Another 5 Reasons to Make Your Own Socks : Sock It To Me Baby

It’s no secret that I am a bit obsessed with sock knitting, there is not a new sock yarn that I can seem to go past without ordering for Yarn Trader. So when I wrote my previous blog on 5 Reasons To Make Your Own Socks before it had even finished uploading I was already listing all the other reasons.

1. Socks Are So Handy

Sitting at the doctors? Watching kids sports? Riding shotgun on that road trip? These times are a gift to grab that teeny, tiny project bag and get some rows done! Less than 100g of sock yarn, one needle, a perfect hand sized project to keep while you are on the go!

2. Summertime and the Knitting Is Easy

It’s 42C and no matter how good your air conditioning do you really want to be sat under that chunky king size blanket you are making? Even shawls and scarves can feel too hot to be making. So if you are finding your knitting mojo disappears with the heat then sock making is going to keep you cool.

3. A Gift That Keeps On Giving

With my sock knitting kit are some A4 sheets where I have immortalised family and friends with drawings of the size and shape of their feet. No it’s not some strange foot fetish, it’s so I can make for them a real heartfelt gift of perfectly fitting socks. Of all the knitted gifts these are the most economical and speedy, letting me give the joy of hand knitting even wider! And here is an extra bonus reason, wouldn’t you rather find out someone is not knit worthy before you spend more $ and time on them? I’m looking at you big brother who has never worn those socks I made for him, don’t be expecting a fairisle jumper any time soon is all I can say!

4. Wool Wash

Wool is the king of natural fibres, it’s durable, it’s warm, it’s even flame resistant! It also does not need to be washed every time it is worn. Yes I am saying that you do not need to wash wool, or wool rich socks every time you wear them. A little light airing and voila another day or two is perfectly fine with no cheesy odours. So by making your own you have halved or even reduced by ⅔ the water usage per wear, and if you combine that by washing with a no rinse wool wash like Eucalan that is a great result in our drought prone climate.

5. Sock the Builder

Want to try Colourwork? Mosaic Knitting? Kitchener stitch? Short Rows? Cables? Don’t want to spend weeks on learning just one skill? Then think of socks as samplers, perfect little projects to build your skill portfolio on. Get that skill under your belt before you know it and shhh, if it all goes wrong you don’t have to undo that much! 

I hope inspiration has struck and you are itching to make those socks. You can check out our great sock yarns here and if you really fancy building your knitting skills and sock draw 52 Weeks of Socks Volumes 1 and 2 should keep you busy for the next couple of years. We would love to see what is coming off your needles, 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.