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Tabbico
Seriously Hooked
USA
960 Posts |
 Posted - 04/10/2006 : 12:52:14 PM
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For all you sock knitters, what is your favorite for wearability? I want to make some, but don't want them getting holes in them on the third or fourth wear!
Polly |
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Calamintha
Permanent Resident
USA
2886 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2006 : 9:24:04 PM
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| To ensure the best wear I would stick with regular wool or wool/cotton blend sock yarns that have some nylon fiber. Brands like Opal, Regia, Trekking, etc. There are some yarns that are softer but they will likely not wear as well. I would avoid the "budget" sock yarns like Knitpicks. I have used a couple of different sock yarns from them and while some of the patterning is nice, the yarn just doesn't seem as strong or well spun as the regular sock yarn brands. |
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LittleMousling
Permanent Resident
USA
1093 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2006 : 11:51:56 PM
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Knit tightly enough and any sock yarn will hold up brilliantly. IME, if you're getting 10 st/in, anything short of cashmere will last quite a while.
-Molly, obsessive but not exclusive socknitter
Stash photos and some FOs |
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pieheart
Permanent Resident
1872 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 05:17:43 AM
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I am not thrilled with the yarn myself, but LB Magic Stripes is indestructable! I make socks for DS who wears them with or without shoes, inside and out, in snow (without shoes) on the driveway, sliding on wooden floors and carpet, and the only reason I knit more socks for him is that he outgrows them. He loves them, when they get too small to pull on his heel, he wears the heel on the bottom of his foot and they become short anklets in time for summer. Kind of nice actually, his foot is not getting any smaller, and at a size 8 mens not as quickly knit up as when he was a size 3! Hey, if he's not complaining, I'm not complaining!
pieheart
Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday----Dale Carnegie
blog: http://museknits.blogspot.com/ |
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lauriec
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
424 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 05:39:33 AM
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I've had great luck w/ Opal, Trekking XXL, Plymouth Encore & LB Magic Stripes. My Memere made us (all 22 grandkids) socks for years & years out of LB Woolease & even tho she's been dead almost 14 years the socks we had before that STILL are around & wear well!
If you're using a "better" sock yarn I would be sure to follow the care label to the letter, otherwise have at it!!
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Tabbico
Seriously Hooked
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 06:34:47 AM
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Thank you all!
Polly |
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AuntyNin
Seriously Hooked
USA
772 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 12:34:42 PM
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Plymouth Sockotta is another good long-wearing yarn. It's part cotton, so is great for summer socks, and the ones I've made have worn like iron in spite of the destructiveness of my toes.
AuntyNin
Everything happens for a reason, except possibly football. --- Terry Pratchett
http://home.earthlink.net/~lradiga1/ |
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Felted-Bag
Seriously Hooked
640 Posts |
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elspethm
Chatty Knitter
USA
323 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 9:13:20 PM
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So far my Wool Ease socks have worn holes, my Plymouth Knitaly socks have worn holes, but my Regia socks are still going.
I am working on Knit Picks socks, and can see where they might not last as long, but that just means I can knit some more!
Elspeth
Silicon Valley, CA
http://ladybug326.blogspot.com
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elspethm
Chatty Knitter
USA
323 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 9:14:31 PM
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P.S. I have gotten holes in some of mine, but it was way past the 3rd or 4th wear -- I wear them and wash them and the holes happen months later. So they're not indestructable, but not that fragile either.
Elspeth
Silicon Valley, CA
http://ladybug326.blogspot.com
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Blue Chase
New Pal
4 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 9:54:19 PM
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I agree with LittleMousling, I think a big factor in durability is gauge. I tend to shoot for 9sts/in but I think 8sts/in is acceptible as well.
You can also reinforce potentional trouble spots with sock reinforcement or Wooly Nylon(sewing section of craft store). I have a friend that uses this method on heels as well as knitting heels/toes with one needle size smaller.
I know a lot of people like soft merino wools like Koigu for socks, but I am reluctant to use them due to concerns about wear and piling...but I'm sure the feel great :-)
Yarn with nylon is a must. |
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JulieB
Gabber Extraordinaire
Australia
521 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 10:43:37 PM
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My Koigu socks (100% wool) are wearing far better than my Lorna's Laces (80/20 wool/nylon). There's been no pilling, no felting, no shrinkage. I've been wearing them once a week for about 6 months and they are just feeling better and better and are still looking great. The LL's are showing their age.
Buy the Koigu! On second thoughts, don't buy the Koigu - more for me!!
Julie.
My blog: http://www.julie.stuffworld.info/ |
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musindigo@gmail.com
New Pal
Canada
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 11:27:25 PM
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i like Koigu, too. and, Fleece Artist Merino for a bit of colourful fun (and both wear fairly well; the Fleece Artist gets a bit of a halo but not pills). for standard daily walk-all-the-time sox i like DGB Confetti or Phildar Preface. i have had some Fortissima Colori snag easily and found holes, like there was a ply that wasn't as strong as the others or something (not on the soles, in the cuffs) but that may have been just a fluke; it happened only with one pair.
Lori
http://www.indigoblues.ca/musindigo
Oceanwind Knits
http://www.oceanwindknits.ca |
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Marlyce
New Pal
3 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2006 : 02:00:22 AM
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All the socks I've knit using "sock" yarn have survived well. (I also knit I-cord shoelaces to match them!! quite dazzling!!)
However a pair I knit with leftover yarn from a Shelridge Farms kit, and then walked out on the concrete driveway, did get holes in them. But I darned them just like in the "olden days". I love the feel of handknit socks. Marlyce |
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Momo
Seriously Hooked
635 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2006 : 03:45:20 AM
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I agree also that in my experience the most important factor is the gauge. I have a pair of socks that I have been wearing hard every winter since 1998 and they are no where near getting a hole. It's just that they are worsted weight yarn knit at 6 sts/inch. Other worsted weight boot socks that I have knit at ~4 or 4.5 have gotten holes fairly quickly.
Marlyce, they icord shoelaces sound adorable! what a great idea. 
Cheers,
Charc
My Blog: Kung Fu Knitting and Gallery
Ithaca S'n B Blog |
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socks4all
Permanent Resident
USA
1446 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2006 : 04:08:14 AM
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| I use wool/nylon blend sock yarn at a tight gauge (10 sts/in). I have socks that were made in 1998 that are just now wearing at the heel. I wear my handknit socks every day. For long lasting socks my recommendation is to knit an afterthought heel. That way both the heel and toe are easily ripped out and replaced as needed. I've done that with socks I knit from Baby Ull. |
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knitegrity
Chatty Knitter
255 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2006 : 04:55:11 AM
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[quote]Originally posted by pieheart
I am not thrilled with the yarn myself, but LB Magic Stripes is indestructable! I make socks for DS who wears them with or without shoes, inside and out, in snow (without shoes) on the driveway, sliding on wooden floors and carpet,
That is so funny! I don't mean to be a yarn snob of sorts but I guess I have a fear of using a cheaper yarn for anything. If I knit something I want it to last and look great ya know! I did a scarf once in LB homespun and after about a month it looked old and worn out. I'll have to give their sock yarn a try though. I have made the mistake of knitting wool socks with no reinforcing thread and now I have a pile of socks in need of darning!
Also, Elann.com has sock reinforcing thread at a good price of course. Stock up on all colors!!!
Thanks,
Knit One,
diana |
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kwajknitter
New Pal
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2006 : 05:05:43 AM
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| I am finding that I am addicted to wearing handmade socks and thankfully, I like to knit them. I am becoming finiky about the yarn-I love the softness of Lornas Lace type yarn and am very willing to knit with reinforcement yarn on the heel and toe. I am also willing to darn-boy am I bad at it so far-just so I can enjoy the soft feel of the sock longer. Opal and Regina are long wearing, but no where near as comfy, I don;t think. |
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Raven Black
Chatty Knitter
USA
123 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2006 : 06:23:33 AM
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Gauge does make a big difference. The more dense, the longer wearing. I have knit sport wt. socks with Regia & Lion Brand at 7 sts to the inch. Still going strong. The worsted wt. socks knit at 4-5 sts. to an inch = holes in heels. LB Magic stripes also very durable. I have also read that you shouldn't walk around on nylon/synthetic type carpeting with your socks because that wears them out very quickly. Of course, many of us knit slipper socks so what's a knitter to do? Knit more socks! ;-}
Ravengirl in central Ariz. |
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~Jo~
Chatty Knitter
Canada
160 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2006 : 07:29:07 AM
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My best wearing socks at the moment are Koigu and Regia socks. The Lorna's Laces aren't doing so good, yet no holes, they just don't look as nice as the others. My socks hit the washer and dryer and LL doesn't recommend that so it's probably why they aren't looking their greatest. My boyfriend has some socks knit out of Briggs & Little Tuffy yarn and they have softened up so much. He wears them as soon as they come out of the wash, they have plenty of life left in them too.
~Jo~ mom of two
What am I up too now? |
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aidangilbert@gmail.com
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2006 : 07:41:31 AM
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I would have to respectfully disagree with the person who warned against using "cheap" sock yarns from KnitPicks.
I have knit socks from most of the major brands...I like Regia, Sockkota, XXL, Trekking...but I have knit socks from KnitPicks yarns and loved them. I especially like their Essentials which come in some good solid colors -- I'm a guy, and I rarely wear multi-colored socks. I've found the quality of the yarn to be more than acceptable. I haven't had a pair wear out yet!
I do think that guage is a factor in durability. The tighter I knit my socks, the longer they wear. And I think they are more comfortable as well.
Just my two cents.
Aidan
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Best sock yarn?
