My Favorite Sock Yarns

[@nattuglaHK]

Regia sock yarn makes good durable socks, too.

[@geraldinecb9982]

Agree, I do love this yarn, it softens considerably after washing, and it can be machine washed. Super durable too !

[@MtMomDesigns]

The standard Regia sock yarn is 4-ply, but it also comes as 6-ply for quicker, more sport-weight socks. Regia’s line also includes several “families” of self-patterning yarns designed by Arne & Carlos in Norway.

[@teresekashi5492]

I swore I would never waste my time knitting socks. Why put time into something that wears out? But I ran out of what to do and wanted something different. Numbers of friends said, "try socks! After several months of debate, moaning and groaning, I tried knitting a pair. In the following two months I made 30 pair. They are seriously fun!!!! Welcome, Steven, to the world of sock addiction!!!

[@Stettafire]

For me I knit bamboo socks. They're really expensive to buy so it's cheaper to make my own. IDK where these "socks are a waste of time" people come from, cus the same logic could be applied to anything. At the end of the day it's a hobby and you should do what you enjoy. Not everything needs a "point"

[@martinabuenning2763]

@@Stettafire you‘re so right - other people play video games as a „hobby“ and don‘t get nice socks 😉👍🏽

[@YolyCurls]

That’s Exactly how I felt about knitting socks till last week. I already knitted two pair of socks and going on my third. 😂

[@Stettafire]

I knit with bamboo and cotton for my socks. Mostly bamboo nowadays. I don't like knitting with plastic.

[@browncurlsknits]

Sweet Georgia Tough Love is an excellent plump sock yarn, and Wandering Flock has a great sock yarn as well.

[@am_cosmos]

The Wandering Flock skeins are so hard to resist when I see them at the LYS. Especially the light neons.

[@KnittyKitty215]

My favorite yarn for socks is Hawthorne fingering by Knitpicks. It's only 14 bucks a 100g skein so it's very affordable. I've made many socks using it and it holds up so nice. Also it feels soft on my feet. I have one pair that have lasted me 7 years of hard wear so far. It's 80% superwash and 20% nylon. I love to knit with the high end yarns too but I just cannot always afford them. I never want to wear another store bought sock. I can't wait to start knitting your sock patterns

[@zweiein]

My favorite sock yarn is a german one called "Opal Pullover und Sockenwolle". Its not as scratchy as Regia but really hard wearing.

[@unstopable8000]

Kroy from Patons. Affordable and durable.

[@sarahjanetrillow8686]

I love knitting with West Yorkshire spinners sock yarn, its great for shawl knitting too x

[@christenagervais7303]

And affordable!

[@ritatannehill7487]

I would love for you to do an information video about yarn - what the names mean for example superwash vs non-superwash - 4ply - 8ply - 12ply - BFL etc . I have been knitting and crocheting for almost 50 years but I do have a hard time when a pattern gives a recommended yarn such as 5 ply sport and converting that to something i have available to me (I have to order pretty much everything) I just love your channel - videos are great - enthusiasm is amazing - so encouraging - visiting your shop and meeting you is on my bucket list 🤣❤️

[@catherinecunningham7126]

I fell in love with Zauber Balls at my local yarn store (before knowing how to knit, still a novice) so I bought a few. Now I know what to use them for, socks!!!! 🧦

[@lotteverhagen6139]

My favourite socks are the ones knit with Ancient Arts’ Passion 8 base. It’s a heavy fingering weight that’s super plump because of those 8 plies ❤ Beautifully dense fabric and gorgeous stitch definition.

[@tsoonklah]

Rowan Moordale is one of my favorites for winter, 70/30 blend of Alpaca & Bluefaced Leicester wools. I also love this one yarn I get in bulk that’s 50/50 blend of Baby Alpaca & Merino that’s sock weight AND 4-ply, so it’s perfect for socks. And I get this eco-friendly blend of Alpaca/Linen that’s 4-ply sock weight and the alpaca’a treated with enzymes to make it easy-wash. LoL I love yarns & it’s so much fun dyeing them.

[@noflies]

Retrosaria Mondim is my favorite sock yarn, because it is a hard-wearing, soft, non-superwash yarn that wears well for socks and comes in a wide range of colors at a modest price.

[@roxannashively3751]

I am looking forward to your 2023 sock patterns.

[@sherylmeans]

I can’t tell you how excited I am that you are bringing your style to sock knitting. I think of socks as self care knitting. Not everyone is deserving of hand knit socks, so I knit them for myself. I am a spinner and BFL is one of my favorite wools. Thanks for the yarn reviews, a couple of those are new to me and I’m looking forward to trying them.

[@KiSaralise]

Omg! So cute, “Now I realize I have Shawl & Sock Yarn!” 🤣🤣🤣🙏🏻🫶🏻

[@evamuller5895]

My favorite: Exmoor Sock /John Arbon... from Boheiyarns Düsseldorf...

[@laurahowell395]

I love Malabrigo sock!

[@wendyellis6402]

I love Essence of Autumn, and the Mautinoa is one of my favorite shawls.

[@MrsASteed]

I am SO excited that 2023 is your year of socks!! Can't wait to follow along and see what you come out with!

[@CashewPaul]

Congratulations on reaching 100K subscribers.

[@Margar02]

I am SO HELLA STOKED for some Stephen West Sock designs!!

[@mickiwhite4754]

Knitting socks is my spirit project 😉

[@carlytasmith5754]

I’m addicted to sock knitting & all the beautiful sock yarn🧶

[@lyndakuit7703]

Arcane Fibre Works has great fingering/sock yarns. Semi-solids and a fantastic variety of variegated yarns.

[@loveknitting100]

Ok now I need to put down my Aurora Cabin Shawl and cast on my Painting Bricks socks!! I have some Hedgehog Fibers sock yarn in my stash that I love! Thank you for becoming a sock knitter ❤

[@aikatharos4439]

Thank you for sharing your favourites! BFL (blend with nylon) is my all-time favourite hand-dyed sock yarn, when you want some luxury for your feet. I also love to use Finnish and Finnsheep wool everywhere, so in the socks it goes!

[@writerious]

Shout-out for a sock yarn from my region that's also one of my favorite hard-wearing sock yarns: Socks that Rock from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The dyer, Tina Newton, is an awesome person. She went through some rough times with serious illness and family tragedy that put her behind on orders for a while, but Blue Moon is still going and her colorways are amazeballs. I'm particularly intrigued by her subtle Raven Clan colorways, which start with a bright variegated yarn and then is overdyed with black. The yarn itself all merino, but spun at a tight twist that makes it hard-wearing.

[@rachelcunningham2498]

stephen this is also my year of socks. Word of the year is SOCKS!

[@cheryljenkins9823]

I love Barnyard Knits Sock yarn. They have speckles and totals and lots of yardage with 25% nylon. Super beautiful colors

[@manus21]

I love the Zauberball! When I started knitting I made my first socks with this yarn and it's such a fun yarn to knit with. Lots of colorchanges and beautiful transitions. And really good quality. Plus, Schoppel is a very nice family owned company.

[@lindacornelius3451]

Thank you Stephen I really enjoyed watching your tutorials your last scar so I’m just learning how to really knit, so a beginner

[@YarnNTea]

Schachenmayr REGIA cotton/nylon blend is my all time favourite for warm climates.

[@lindsaycrabtree5355]

just ordered some Zauberball to make your big honeycombs shawl, I’m so excited!! Arcane Fibre Works in Alberta Canada and Leo & Roxy in Ontario are also amazing sock yarns, fantastic colours and so soft!

[@rosemaryfrew5571]

Thank you. (I have seen but not tried) Malabrigo now have a nylon and merino sock yarn. I live in Australia, and sweater weather is a very short week. 😃.

[@mallorycarney5128]

Knit picks Hawthorne is very hard wearing but not the softest and it comes in every solid color you could want as well as tonals and speckles Sprout sock is an amazing sock yarn as well

[@manicspinner1959]

My favorite sock/shawl yarn lately is pretty much any color way from Barnyard Knits...

[@janpolgar9349]

I love Leo and Roxy sock yarn, hand dyed in St. Thomas Ontario Canada. Full Moon fibres sock yarn is really beautiful from Barrie Ontario. Les Garçons yak sock is one of my new favourites.

[@lindsaycrabtree5355]

YES!! Leo and Roxy is my go-to for fingering weight, it’s so soft and so many gorgeous colours.

[@violetamitkovic]

Thanks to your useful tips I’ve now ordered my very first Schoppel Wolle yarns 🤗

[@denisewessman1079]

Long dog yarn and limbers cozy creations are two of my favorite sock yarns. I have many!!!

[@LottaSocks]

Regia. Still have socks from 23yrs ago!! I reallllly need to get Zauberball, colors are fantastic! John Arbon Exmoor sock yarn is great: (60% Exmoor Blueface / 20% Corriedale / 10% Zwartbles / 10% Nylon) A dense fabric = long wearing. I prefer 9 to 10 sts per inch (thinner yarn works 10 - 11 sts/inch), mostly US 0/2mm. My next pair: Exmoor sock + Dustland pattern = yayyyy!😊

[@marijedoeleman9083]

Freckles&speckles from Wollyhood in Utrecht is the most beautiful sockyarn ever!

[@auraperez6156]

I love woollmeise twin for socks

[@sharonsutcliffe]

Hi I have just started to learn how to knit socks and I’ve done my first toe 👍🏻. Considering I couldn’t even knit before I started I’m really pleased and I’m loving it. I’ve just looked at the Zauberball yarns and OMG I love the colours. I would love to try one sometime x

[@carlytasmith5754]

Love Zauberball sock yarn. It’s really beautiful 🧶

[@AnnekesQuest]

Scheepjes. It is a Dutch brand. I don't think they specifically advertise it as sock yarn. But my mum has been knitting socks with it for many many years.

[@scarianneable]

My favourite sock yarn is from Shirley Brian Yarn! She does half skeins in gradients so they match in stunning colourways.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

My favorite sock yarn is Point Prim sock from Fleece & Harmony PEI farm and mill.

[@unstopable8000]

I love that it uses mohair rather than nylon.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

@@unstopable8000 I totally agree, I love the idea from the sheep to us also.

[@cassmacdonald-perfectlyimp2486]

I’ve got some Opal to use in a 6ply, plus some Noro sock yarn but I mostly use Hobbii and WYS in the main, plus Regia. I’ve always wanted to use the Schoppel tho - the colours look amazing. Also keen to try the knitpicks. I’ve used Cascade Heritage, which is lovely and soft, but I’ve found that there’s lots of holes when picking up (that I have to fix on my new pair)

[@conniewatson1659]

Thank You For The Tips On Sock Yarn!! This Helps To Know What Yarn To Get,. Since I'm A Beginner On Knitting,.. I Got To Get Me Some Good Sock Yarn... Thank You Again...By The Way That Yarn Looks AWESOME 👍 .... 👍☺️🙂🧦😊🤗😁🧶

[@nobleknits2]

There are times when the only thing that will do, particularly for a basic vanilla sock, is the workhorse of Paton's Kroy

[@nessamithrandir2746]

It is always funny to hear english speaker trying to pronounce german xD You did quite well

[@denisewessman1079]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I look forward to a year of sock knitting with you ❤

[@TheLashera]

Love your socks.

[@aliasDMMc]

Clarendon Sock from Townhouse Yarns is my favourite yarn. It is hand dyed and comes in beautiful colours. I especially love the speckled ones.

[@LindaJuneDisley]

Thank you for sharing, my favourite yarn to use for my socks are super wash merino and nylon. Looking forward to cast on the socks from your ebook, just need to decide on the colours. Hugs xxx

[@annettewiggins2220]

Thank you for this tutorial - so helpful! I've decided to add socks to my knitting repertoire this year and look forward to the workshop. I was being snobbish about the nylon blends but now understand why it's important for socks :-) I have some LBA super sock that I purchased a few years ago at Stephen and Penelope in Amsterdam and can now put it to good use!

[@patricialane4971]

Hi Stephen! I love the Farmer’s Daughter sock yarn. Great colors, Merino SW 75% and nylon 25%. Doing the Dustland socks now in the January Sock Squad color way Chicory with a navy mini for cuffs, heel, and toes. Cheers!

[@athertonca]

I’m all about indie dyers when it comes to sock yarn.

[@midnightknitter5654]

I love the yarn with higher silk content and tighter twist. But always think of they do better in a Shawl.

[@joylindgren2227]

I just ordered the kimono color in the miminoki

[@susanwhite6158]

Stephen, would you recommend a particular yarn for winter socks??

[@dianem7563]

I love just about all sock yarn, but I keep coming back to the West Yorkshire Spinners and Urth brands for sock knitting.

[@christenagervais7303]

I love West Yorkshire Spinners yarn and Regia!

[@hedds93]

What would a good tight gauge be for socks?

[@alicecantrell620]

I'm knitting with zauberball right now and loving it so much! I've also been loving a Hauteknit's Jimmy Sock yarn. The colorways are so vibrant and the yarn knits like a dream.

[@carol-annmatthew5296]

Fabulous yarn. Love it sooo much..

[@trinacairns9509]

My first favourite sock yarn was Sokkusu-O, now Whimzy yarns (Soft Sock is 75% merino, 25% nylon) in the UK, because I adore knitting socks with high-twist yarn - it basically has to knit me right back! Other favourites include Blue Moon Socks That Rock (USA), Magpie Fibers (USA), APmezga Sock (Lithuania), and Olann (Ireland).

[@steffipatz845]

I like to knit with the sock yarn from "Rohrspatz&Wollmeise" it’s a small German store

[@StephenWest]

That's a fun one with beautiful colors!

[@simonefrey7116]

I like Wollmeise Twin, it's a tiny bit thicker at 311m/100 gr, comes in skeins of 150gr, so there's a lot of sock! Good for bigfoots!

[@auraperez6156]

I love them too

[@mayfrost5189]

I just bought the dustland sock pattern and will try to knit with an english description for the first time. I saw on your website that you have blanket designs too. How about making some knitted pillowcases with some cool designs on them?

[@ruthswarthout1115]

Hi, loved all the comments on your favorite sock yarns I live in Michigan and there are a few of places that I get my yarn from they have great sock yarns Apple Yarn s out of Washington state andrea dies her yarns and she has great color ways, wool and honey from michigan, simply sock yarn from ft. Wayne Indiana, expressionfiberarts wonderful color ways and bare naked wool here are a few that I really like look forward to your new patterns thank you once again for all the info

[@adelaarevalo3237]

Have you tried Mondim by Retrosaria? There’s no nylon in it, but they are great for socks.

[@3Dhyana]

I’m starting my first sock. I’m having trouble with the fingering nylon that’s not specifically for socks. What would be best for a beginner? TY

[@pppetra]

Wol met verve basic sock. My husband needs 2 years to wear trough it. Opal and Regia. Het wolbeest supersock. Dutch wool diva sockstar. Bad cattooyarn sockbase. Koperdraadje sockbase. I just love knitting socks. And sockyarn.

[@lisahare1470]

What shawl are you wearing in this video?

[@lisalexandersson9346]

Onion nettle sock! Soft and gives some speckles from the nettle. Not the funniest colors but you can mix in some leftovers.

[@syedashobbieschannel58]

I like your shawl, what is the pattern name ❤

[@francearchambault4218]

For decadence- try Merino, cashmere, nylon sock yarns…your feet will feel totally pampered 😊

[@kilka13]

I want this yarn so much!!!😍

[@elysianfibres1642]

Not a fan of superwash yarns myself. I find they sag and go limp even when knit at a firm gauge. I'd go for natural wool any day - I particularly like down breeds, such as Southdown, because of their stretch and natural resistance to felting.

[@sharonmciver8857]

Could you possibly do a sock that’s knitted back and forth on 2 needles??? I knit baby bootees this way with a little heel and would love to try adult socks for the first time but on two needles ❤

[@Stettafire]

Yes, lots of vintage patterns are written this way. Hard to find a modern pattern written this way

[@carolinemartin5322]

What dk sock yarn would you recommend, I wear boot runners when walking the dogs, and need something a bit more substantial…love your sock patterns.

[@MtMomDesigns]

Regia makes a 6-ply sock yarn that’s durable. Madeline Tosh makes a “work sock sport” yarn with 25% nylon, in lots of their usual wonderful colors.

[@carolinemartin5322]

@@MtMomDesigns yes I have knitted a pair with this yarn a few years ago and it’s one of the best wearing, I must get more of it. Thank you

[@isabellv1126]

Crazy Zauberball is always fun. But one does need to pay attention there is a whole range of Zauberbälle and the regular (not crazy) aren’t plyed so not as sturdy for sock knitting. Fiber contents and yarn thickness can vary too depending on which Zauberball is picked 😊 and for all the people who want perfect matching socks: the crazy Zauberball will not give two identical socks - I love that though 😅

[@sheilamccart7553]

Rowan now do a sock yarn in lovely colours.

[@heleng9008]

Wollemeise Twin-deep saturated colors and they wear like iron!

[@jordanfairs9791]

Random question, so you prefer done to do your socks or magic loop?

[@jordanfairs9791]

My current favourite sock is Farmers Daughter Fibre sock yarn

[@vicentacastillo363]

🥰😍🧶❤️👍😘👏👏

[@pamsavanovic3004]

I love Regia and Lollipop yarns self stripping

[@wendyellis6402]

So will biodegradable nylon degrade in my garments?

[@Stettafire]

Wool is also biodegradable, as is cotton and linen. Unless you're throwing it in a compost heap I wouldn't worry about it

[@wendyellis6402]

Beautiful socks call for Birkenstock, but I hate Birkenstocks 🤷‍♀️

[@kimbarone7409]

Botanical yarn 75/25

[@josemuylaert3466]

Well, I've tried some superwash yarns with less than 25% nylon in them and I disagree on them being hardwearing. If you really wear your socks a lot, and in boots, anything with only 15 or 20% nylon just doesn't do it for me.

[@nizarahdragon3973]

I always kill the heals of my socks I can’t get rid of the callouss on them and it tears up my sock heals

[@jsorensens2]

Have you tried using a foot rasp? It looks like a hand held cheese grater and it does a great job of removing dry skin. Maybe it would help your callouses. Inexpensive on Amazon.

[@t.emanuela2826]

The foot rasp can cause small wounds to the skin…try sandpaper!

[@MtMomDesigns]

You might try using a “heel stitch” or Eye of Partridge stitch on the heel section. I also recommend learning to darn and to Swiss-darn (aka duplicate stitch) for mending. These techniques can be invisible OR decorative, and they’ll extend the life of your favorite socks! These are popular topics for video and book classes right now too. 😊

[@nizarahdragon3973]

@@MtMomDesigns I do darn my socks and I usually end up darning my darned places the first thing I learned to knit was socks now I just make my store bought 1’s pretty

[@Stettafire]

Need to modify your pattern to reinforce the heel. Or you can do preventative darning or duplicate stitch over the heel