There's even a specific stitch known as a "darning stitch," in which you first weave the thread with the grain of the fabric, and then fill in the other "woven" direction. The result is a sturdy patch made only of thread. Darn comes from the Middle French darner, "mend."

What does darn mean on a sewing machine?

Darning is a sewing technique for repairing holes or worn areas in fabric or knitting using needle and thread alone. It is often done by hand, but it is also possible to darn with a sewing machine.

What is the difference between mending and darning?

As nouns the difference between mending and darning

is that mending is the act by which something is mended or repaired while darning is a repair made by darning.