The darning mushroom would have been an essential tool in an era when women were constantly repairing worn socks.Before the common use of synthetic materials, socks and other items of clothing were in constant need of repair. Darning would have been considered a necessary skill for girls and young women, part of their education as future wives and mothers. The mushroom was used to make repairs to clothing and bed linen.This darning tool was an essential item in 19th and early 20th century household as self-reliant women often had to make and repair all their clothing.A mushroom-shaped piece of smooth wood used to stretch and support material being darned.darning-mushroom needlework handicraft domestic