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.

 

Slow mode

This shop is in slow mode 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'm currently dispatching orders once a week; place your order by 5pm Thursday Melbourne time (AEST) for dispatch by Monday.
(NOTE: I drop off most orders at my local post office on Fridays, but I'm told they don't physically leave the post office and start making their way to you until Monday.)

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.

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