which you can use to check on the delivery status of your order.
International customers: click here for current Australia Post international delivery timeframes.
Shipping fees
I don’t offer free shipping because there is no such thing as free shipping. Someone has to pay the cost for postage.
Shipping is currently a flat rate of $12 within Australia ($17 Express Post); international shipping is calculated at checkout. Gift cards are delivered electronically and do not require shipping.
International shipping
I ship worldwide with the exception of the UK, due to VAT regulations that came into effect on 1 January 2021. If you are in the UK you can order the UK edition of my book from your local bookshop.
Local delivery
Customers in Northcote, Thornbury and nearby suburbs (subject to capacity) can select local delivery at checkout. Local delivery is extra-slow and coincides with my pram-walking/kid-wrangling schedule, up to one week after purchase. ٩(。•́‿•̀。)۶
I choose to reuse
When shipping orders my first priority is to reuse packaging materials whenever possible – boxes, padded mailers, cardboard, paper, tissue paper, bubble wrap and egg cartons from neighbours, second-hand shops and recycling centres. I cannot guarantee the materials used to ship your order will be plastic-free for this reason.
My tags and labels are stamped by hand onto compostable paper tape or preloved cardboard packaging.
I buy recycled packaging
If I don’t have suitable second-hand packaging to use for your order, my next priority is packaging made from recycled materials. It's important to me to support Australian companies making good products from our recyclables, and to make sure that material gets a second life.
Tape
I use compostable, gummed kraft-paper tape to seal my parcels whenever possible. I have a second-hand tape wetter that I love, purchased from my local op shop. Gummed paper tape is available at most art-supply shops if you want to make the switch yourself!
Express Post orders will have official plastic "Express Post" tape added.
International orders with many items will have a plastic pocket taped to them, to accommodate additional paperwork required by customs.
Individual product packaging
Every item for sale on this website has its packaging components listed and in most cases photographed, so you can make an informed decision.
Upstream packaging
When I speak to my suppliers I specifically ask that my orders be supplied to me without plastic packaging, whenever possible, to avoid waste and single-use plastic. This isn’t always possible, but I’ll keep asking, forever.
Here's how one of my suppliers has my name recorded in its database: