Improvements in Darning and in Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Anc.. 1891--Accepted. 20th June. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Darning and in Apparatus connected therewith.
I SARAH HELEN GARWOOD (married) No. 5, Taswell Road, Southsea,
Hampshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a new method of darning.
My plan is to employ wooden blocks fitted with or more rows of steel pins on
which to fix the work. A double steel plate. with grooves inside, to open &
shut for holding the needles. Each groove has a small steel pin in it, which fits
into a corresponding hole in the needles. The upper plate has a movable slide
across it, to keep the wool in its place. The needles are pointed at both ends the
holes being inch from the extreme point. The eye is in the centre. A. second
plate shuts on the needles when in the work, by which they are pulled through,
and thus passed backwards & forwards. Two other plates similar to the above
mentioned, but fitted only with alternate needles are employed in crossing the darn,
thus every alternate stitch is taken up, and a very much quicker method of
darning accomplished. Several needles going through the work at once.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1890.
SARAH HELEN GARWOOD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Darning and in Apparatus connected therewith.
I SARAH HELEN GARWOOD of No. 5 Taswell Road Southsea County
Hampshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide improved means for darning stockings
and other articles of clothing and for like purposes, and in carrying out such
invention provide a suitable block on which to fix the article or material to
be darned, which I shall hereafter call the workholder, this block is mounted upon
an arm or upright capable of being attached to a table or the like and has
mounted upon it rows of pins over which the "work is stretched whilst being
darned. 1 further provide a metal plate grooved to carry a number of needles and
having hinged thereto a flap or cover to embrace said needles when shut down,
upon them and keep them firmly in position.
I may use specially made darning needles having an elongated eye in the centre
but I prefer to employ needles pointed at one end only and having an elongated
eye near the point after the manner of sewing machine needles and all these
needles may if found desirable be provided with other eyes holes or notches to
engage with small pins or catches in the metal case for the purpose of more
rigidly retaining them in position. The plate or case is mounted upon a handle and
a second plate or case similarly mounted may be used to take hold of the ends of
the needles after passing through the work and on being released from the first
plate or case so as to draw them completly through, when they are ready to re-enter
the work in the opposite direction and be pulled through by means of the first
plate or case. For crossing the work another set of metal cases mounted on
handles but arranged for only half the number of needles may be provided or
alternate needles may be removed from the before mentioned needle holders and
these can then be used for the crossing. I find in practice that the needle with a
.

page_text: single point and having an eye near thereto enables the work to be done more
rapidly and in this case the needles need not be removed from the needle holder,
the needle being withdrawn from the work after passing a portion of the thread or
wool through the same and cutting it off.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings I will now describe the action
of my improved apparatus or means for darning.
Figure is a plan view of the needle holder with the retaining flap up shewing
the needles in position.
Figure 2 is a section of the same.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the double pointed needles and
Figure 4 is a view of a workholder such as may be conveniently employed.
Figure 5 is an enlarged drawing of a needle with one point only.
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of pivotted bars of the workholder.
The workholder may be of any desirable shape or size and is in Figure 4 shewn
as a metal plate A mounted on an arm or upright B which is secured to a table by
the clamp and screw C. Round the sides of the plate A are pivotted bars N
capable of partially revolving but kept normally in position by springs O on
which I mount pins D over which the work to be darned is stretched or placed and
when this is in position-and the bars carrying the pins are turned so that the pins
point downwardly-being kept in such position by the springs the needles F
(Fig. 1 and 2) are threaded and one end of each placed in a groove G in the bed H
of the needle holder shewn in Figure 1 and the small eye is placed over the pin
or stud the flap K is then closed over all and secured by a spring or other
suitable fastening, or this flap may be secured by means of a second flap L (Fig. 2)
hinged at the opposite side and crossing the flap K. This second flap or band is
formed so as to hold down the slack of the thread or wool M from the eyes of the
needles.
The row of needles is now passed through the work and the ends are then
received into a second needle holder when the opposite ends of the needles are
released from the first needle holder and the thread or wool drawn through.
The needles may then be returned through the work and the ends again
received into the first needle holder and this operation is continued until a sufficient
number of threads have been passed in this direction. A. holder with only alternate
needles is now prepared for use and is passed through the work at right angles
crossing the darn, care being taken to take up every alternate thread only and
when these needles are returned through the work the opposite alternate thread is
taken when the operation is complete.
When the single eyed needles are used such as shewn in Fig. 5 they need not be
received into a second holder after passing through the work, but the threads may
he pulled through the eye and be left of sufficient length to allow of a piece being
cut off and left in the work the needle being withdrawn therefrom and the thread
left therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is:
:
First In means or apparatus for darning the use of a needle holder mounted on
a handle and capable of holding a number of needles so as to pass them simul-
Laneously through the material to be darned substantially as described and as
illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Second: In means or apparatus for darning, the use of a double pointed needle
with an elongated eye in the centre thereof substantially as described and illustrated
by Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.
Third: In apparatus for darning the use of a needle having an elongated eye
near the point thereof and means for securing the needle into a needle holder
substantially as described and illustrated by Figure 5 of the accompanying
drawing.

page_text: :
Fourth The workholder for use in darning substantially as herein described and
illustrated by Figures 4 and 6 of the accompanying drawing.
Fifth The method of, and appliances for, use in darning as herein described
and substantially as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1891..
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.