My rule of thumb (toe?) is if the shoe covers the hole, the socks are still good.  At least until 2 or more toes are visible through the tear.

My stepmother used to say, "I'm glad that you're toe is feeling better.  It's able to get out and around!"

Carolla, you reminded me of a story from my university days. I lived in a house with three other, self-professed, United Church geeks - lol! Whenever we got holes in our socks, we would call them "holy socks" and would decide which denomination they belonged to based on the size and number of holes - lol!

I darn socks and actually own a darning egg on a handle. (you would not believe how many folks own wooden darning eggs, with and without handles, and do not know what they are)

We wear both white cotton socks and bamboo yarn socks.

I've never heard of a darning egg, but I'm assuming it's similar to my darning mushroom? I'm not much of a sewer, but I do know how to use my mushroom and darn a sock!

This is how you tell the darners from the rest.... darning eggs, darning mushrooms, darning oranges.... All we need is someone who uses a foot form darner or some other implement.

One of the elderly men who lived with us was paralyzed on one side, so he used my baseball bat because he could hold it between his feet. A friend uses a golf club.

Darning is a thing from the past for most folks. When someone has made the socks, darning still makes sense. They are not so readily disposable. When you buy them handmade and one pair costs what ten or twenty store-bought pair cost, you are darn right you darn them.

For me, there is something meditative about it. I feel the same doing buttons or sewing seam tears. Yesterday was pj sewing time.

OK, I'll admit it - I'm a mender. Darn it! My secret is exposed (but that's all!) Been using the same spool of darning yarn for thirty years (my socks are almost always the same colour - navy). It's almost run out, and I don't know where I'll get more. But I draw the line at darning eggs. Don't know why you need one when all you need to do is to stick your hand in the sock (but always turn the sock inside out first - the result doesn't look as messy).

I was taught to darn socks by mum (who owned a darning "mushroom"), but I have seldom actually mended socks. You have to be pretty darned good at it to make it nice and flat to prevent blisters and I wasn't. I have darned sweaters though, by taking up the loops with the needle -- just like with socks.

I do the same as redbaron -- wear them with small holes since no one can usually see them, although I remember a few embarrassing incidents when I forgot about the hole and took my shoes off at someone's door.

I don't let the holes get too big though. I used to make sock "guys" for my son when he was small, but now I just pitch them out.

I used to own a quilt someone made of the tops of wool socks cut into rectangles. I thought it was very resourceful and it was nice and cosy.

Not a darner much, but I used to be really great at mending rents in nylon and lycra bathing suits.  The things are so expensive.  Even my mom was impressed by the mending which was invisible when finished.

I darn the hand knitted socks, (his and mine) and yes, I have my grandmother's darning egg.    Cheap cotton or manmade material socks seem to just get thinner and thinner until parts of them just fade away to nothing.  These are used to wipe up spills, apply finishes or remove oil etc in the garage.  Many of them (cotton ones)  finish up in the compost if they don't have anything toxic on them.

At our house socks are purchased in bulk packs so if one is lost or destroyed there are plenty of others that match.

See how the darners come out like a big toe.... a stitch in time saves nine....

I love all the different darning tools... carolla see now you know how cool you are with a foot form...

A friend knits all our socks, except sport socks which have to be not the knitted kind.

The great lady who knits our socks uses yarn that patterns as she knits. She uses thin yarn, most often bamboo. Mine are in combos that are quiet (grey/black or tan/brown). My wife prefers the loud ones pink/purple and blues and orange/brown

pinga,

That somehow did not surprise me. You seem to me someone who cares very deeply but also "doesn't care"... just me, just feet, just socks... who cares... In fact, I can picture you sharing the mismatch for one of those pinga laughs

I usually throw the socks (as well as old underwear) in to a box and Jim uses them for cleaning up in his "workshop" or for putting oil or whatever on wood.  Some fabrics can also be recycled and I've dropped off stuff that isn't usable anymore at depots that collect that sort of thing.

LOL

lol, carolla

I am thinking those are someone's favourite socks...

In my house, we toss them out, Carolla.