Why knit socks?

**Early Bird** · 01-03-2006, 03:32 PM

Well .... since it's cheaper to buy socks than to knit them, I found myself wondering if it was worth the bother.

Then I read a bunch of knitting blogs and boards.

Now I figure that it IS worth the bother .... and here's why:

(Please, no one take offense. But I have not figured out the purpose of a shrug).

* They actually get worn. unlike some garments. I personally own two shawls that I never wear. And I still haven't figured out WHY anyone would wear a shrug. [I have never spotted one in real life.]

* They're relatively cheap. Sweater yarn can cost a MINT. I saw one woman at a knitting group making a scarf -- with over $100 worth of yarn!!! (cashmere/alpaca or some such). I can find enough wool sock yarn for a pair of socks for $6. That 6 bucks gives me many hours of enjoyment ... and many hours of frustration.

* They're portable. Next week, the kids will have me waiting for them during speech therapy, piano lesson, violin lesson, music reading lesson, and book chat. I'm glad I won't be lugging around a big project to keep me occupied while I wait!

Of course, dishcloths, mittens, and most scarves also fall into the useful-cheap-portable category.

**forestdale** · 01-03-2006, 03:39 PM

I totally agree, early bird. I think it's a great portable project. I'm waiting for missy to do her tutorial and then I'll be knitting socks when I'm working at our store.

**canadian gardener** · 01-03-2006, 03:40 PM

exactly so. Useful small portable projects.

Knitting is like a tranquilizer for me, I get all soothed and happy as I repeat the movements over and over. I pray as I knit, I find it concentrates my mind on prayer or thinking thru something that worries me.

Large projects just don't keep my attention long enough to follow thru to completion. Short projects do.

**missmollymayhem** · 01-03-2006, 11:59 PM

They get used often and if they're made well they last forever! I have a friend who still has-and wears!- a pair she made 15 years ago! My store-bought socks tend to wear out within 2-3 years

**catzz64** · 01-04-2006, 12:11 AM

Thank you for this thread! I bought really nice wool yarn when my little guy was about 3 months and intended to make him socks...I even bought nice bamboo needles...so far I have yet to do them, but this just might give me the initiative I need!

**kaykwilts** · 01-04-2006, 03:30 AM

I am curious. Are the socks not bulky when your wear them? Do you have to wear a larger shoe because of the bulk?

**canadian gardener** · 01-04-2006, 03:05 PM

sock yarn is finer than baby yarn, it's so thin and fine that the sox aren't thick at all.

Some sock yarn is blended with a tiny amount of nylon in the wool to wear better over heels and toes.

**pita1213** · 01-04-2006, 04:25 PM

does sock yarn come in anything besides wool?
i have thought about knitting socks, but i am allergic to wool. i am also allergic to nylon.

**ACEHearts** · 01-04-2006, 04:48 PM

I love love love knitting socks. Its the one thing I usually do just for me. I have had a gorgeous sweater on the needles for about 3 yrs now, but since its so complicated, it won't be finished for at least another 3!

Socks are quick, easy, mindless knitting (at least for me at this point! LOL!) and I get great satisfaction out of having a new pair for myself.

And you can get acrylic sock yarn. Though I would check your allergies to wool. A lot of wool allergies are actually allergies to the chemicals used to chemically clean the wool. Try getting some raw or home/washed wool fleece and wearing it somewhere against your skin to see if you have the same issues. Handspun is more expensive, but oh so nice to use (and easy to make with a drop spindle too, another nice easy portable project!)

Cindy

**joyofsix** · 01-04-2006, 04:52 PM

I don't knit, but do crochet. I do baby blankets and ponchos because they are portable.

**Early Bird** · 01-05-2006, 12:10 AM

Another thing. How many SWEATERS do I actually need and wear? But 2 dozen pairs of socks would be fine to have .;... and I'd keep awfully knitting 24 pairs of socks for each of my family members!

**pita1213** · 01-05-2006, 05:08 PM

cindy, i've tried doing that before with the raw wool (friends of my folks had some sheep) but i still broke out in lovely hives. they look like pink cow spots.

thank you for the thought though.

**ACEHearts** · 01-10-2006, 02:15 PM

Ugh on the allergies

Pink cow spots don't sound like much fun!

Like I said though, if you look you can find acrylic sock yarn. The stuff I'm making grandpa's socks out of is "fingering" yarn, so that may be a label to look for.

Cindy