I mend. Learned to darn socks because it was hard to find socks that fit my son's and DH's long feet! Did not half bad job. Used to use a ball of grey that my mom used. Don't darn by hand anymore cause I can't find durable wool/yarn for mending. That stuff they sell in the multi-coloured skeins wears through in one wearing... and of course, DS is now married and buys his own clothing. And SH passed away last September so will not have to mend for him at all. I used to sew the holes in his socks by machine then do the mending zigzag over the seam... which kept him happy. Otherwise I mended and patched jeans and overall and work pants, sewed button on and replaced zippers - oh how I hated that job! I have a Scot's soul...