Rescue Your Fabric: Easy Repairs with Automatic Darning Program #22

When a favorite garment or project develops a rip, you can restore it quickly and neatly using your BERNINA machine’s Automatic Darning Program #22 (Available on most BERNINA machines). This program creates rows of short stitches that fill in the damaged area, rebuilding the fabric and preventing further fraying. When you choose thread that matches or blends with your fabric, the repair becomes as discreet as possible—almost invisible once stitched.

Getting Started

Presser Foot Choices

• Reverse Pattern Foot #1/1C/1D
• Buttonhole Foot #3A/3B
• Reverse Pattern Foot with Clear Sole #34/34C/34D
• Sideways-Motion Foot #40C

Preparing Your Fabric for Darning

• Trim away frayed edges around the tear so you’re working with clean, stable fabric.
• Place a patch behind the tear. Choose a piece of fabric slightly larger than the damaged area and position it on the wrong side of your project. This gives your stitches something to anchor to and adds strength to the repair.

Positioning Your Fabric

• Begin by positioning your fabric so the needle opening on the foot sits just above the tear. This ensures the darning rows will fully cover the damaged area.

Programming the Darning Length

• Stitch downward until the needle reaches slightly below the tear.
• Press the Reverse button. This action programs the length of the darning stitches.

Once the length is set, the machine takes over—stitching forward and backward repeatedly across the full width of the foot. These short, layered rows of stitching fill the tear and create a reinforced patch of thread.

Need More Coverage?

If the tear is wider than the programmed area, simply reposition the fabric and run Program #22 again. Repeat as needed until the entire worn section is fully covered.

Once the mend is complete, trim the excess patch fabric close to the stitching for a neat finish.

The result is a sturdy, blended repair that restores both function and appearance.

Keep Making Stitches!