Knit & Chat: Rules for Great Sock Yarns

[@italythroughmyeyes]

I just finished my first pair of socks with the wrong kind of yarn. Thank you for so much hands on I formation. I'm not discouraged I'm just getting started!

[@christenagervais7303]

West Yorkshire Spinners (WYS) is a great bfl yarn. It is 75% wool 25% nylon. I love it. I wash my socks by hand using Eucalan soap and use a salad spinner to spin out the water, and hang to dry.

[@djones7130]

I’m glad you mentioned about not using the dryer for knitted socks. I never used the washer or dryer for any of my 😂hand knitted items. I hand wash all of them, whatever fiber, wool or acrylic. A lot of time has spent on those items, I feel it should be given extra care. I also use detergent for delicate fabrics. Rinse them good and towel dry. BTW, I’ve learned a lot in your Podcast. Thank you.

[@NerdyKnitting]

I totally agree - we spend so much time making our hand knits it's better to treat them gently! I'm glad you enjoyed the videos.

[@beepbopboop3221]

I use the dryer if my socks end up stretching out from the suoerwash. As needed. Otherwise I have an airdry rack and setting on my dryer. Usually the rack is on top and I just lay the socks there. I don't use the air dry setting except for shoes or bags.

[@josephpoole3942]

Something I have started doing recently to try new to me or expensive fingering weight yarn is to buy one 100g hank or ball, split it into 2 even cakes, and make a quick pair of fingerless gloves with it. They knit up faster than socks, and since they're worn on a place with sensitive skin that gets used as much as your feet this is a great way for me to test if I like both the durability and feel of a fiber before stashing up on it during a sale. Fingering weight is my favorite to work with from socks to sweaters so I especially like to get to know a yarn before buying a lot of it. I plan to do this with some merino silk blend that's on the way to me right now, I've never used it but I'm hopeful it'll hold up well based on what you said about silk being strong like nylon.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Great idea!

[@sleepydrJ]

Duplicate stitch for reinforcement is a lot of work, but something really easy is to do is to do a chain stitch embroidery with sock yarn over the areas that get worn thin. It has a “knit look” and adds a lot of thickness where needed.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Great idea! Thanks so much for sharing the tip!

[@gwenbuchanan1]

I use the chain stitch to mend my socks too and always wondered if anyone else did that... gives a nice thick layer so hope it lasts longer!

[@elbertajohnson937]

Just found your channel. Love they way you teach and explain the whys along with instructions. Your voice is so pleasing to hear. Thank you for sharing your talents with us all

[@NerdyKnitting]

Welcome, Elberta! And thank you for the sweet compliment. 🥰

[@beverlythompson3246]

Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge about knitting! I really appreciate how much research you do on any subject and how you explain things so well!,

[@NerdyKnitting]

Thank you so much!

[@carol-annmatthew5296]

Thanks for all the good advice. Happy knitting everyone ❤

[@frant2970]

This video is so helpful! I’m so glad I found this!

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@laurawoodward3046]

I made socks out of West Yorkshire Spinners Fleece. It's not super wash. I thought that I would just hand wash them and it would be fine. Ha! Twice I accidentally put them in the machine with everything else and now I can't get my foot in them. I tried giving them a stretch when they were wet and it was sort of okay. Now Im not sure what to do with them. Might be good for child sized bed socks. Just need to find someone with kids. It was absolutely beautiful yarn to knit with.

[@Bean_Box_Knitting]

A great video! For some reason, when I have knitted a heel flap and gusset, I never questioned the slip stitch - that's not where I wear out my socks, ever. I shall move it to the bottom of my foot where I am more likely to get holes. 😊 Hubby has begun researching yarns for me to make his socks out of and is very excited about some BFL. He isn't a crafter but does like learning things. I shall tell him you also recommend it!

[@NerdyKnitting]

I didn't question the slip-stitch pattern for the longest time either - I just thought it was what had to be done! We're definitely never too old to learn something new! 😁

[@vlm3612]

This video was so helpful and I learned so much about sock yarn. I wish I had found you when I first started knitting socks. Thank you

[@NerdyKnitting]

You are so welcome!

[@paulafralick2905]

I found a pattern called socks with super strong toe and heel -- where my husband used to wear his socks out. Basically the heel and toe wetr worked in 1 x1 colout work. Many years later and those socks are still going strong. My older isn't so able to do the outdoor activities thst wore his sovks out.

[@billieduncan1707]

I’m a crocheter. About to try my hand at socks. This is great information about the yarn to use and what to look for. Thank you.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@105Kelly]

Such great information, I would consider myself a confident sock knitting beginner, and this information has come at a perfect time to up my sock knitting game. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!!

[@NerdyKnitting]

You are so welcome!

[@Emily.knits2]

This was an awesome video! It was so helpful!!!! I've been knitting socks for alittle over a month. I've just learned a bunch of important and useful information! Thank you!!!

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jpat_]

I enjoy sock knitting and sock yarn, and there was a lot of good stuff here that I hadn’t considered. Thanks to you and others for the tips!

[@NerdyKnitting]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@rachelkarcher2565]

I don’t understand why merino is so frequently selected since it is a delicate wool, whereas corriedale or BFL seem more durable. I appreciate other audience members have called out some great resources for other types of wool yarn.

[@dianemurphy5307]

I love to knit socks but have been frustrated with the wear and tear on the bottoms of my favorite merino socks. I actually have enjoyed the challenge of darning socks but it would be nice to avoid it if possible. I'll try some of the yarns mentioned in the video and see how it goes. Thanks so much for this great video!

[@NerdyKnitting]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@sallythibodeaux7992]

Thanks for all the great sock patterns! Happy knitting 🧶

[@Which-Craft]

I'm a beginner spinner and have some BFL I've been trying to come up with a project for so I'll know how I want to spin it. This video on socks has really helped me out. Thank you!

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stephanieunterharnscheidt]

Excellent lesson!!! Thanks you!!😊

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad you liked it!

[@myrany8407]

I have actually held a strand of wooly nylon serger thread with my yarn for cuffs and heels to give them a bit more strength. Wooly nylon stretches nicely and adds a bit of sturdy

[@NerdyKnitting]

Great tip!

[@cassmacdonald-perfectlyimp2486]

I think there’s a German brand that sells a spool of nylon for just this purpose for heels and toes

[@debbiejohnson5715]

Thanks you. My first pair of socks.

[@laurad430]

Thank you for this video.

[@NerdyKnitting]

My pleasure!

[@cassmacdonald-perfectlyimp2486]

I’ve been using yarnsub to figure out alternatives for sock yarns I can get in the U.K. I was looking at nettle fibre as an ethical sub for nylon - really interesting. What I can’t get over is that some brands do acrylic sock yarns which I’m all ewww because pure acrylic just makes the feet sweat imo

[@NerdyKnitting]

I hadn't considered nettle as a sub for nylon - that's interesting!

[@laurakirk3481]

Cute graphic! Thank you.

[@selinasesshy]

Since learning last year in May. I've made 10 socks, and 7 of them have worn out😂.

[@ChristinaScarborough-x9j]

I bought 100% Alpaca at a farmers market and 100% merino wool at Hobby Lobby. Can I use these for socks?

[@frant2970]

You can use the merino, it’s wool..but I’m not sure about the alpaca.. I don’t use it that much but I don’t think it’s very sturdy, you may want to use that for a scarf or shawl.

[@ChristinaScarborough-x9j]

@@frant2970 thank you

[@bettybirney2554]

What is Bf.l 12:40

[@NerdyKnitting]

BFL is Blue Faced Leicester - a sheep breed with a good sturdy wool that's good for socks.

[@Nataleerose714]

Great video! Super helpful!

[@intentionallymadi1843]

An issue I often have with my hand knit socks is that the heel will start to felt as I wear them. I haven't had any of my socks get holes in them yet (aside from one but that's because it got caught on a nail in a floorboard!) but especially the ones I wear in shoes a lot tend to get pretty felted at the back of the heel and sometimes ball of the foot. I have found that yarns with a higher twist don't tend to do this quite as much, but was wondering if anyone has any ideas why this might be the case or what I could do differently to stop this from happening quite as much?

[@NerdyKnitting]

Soft yarns (like merino) will do that - friction and soft yarns = felting. You could try using slip-stitch patterns in those areas to make them a bit thicker or use some nylon reinforcement thread (you could try weaving it in on those areas).

[@joannefleet5546]

How do I get the down load .. I’m new and learning but loving it!

[@NerdyKnitting]

There is a link in the video description box!

[@heather168]

What about the detergent to use when washing the socks? Is woolite safe to use? Does anyone just regular detergent or is that too harsh?

[@NerdyKnitting]

I just use regular detergent and have never had any problems (never tried woolite).

[@mariegodbold2487]

I gave trouble with the gusset of sock.

[@carolinedodsworth6481]

Missing your video love

[@crochetingaroundnewzealand]

How do I reinforce an afterthought heel? That's the only type I've done so far 😂

[@NerdyKnitting]

You could hold a reinforcing thread with the yarn for the heel.

[@Knitgirl9]

Do you use wool wash in the washing machine or what? How much?

[@NerdyKnitting]

Do you mean for socks? No, I just throw them in with whatever else I'm washing on a delicate/hand wash cycle and a bit of my normal laundry detergent. I save the wool wash for those times I'm washing by hand and don't want to have to rinse out the soap (a no rinse wool wash is very handy in that case!).

[@ruthsaunders9507]

I use wool wash in the machine and do a gentle cycle. They've held up really well.

[@oldsnowbunny]

What reinforcing thread can you recommend? I know my daughter is hard on socks.

[@christenagervais7303]

I use upholstery thread for my husband's socks.

[@sheilabush3784]

What does bfl mean? I must have missed it. Ty.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Blue-Faced Leicester

[@beepbopboop3221]

You can tell a lot about you foot mechanics with where the sock wear is. Similar to how podiatrists look at calouses. If you have bunions, you will see wear on the inside edge of the big toe. The ball of the foot or bottom of the heel wear is not even. I have one corrected foot and one uncorrected foot. The wear patterns are different.😢

[@muntymeyer]

Your videos always provide such in-depth and helpful information! Thank you for creating such great content! 🧶❤️

[@NerdyKnitting]

You are so welcome!

[@debbief7276]

Added nylon isn't enough to counter low twist, soft wool, and less than 4 plies. IMO knit pick stroll doesn't make a good sock.

[@ruthsaunders9507]

Depends on how hard you are on your socks. My mother is older and can't be on her feet too much. The stroll/felici yarns are her favorite for socks because they're warm and very soft.

[@katedavy6272]

Nothing worse than a splitty sock yarn!