5 Reasons to Make Your Own Socks: Warning – It Can Be Addictive

Let’s pose a question, why would you want to make a pair of socks when you could pop out and buy a pack of five for $20? 

I’d argue that that is the exact reason why you might want to. So many parts of the fashion industry are mass produced that we rarely get the connection with our clothes that make us feel proud to wear them and look after them. Yes, even with the humble sock.

But putting that philosophical discussion aside, there are five practical reasons for getting out your knitting needles and crafting your own socks.

Let’s begin.

1. When it fits it fits!

There is nothing like a sock that fits. I mean, it really fits. 

Buying a pack of socks that fits size 7 to 10 is buying socks that fit no one. Handmade socks measured for your foot and your foot alone are perfection. No bunching up of fabric to rub against the shoe, no heels halfway up your calf, just comfort in your shoe. Even if you have diabetes or blood pressure issues, getting the right fit for swelling ankles can even impact your health. I’ll be writing more on this later.

2. It’s so much cheaper

Bear with me on this one. A pack of five socks costs $20, whereas yarn for one pair of socks can also cost $20 (and can be more if you really want to deluxe your feet).

How can this make your handmade socks cheaper?

The short answer is, longevity, or cost per wear.

A good fitting sock made of good yarn, treated properly, is going to last a very long time. 

So, years after toes are worn through, and heels are gone on your shop socks, the ones you’ve handmade will still be going strong. 

When it comes to price per wear, there is a clear winner.

3. Your feet are the last frontier of flair

What did Henry Ford say? You can have every colour as long as it is black? 

Your sock choices in shops are not exactly very exciting, unless you really love greys, blacks and whites.

If that limited palette doesn’t float your boat, then you can inject an infinite array of colour from our huge range of sock yarns. 

From neons to speckles, pinks to purples, and every hue in between, the sky’s your limit (or should we say, the floor)? 

And if you’d really like to impress others, and not just yourself, choosing some self-patterning yarn or striping yarn will have family and friends convinced that you are a colourwork guru!

Go on, take the credit. Of course you’ve mastered Scottish Fair Isle knitting. We won’t let on because what happens at Yarn Trader stays at Yarn Trader.

4. Fake it till you make it

Socks seem hard.

But here’s a little secret. Shhh, don’t spread this around.

Socks are one of the easiest things you’ll ever make.

Seriously, if you’ve ever made a beanie, socks will be a walk in the park (pun intended).

Ever knitted a jumper? You’ll be able to knit socks with your eyes shut.

The trick is to find your perfect recipe (which is what we’re here to help you do) and then start filling your sock drawer, one pair at a time.

5. We all like an easy win

If you are someone who knits bigger items, like jumpers or shawls or blankets, socks make the perfect palate cleanser.

While those other items can take months, and sometimes seem to be never ending, whipping up a pair of socks can reward you with a big dose of (almost) instant gratification. A nice ‘vanilla’ pattern, something to binge on Netflix (can I recommend Outlander for the knitwear 😉) and voila a new pair!

I hope you’re feeling inspired to start knitting your first pair of socks. Check out our Classes Page for our upcoming sock classes for sock virgins alike or if you are looking to push your sock making envelope.

If not, don’t worry, I have even more reasons to make your own socks coming soon. But if you do make a pair, whether or not you’ve bought your yarn from us, please share a picture on social media and tag Yarn Trader in Facebook (@theyarntrader) or Instagram (@yarntrader), so will can take a look and admire your handiwork.

Image courtesy of Pru Raymond