A small hole in a medium-weight or heavier knitted jumper can be covered with a woven darn if the surrounding stitches are stable. Fine knits may need a finer or knitted repair, since a woven darn can feel noticeably firmer. A darn builds a bridge of yarn across the gap. For a ladder of unravelling stitches, secure the live loops or seek a knit repair before trying to weave over them.
Match the yarn and support the fabric
Choose repair yarn that is close in colour and compatible in thickness and care. A bulky yarn on fine knit can make a stiff spot. Use a blunt tapestry needle where it passes easily between loops. Put a darning mushroom or a smooth rounded object under the area, keeping the jumper’s natural shape. Draw the fabric flat enough to see the opening without stretching it larger.
Lay the first set of threads
Start in sound knit outside the hole. Work parallel strands across the opening, anchoring each end in stable stitches. The strands should bridge the gap without pulling its edges together. Leave enough space between them for the second set of threads. Try a small sample on comparable scrap if you have never judged the tension before.
Weave across the bridge
Pass the yarn over and under the first strands, alternating the order on each new row. Work across the whole opening until the gap is covered. Anchor into stable cloth around the edges, keeping the darn at the jumper’s usual width. The woven patch will generally stretch less than the knit; keep it only as large as needed for the damage. Weave the ends into the stable area without a hard knot against the skin.
Check the darn off the support
Remove the support and let the fabric relax. A cupped patch or radiating creases suggest excess tension. Open edges suggest that some strands did not reach sound stitches. Check the darn with a gentle pull in the direction the jumper usually stretches, and inspect it again after a wash and dry permitted by the care label. Larger holes, damaged ribbing and repeated laddering may need reknitting.