I love this comment! 🥰You are inspiring proof that, despite our problems in life, we can and should always be grateful for the good things in our lives! I notice that you posted this two years ago, and I pray that are doing well, today! 🙏
My feet seem to get really hot if I keep socks on in the house, so my feet are usually ice cold in the winter. I went to a dermatologist in the late fall when I still was wearing sandals, but it was starting to get cold out. I had a mole on my foot that I needed removed, so when the nurse picked my foot up, she let out a little scream as she wasn’t expecting my foot to be so cold. Ha.
Yarn knowledge! THIS is what I wish I had known when I was a beginning knitter and people (often store owners themselves) handed me sock yarns with 20% nylon for my first lace shawl - that Traveling Woman never blocked right and I was so frustrated), and a costly, thin fingering weight alpaca for socks. 🤦🏼♀️ Sigh.... Invaluable video, once again!🙌
I'm also knitting socks at a much firmer gauge compared to when I knit shawls. I aim for between 9 and 11 stitches per inch with socks, otherwise they wear through under my heel within 1 year. Roxanne Richardson recently put out a video about another way to reinforce socks that I'm going to try after I finish this pair for my grandma's 87th birthday.
I'm a crocheter but this knowledge is invaluable for anyone who makes socks! Thank you for showing the twist and fiber content from a variety of companies! Great video and your explanations about fiber content were very easy to understand
Thank you!! I now have the knowledge I need to knit a great pair of socks!! All the yarn that a local yarn shop sold me was NOT for socks. So, now I will knit a few shawls!! Knowledge is power!!
I wish I knew this years ago. I have made so many shawls and did not know. Thanks so much for this detail. Almost avoided. Now I know why I gave my sister socks and she got holes quickly.
wow u dealt with the memory of the different types of fiber, u dealt with possible felting, u addressed ply. u addressed yardage, & u advertised many companies' sock & fingering yarns.
This is the BEST video explaining Sock Weight vs Fingering Weight!!!! I am a beginner knitter and just finished my 1st sock. I was wondering about this topic. THANK YOU!! for your great information. Thank you for being REAL!
Barbara - I love that you always go the extra mile to explain things in detail. I loved this video! It is something I had been already trying to find out about on my own.
Soooo helpful and illuminating. I’ve been knitting for 20 years but still found gold. Thank you! What a great community we knitters are in..sharers and carers!
Thank you so much for sharing all this information! I started knitting socks this year but only looked for the prettiest color or nicer texture😅. Now I know!!
This, dear Barbara, is a theme I so often talk about to my knitting group and it's fine to have it here, done by a professional. I only am a semi - professional, teaching SOME pupils and without money normally. Sometimes I get a cake. so cute! Ok. I love that video, I kind of need this since a long time. Be blessed , yours, Tabea (former Conny, I changed my name, it was urgent)
I’ve been to your store. Had my brother in law and sister waiting for me, so whizzed thru it, but was able to purchase a skein. Seemed like a very welcoming atmosphere.
@@WatchBarbaraKnit I looked for you and didn’t see u. 😀. Not sure what I would have said if I found u there. Probably something dumb like Im such a big fan!! Haha.
West Yorkshire spinners WYS is great sock yarn from here in the UK, as good as Regia. I have dropped from a 2.5mm to a 2.25mm DP carbon needle to get a denser texture. Lovely colourways also and self patterning. Yarn shops in the UK are as rare as hens teeth, so online is usually my only resort, but you can find places if you are prepared to travel.
I love your videos.. They are always fun and packed with useful information… I don’t use either type of yarn discussed, but I enjoyed learning about them… Thanks…snd I bet you have lots of customers at “ your/‘ store.🤗👍💜
This was so helpful. Thank you. I wish I had found this information when I started making socks this past winter. I used my Harrisville tapestry wool and couldn't understand why I got a big hole in a week...yikes. I darned them 3 times and wore right through all that too...HILARIOUS comedy of errors. Who knew? Thanks again!!!
Thank you so much for such a great video. I have been knitting socks and shawls and now I know what to use and why. The info on the ply was fabulous and thanks for showing it up close. Now I must get back to my socks! Thanks Barbara
Loved this video, thank you🤗 I would love to see a video on the difference between DK and Sport weight yarns, as I think the two are often viewed as interchangeable but in reality they are not. I definitely would like to learn more about the similarities and difference of these two weights.
This should be a great blend for strength and durability. But you might run into some issues with them keeping their shape as neither of these fibers have good memory. I'd love to hear how they wear!
I have socks with various combinations including cotton and bamboo. In general, they are wearing quite well. The key to keeping the shape where you need it is good ribbing. I semi-solved this by using these fibers more for footies (what I grew up calling socks with just the foot part and no cuff or leg).
Hi Barbara, another info packed video, thank you! The only pair of socks I have made to date was for my step mom. She was diabetic, had lost half of one foot and numerous toes off the other. It was a challenging project on a number of levels. First, I had her send me a tracing of her feet so I would know how long to make them. Second, I didn't know much about sock yarn and she needed extra cushioning for her feet so I used an acrylic four ply. Third, it was my first time using dpn's which would have been interesting enough on it's own, but then I added in the fourth challenge; I was having eye surgery because the cataracts had grown REALLY bad in about a month. I couldn't read or even see what I was doing. Thankfully I was able to get a sock pattern in audio format. I also learned to put point protectors on both ends of the non-working needles so I stopped dropping stitches. They came out beautiful! Thankfully I used acrylic yarn as she put them in the washer and dryer, she was definitely not knit worthy. But, it was a great way to keep my mind off the surgery and challenges. I want to make myself some socks. I always wear holes in either the ankle or heel of the sock. Now I know what to look for in a yarn when I make them. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge so willingly with us. It makes such a difference!😊
@@WatchBarbaraKnit yes, although it was partially for my dad as well. They had not been married long and he expressed concern about her feet not being protected enough. And it was also a great learning project. I learned how to do the kitchener stitch so there was no seams to rub on her feet.
Wowza! Thanks so much for teaching us. This is exactly what I wanted to know as I adventure into knitting socks more seriously. As always, shopper beware. I appreciate your expertise and clear communication.
Thank you so much for this information. I now will check out the yarn that I won a few years ago before I use it for the wrong type of knitting. So glad I saw this first.
Wow, such a fantastic video. Like many others, I wish I knew some of these points earlier in my knitting journey. I now look at yarn a little differently. I have only recently discovered your videos and really enjoy them. Thank you from Australia.
This video really helps. I bought some Perth yarn that said it was a fingerings weight and good for socks. I made a pair of socks for my husband and when I hand washed to block (very gently) it broke and I had to darn it right from the start! Very depressing. On the other hand there are also sock yarns with occasional weakness in the yarn. The last pair I made for myself broke as well! I was only able to wear it once before I noticed the break. Its hiding in shame in my drawer until my frustration abates and I will fix it. Ugh! None of the sock orders I have made have done this! Maybe that's a good thing or I would have no orders for socks! Lol
i love to buy all kinds of yarn on sale with as much natural fibers as possible, meaning less acrylic and less nylon etc. I overdye a lot of yarns so I can use them together and they match up with others, just for fun. My way to avoid holes is to have a few dozen socks in my fave color ways and alternate them depending on what shoes/colorway I am wearing. My fave color ways are earth colors, jewel colors, camouflage and pinks, and denim blue. Its great fun to combine all kinds of yarns and adjust needle sizes to compensate. Just sayin its ok to knit a wild card sock once in a while. This video very helpful, did not know but I love to know more about plies, so helpful!!!
Aaaaaaah thanks for this video! I want to knit my first pair of socks and picked up Woolstok light and I’m glad right now that I knitted the cuff and then an inch or so for the first one before realizing that my gauge was slightly off and that I need to move down to a size 0! But then I saw this and learned the yarn wasn’t ideal either. Thanks for this! I’m going to pick up one of the yarns you mentioned when I get my size 0 needle hopefully today or tomorrow!
You could continue with the Woolstok for the cuff/ankle, but it is def a no go for the heel/foot/toe .... you'd walk right through it. Glad you caught it in time.
Thanks SO much, Barbara, for this clarification and demonstration of sock weight vs. fingering weight. I wasn’t sure! You are a wealth of knowledge! 😀👍
Love this! I bought some malabrigo sock yarn and it had no nylon in it!!!! They have two kinds -- the ultimate sock has nylon, but the regular sock might not be worth knitting into socks!
Soooo helpful!! I never understood the difference before! Also, I always found the “ply thing” so confusing! The ply is not always included in the info about a yarn and I could never figure out how to know!!! Thanks so much!!! I just recently decided to make multiple pairs of socks to get good at them and I feel so much more capable with this info!!
Hi, Barbara! Your videos are always so good and informative. I thought I'd share a dyer's perspective on this one. I actually do call all my sock-weight yarn bases sock-weight yarn, but I also give guidance as to which of my yarn bases would make good socks and which wouldn't. I regularly recommend a 4-ply 80/20 superwash merino/nylon as well as a 4-ply 50/50 superwash merino/silk for socks. Interestingly, in my experience, silk is actually considerably stronger than nylon, and that is the one base I cannot break with my fingers no matter how hard I try. It also makes great warp for weaving. I don't use the term "fingering weight" at all because I sell all around the world (or at least I did before COVID) and as many of your viewers will confirm, fingering is a naughty word in much of the English-speaking world. ;-)
Hey great video thank you so much, I’ve bought some yarn that I fell in love with in Norway but trying to work out its weight as it doesn’t have it on the sleeve! This has been really helpful. Just a FYI on the blue Yorkshire wool, Leicester is said “less-ter” most of the letters your don’t pronounce, same as most of England’s counties and towns, just to keep everyone confused :)
You know, I know that pronunciation intellectually but I just can't help myself with all of the extra letters LOL. You might want to look into figuring out the yarns Wraps Per Inch (WPI), that can be super helpful.
I wish I'd had this video a few weeks ago when I was looking for yarn to make a pair of shorts and top that will be PJ's! But I now know for future reference, thank you. If reference to the WYS yarn. I'm in England and I'd just like to tell you that we pronounce Leicester, Less-ter. We have really weird spellings for some places, and I get them wrong all the time, so how we expect people from other countries to get them right is beyond me! Lol. Take care Barbara xx
I'm pretty well established as being absolutely horrible at pronouncing things LOL ... apologies for mangling your language. I hope your PJs turn out OK.
This video was SO useful! I’m in the transition from big box (Joann’s/Michaels) to boutique yarn. I both crochet and knit. Could you do a review on some of the “budget friendly” yarns that one may find? Like my store has Cascade sock and some other brands I’ve never heard of!
That might take a while for me to figure out. There are simply sooooo many different yarns out there and the availability of them vary widely. Cascade is a great budget friendly yarn that's been around for a long time. Quality wise there is nothing to be worried about there!
Thank you for this video Barbara. I am currently knitting my 2nd pair of socks and am using 25% wool,75% acrylic. The ply and twist are good, I hope I am not wasting my time on a pair( Taat)that won't last but if that be the case, it will be a good learning experience. Again, thank you for this valuable information.
It should be fine. I am not a sock knitting experts, but the info that I have read from sock knitting experts is that many of them do not care for knitting socks with acrylic yarn. Acrylic doesn't "breathe" and makes for clammy socks with potential for promoting poor foot health (fungus and stuff). But the Nylon might help in that arena?
thank you for this very informative video....so looking forward use this new found knowledge (esp. about the nylon in the shawls....:))...for the upcoming Texas yarn crawl!
This was very helpful. I knew the basics, but to see examples & have someone point out specifics about how each would work is just marvelous. Thank you. Is there an easy to find & affordable yarn you’d recommend for someone who is starting their sock making journey? My skin can’t take Patons Kroy. I have been testing a few cuff down patterns with Lion Brand collection SW merino DK, it’s soft, has some bounce & seems to hold its shape well, but it’s DK. I have been having trouble with every type of heel, so I keep tearing my test sock out & starting again. I have trouble finding good fingering options from big brands. Being on disability I can’t afford hand-dyed or high end brands. Spending $25 to practice & learn isn’t on the table. Maybe once as a treat after I get more confident. I’d love to hear what brands & options you’d recommend. Thanks for the great info. Have a great day.
Yes, it is! You can always find information about the piece on my silent partner in the description notes below the video. But that is Onoclea and you can find more about it here: www.tumpedduck.com/designs/onoclea/
Similarly, Malabrigo "Sock" fingering-weight yarn isn't that great for socks. It doesn't have any nylon in it, and isn't one of those tightly-plied yarns.
Thanks!! I’m sitting here with a skein of Malabrigo Sock, trying to figure out what it wants to be. This made me wonder if it would be better as socks or shawl, gloves or hat, and your comment definitely helps!
Labeling yarn as 'sock' yarn, not intended for socks is a bit deceptive and tricky. I found some of that in my stash so will use it for one of your scarfs or hats. Still very nice yarn. Very informative, thanks!
I've been using Paton Classic worsted (US 7) worked on US 6 PRYM. They seem to be quite durable and they are nice and comfortable on my slightly neuropathic feet. I knitted some socks with a DK Merino and acrylic and I found that they were too hot and very moist in the shoe. The virgin wool seems to settle my feet and their sensitivity. I don't understand why sock yarn has to be so fine or super fine and nylon is a hard fibre like acrylic and it has no give. As an older gent, I'm not as active any more and I doubt that my choice of yarn would be durable in my former employment as I was on my feet walking and lifting people and making beds and dressing folks where I'd be twisting and turning as I provided health service to them. But the comfort of these socks I'd knitting is really amazing to me as I have been learning this last month to knit socks. I get 8sts/inch with it and it is comfortable !
Heavier weight socks are great if your shoes can accommodate them. I think most socks are designed for fine yarns because of the going into a shoe part of the program.
sometimes I knit thick socks for boots in aran yarn and add a 2/3/4ply acrylic yarn in the heels and toes or other vulnerable places. men in my family like them. It makes them last longer. I knit baby socks in anything lovely and soft as there little feet spend most of the time waving around in the air! Bamboo fibres are lovely and pure silk lasts but it expensive.
I so wish I had found you a month ago, I just spent 50 usd on some beautiful Highland yarn for some scrumptious socks. I just looked at both colourways single ply and loose as a goose.im so heart broken 💔😢
If a Lacey shawl it will not block as well and not show detail. That was one of her reasons. This should be included when buying yarn and purchasing patterns. I am embarrassed to say I am 71 and did not know details.
I'll see if I can come up with enough for a video but mostly it's what debra said! You can totally use it for a shawl that doesn't need to hold a fine block. But for a lace shawl (or any lace project) that needs to hold a fine block, it's not the best choice.
What sort of fibres would you recommend besides wool for socks? I want to knit a pair for a friend who’s vegan and I’m not sure what would have the necessary strength - silk being both out of my price range and an animal product!
When I have consulted avid sock knitters the general opinion is your best bet for non-wool is cotton, but it tends to sag. You can find some cotton yarns that have a little bit of elastic in them which helps with that. The only one I can think of off the top of my head also has silk in it so that kills the vegan thing.
Nylon is not acrylic or polyester, it cannot be killed in the same way. Nylon is a man made celluostic fiber … made from cellulose derived from plants. Also, heat makes nylon brittle so it is not recommended.
It would make it smaller. I know there are slipper patterns where you deliberately make them big and felt them down. But it gets thicker when you felt and I don't know if that's desirable in socks?
Thank you so much, this is the video I've needed! One question though, the WYS yarn says 4 ply on the wrapper, but you showed that it's made of 3 ply, so why is it called 4 ply? Also, does that mean that '4 ply yarn' is the same as fingering weight? (ps, Leicester is pronounced 'Lester'...) Thanks again! 😊❤️
I'm afraid it means that I made a mistake and miscounted the number of plys. I should have read the label LOL. As far as 4 ply being synonymous with fingering weight ... that's a more complex issue and one I don't fully understand. In the UK ply can either be an actual description of the number of plys involved and/OR a description of the weight of the yarn. You'll need someone more well versed than I to explain that one.
@@WatchBarbaraKnit In the UK and Europe (mostly Germany from my experience), there is still the occasional use of plies as a description of yarn thickness. I presume the plies were made the same thickness and the number plied together made what we now call Fingering/sock weight, DK etc. It's either Regia or Opal that use this still in their product names. I just had a quick rummage through my stash and the wys signature 4-ply is a 4-ply yarn. On another note, most commercial yarns in this part of the world don't state "superwash" or not. If they say it's machine washable, it tends to be SW.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
You are such a great teacher. I learned so much from this video. Thank you.
Thank you! I am so glad you got something good out of the video.
One of the advantages of being in a wheelchair? My shoes and socks last a reaaaaallllly long time. :)
You are hilarious lol!
Was coming here to say just that!
Same for me. I have all the socks I’ve ever knitted all in perfect or nearly perfect condition.
💌
I love this comment! 🥰You are inspiring proof that, despite our problems in life, we can and should always be grateful for the good things in our lives! I notice that you posted this two years ago, and I pray that are doing well, today! 🙏
Hahaha “do other people say balls?” 😂😂💜 yes, and then we giggle 🥰
Actually you usually say, “the ball of your foot.” I wrote a book on QiGong for feet and legs, and learned this term from my editor. Just FYI.💜🧶
@@marycase5473 That’s what I was going for but when I pluralized it, it just sounded wrong lol.
Can confirm that alpaca wool does not make a good "shoe" sock. However, makes an excellent couch sock, especially when paired with a pet to cuddle. :D
CUTE
Thank you for info
Couch socks are awesome things!
Yes, alpaca socks are dreamy.
My feet seem to get really hot if I keep socks on in the house, so my feet are usually ice cold in the winter. I went to a dermatologist in the late fall when I still was wearing sandals, but it was starting to get cold out. I had a mole on my foot that I needed removed, so when the nurse picked my foot up, she let out a little scream as she wasn’t expecting my foot to be so cold. Ha.
Thanks for this very clear information. I am certain that you have kept me from a serious waste of time.
Glad it was helpful!
Yarn knowledge! THIS is what I wish I had known when I was a beginning knitter and people (often store owners themselves) handed me sock yarns with 20% nylon for my first lace shawl - that Traveling Woman never blocked right and I was so frustrated), and a costly, thin fingering weight alpaca for socks. 🤦🏼♀️ Sigh.... Invaluable video, once again!🙌
Unfortunately not all yarn store owners are deeply knowledgeable about a lot of the nuances of knitting.
Watching this video while finishing up a sock in 100% commercial wool 2-ply yarn with some…sudden trepidation
I'm also knitting socks at a much firmer gauge compared to when I knit shawls. I aim for between 9 and 11 stitches per inch with socks, otherwise they wear through under my heel within 1 year. Roxanne Richardson recently put out a video about another way to reinforce socks that I'm going to try after I finish this pair for my grandma's 87th birthday.
Lucky grandma!
Roxanne R.'s video is excellent and a good follow up to this one.
Exactly! Which is why you can't really pay attention to gauge on ball bands ... way different for shawls.
I'm a crocheter but this knowledge is invaluable for anyone who makes socks! Thank you for showing the twist and fiber content from a variety of companies! Great video and your explanations about fiber content were very easy to understand
I'm so glad that the info is useful for crocheters!
Thank you!! I now have the knowledge I need to knit a great pair of socks!! All the yarn that a local yarn shop sold me was NOT for socks. So, now I will knit a few shawls!! Knowledge is power!!
That's unfortunate. You'll have fun knitting shawls tho!
this video was worth its weight in gold
Woo Hoo! I also accept payment in dark chocolate. ;)
I wish I knew this years ago. I have made so many shawls and did not know. Thanks so much for this detail. Almost avoided. Now I know why I gave my sister socks and she got holes quickly.
We’ll, she she also could be hard on her socks … some people have sock eating feet.
Thank you! Love how you explained the difference in sock and fingering weight yarn. Makes so much sense...now!
Yay! That was the goal.
wow u dealt with the memory of the different types of fiber, u dealt with possible felting, u addressed ply. u addressed yardage, & u advertised many companies' sock & fingering yarns.
I hope that the video was helpful for you! Thank you for watching.
This is the BEST video explaining Sock Weight vs Fingering Weight!!!! I am a beginner knitter and just finished my 1st sock. I was wondering about this topic. THANK YOU!! for your great information. Thank you for being REAL!
I am so glad it was helpful!
Barbara - I love that you always go the extra mile to explain things in detail. I loved this video! It is something I had been already trying to find out about on my own.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for explaining about sock yarn and fingering weight yarn. Very informative.
So glad it was helpful!
Thank you for taking the time to explain the difference between sock, fingering weight yarns. This is very helpful.
Yay! I am so glad.
Soooo helpful and illuminating. I’ve been knitting for 20 years but still found gold. Thank you!
What a great community we knitters are in..sharers and carers!
You are so welcome! I am so glad that I had at least a tidbit to share.
Thank you so much for sharing all this information! I started knitting socks this year but only looked for the prettiest color or nicer texture😅. Now I know!!
So many pieces to the puzzle!
I really like your content and your energy😊
Thank you. I may consume too much caffeine LOL.
This, dear Barbara, is a theme I so often talk about to my knitting group and it's fine to have it here, done by a professional. I only am a semi - professional, teaching SOME pupils and without money normally. Sometimes I get a cake. so cute! Ok. I love that video, I kind of need this since a long time. Be blessed , yours, Tabea
(former Conny, I changed my name, it was urgent)
Cake is a major plus! Glad you liked the video.
@@WatchBarbaraKnit You're one of four I really like - no, love!
I love your single topic in-depth videos. Thank you.
Thanks, that’s great to hear.
I’ve been to your store. Had my brother in law and sister waiting for me, so whizzed thru it, but was able to purchase a skein. Seemed like a very welcoming atmosphere.
I hope I'm there next time you come so we can say hi!
@@WatchBarbaraKnit I looked for you and didn’t see u. 😀. Not sure what I would have said if I found u there. Probably something dumb like Im such a big fan!! Haha.
Perfect explanation. But oh think how luxurious they would feel!! xxJane
Sooo squooshy.
Excellent video and excellent timing. I swore I would never knit socks, but a recent shopping trip has changed my mind. Thank you.
Have fun knitting socks!
Thank you for presenting an outstanding program. JoAnn in Mississippi
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
West Yorkshire spinners WYS is great sock yarn from here in the UK, as good as Regia. I have dropped from a 2.5mm to a 2.25mm DP carbon needle to get a denser texture. Lovely colourways also and self patterning. Yarn shops in the UK are as rare as hens teeth, so online is usually my only resort, but you can find places if you are prepared to travel.
A dense texture can really help. We carry both the sock & DK weight sock WYS yarns and they are lovely.
I love your videos.. They are always fun and packed with useful information…
I don’t use either type of yarn discussed, but I enjoyed learning about them…
Thanks…snd I bet you have lots of customers at “ your/‘ store.🤗👍💜
Thank you!
This was so helpful. Thank you. I wish I had found this information when I started making socks this past winter. I used my Harrisville tapestry wool and couldn't understand why I got a big hole in a week...yikes. I darned them 3 times and wore right through all that too...HILARIOUS comedy of errors. Who knew? Thanks again!!!
Well now your future socks can be super durable!
An anatomy of yarn is good. Time spent on making a project should definitey align with the actual usage of the finished item. Thank you, Brenda.
Excellent Excellent video!...thank you so much!.....hello from Canada 🇨🇦....oh...and your laugh is absolutely the best!....lol
I’m knitting my first sock and this is helpful!
I'm so glad!
Thank you so much for such a great video. I have been knitting socks and shawls and now I know what to use and why. The info on the ply was fabulous and thanks for showing it up close. Now I must get back to my socks! Thanks Barbara
I am so glad it was helpful.
Thank you for the very informative video! I'll hear your explanation in my head when selecting yarn for socks and shawls.
Somehow I imagine my words in Morgan Freeman's voice instead LOL.
Loved this video, thank you🤗 I would love to see a video on the difference between DK and Sport weight yarns, as I think the two are often viewed as interchangeable but in reality they are not. I definitely would like to learn more about the similarities and difference of these two weights.
I don't really know if there is enough there to make a whole video, but you are right, they are not interchangeable. Sport is thinner than DK.
As I embark on my first lace project as well as my first project with fingering weight yarn this video has been invaluable! Many thanks! ❤️🙏🏼❤️
I hope I saved you some heartache!
Thank you for this video I'm knitting my first socks and I did a bamboo and cotton blend, I will keep this in mind in my next sock I'm gonna make
This should be a great blend for strength and durability. But you might run into some issues with them keeping their shape as neither of these fibers have good memory. I'd love to hear how they wear!
I have socks with various combinations including cotton and bamboo. In general, they are wearing quite well. The key to keeping the shape where you need it is good ribbing. I semi-solved this by using these fibers more for footies (what I grew up calling socks with just the foot part and no cuff or leg).
Hi Barbara, another info packed video, thank you!
The only pair of socks I have made to date was for my step mom. She was diabetic, had lost half of one foot and numerous toes off the other.
It was a challenging project on a number of levels.
First, I had her send me a tracing of her feet so I would know how long to make them. Second, I didn't know much about sock yarn and she needed extra cushioning for her feet so I used an acrylic four ply. Third, it was my first time using dpn's which would have been interesting enough on it's own, but then I added in the fourth challenge; I was having eye surgery because the cataracts had grown REALLY bad in about a month. I couldn't read or even see what I was doing.
Thankfully I was able to get a sock pattern in audio format. I also learned to put point protectors on both ends of the non-working needles so I stopped dropping stitches.
They came out beautiful! Thankfully I used acrylic yarn as she put them in the washer and dryer, she was definitely not knit worthy. But, it was a great way to keep my mind off the surgery and challenges.
I want to make myself some socks. I always wear holes in either the ankle or heel of the sock. Now I know what to look for in a yarn when I make them. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge so willingly with us. It makes such a difference!😊
What a project!
@@cynthiawick216 but it was so worth it! I can use dpns very easily now and it helped pass the time. Especially when I had a week of total bed rest.
That is a true labor of love.
@@WatchBarbaraKnit yes, although it was partially for my dad as well. They had not been married long and he expressed concern about her feet not being protected enough. And it was also a great learning project. I learned how to do the kitchener stitch so there was no seams to rub on her feet.
G’day Barbara, that was really informative for my yarn & pattern choices 🇦🇺👍
That is great to hear! Have a lovely knitting adventure!
Thank you for the information, I love knitting socks and never really knew the differences.
You are so welcome!
This stuff can be so confusing for me. Thank you for making it easier to understand!
I'm glad I could clear things up!
Wowza! Thanks so much for teaching us. This is exactly what I wanted to know as I adventure into knitting socks more seriously. As always, shopper beware. I appreciate your expertise and clear communication.
I am so glad I was able to be helpful.
Great, helpful and practical information! Thanks for taking the time to share. Stay well and safe.
I'm glad you liked it!
I learn so much with you! Thanks for this great video!
I’ve heard about the nylon carry-along yarn for sock knitting that really intrigues me..
It can really help prevent holes.
Thank you so much for this information. I now will check out the yarn that I won a few years ago before I use it for the wrong type of knitting. So glad I saw this first.
I've knitted many socks from WYS Signature and never had it felt and it wears very well.
That's great to know.
Very informative and HELPFUL!
I'm so glad to hear this.
Wow, such a fantastic video. Like many others, I wish I knew some of these points earlier in my knitting journey. I now look at yarn a little differently. I have only recently discovered your videos and really enjoy them. Thank you from Australia.
Thank you for watching! I am glad to be helpful.
This is such good information for knitting socks thank you
Thanks for watching!
Fantastic video .. thanks so much great to understand these differences in yarns and to watch out for 😊
Glad it was helpful!
This video really helps. I bought some Perth yarn that said it was a fingerings weight and good for socks. I made a pair of socks for my husband and when I hand washed to block (very gently) it broke and I had to darn it right from the start! Very depressing. On the other hand there are also sock yarns with occasional weakness in the yarn. The last pair I made for myself broke as well! I was only able to wear it once before I noticed the break. Its hiding in shame in my drawer until my frustration abates and I will fix it. Ugh! None of the sock orders I have made have done this! Maybe that's a good thing or I would have no orders for socks! Lol
That is really frustrating and I am sorry you had to deal with that. Better luck with future projects.
I had exactly the same thing happened
Excellent information! I love knitting socks and I only use yarn that is 75% wool and 25% nylon.
Totally a solid approach LOL!
i love to buy all kinds of yarn on sale with as much natural fibers as possible, meaning less acrylic and less nylon etc. I overdye a lot of yarns so I can use them together and they match up with others, just for fun. My way to avoid holes is to have a few dozen socks in my fave color ways and alternate them depending on what shoes/colorway I am wearing. My fave color ways are earth colors, jewel colors, camouflage and pinks, and denim blue. Its great fun to combine all kinds of yarns and adjust needle sizes to compensate. Just sayin its ok to knit a wild card sock once in a while. This video very helpful, did not know but I love to know more about plies, so helpful!!!
That's an excellent solution!
Aaaaaaah thanks for this video! I want to knit my first pair of socks and picked up Woolstok light and I’m glad right now that I knitted the cuff and then an inch or so for the first one before realizing that my gauge was slightly off and that I need to move down to a size 0! But then I saw this and learned the yarn wasn’t ideal either. Thanks for this! I’m going to pick up one of the yarns you mentioned when I get my size 0 needle hopefully today or tomorrow!
You could continue with the Woolstok for the cuff/ankle, but it is def a no go for the heel/foot/toe .... you'd walk right through it. Glad you caught it in time.
Thanks SO much, Barbara, for this clarification and demonstration of sock weight vs. fingering weight. I wasn’t sure! You are a wealth of knowledge! 😀👍
You are so welcome!
Love this! I bought some malabrigo sock yarn and it had no nylon in it!!!! They have two kinds -- the ultimate sock has nylon, but the regular sock might not be worth knitting into socks!
I would not recommend knitting socks with the 100% merino Malabrigo Sock. But the Ultimate is great!
Soooo helpful!! I never understood the difference before! Also, I always found the “ply thing” so confusing! The ply is not always included in the info about a yarn and I could never figure out how to know!!! Thanks so much!!! I just recently decided to make multiple pairs of socks to get good at them and I feel so much more capable with this info!!
Excellent. Have fun with your socks!
Hi, Barbara! Your videos are always so good and informative. I thought I'd share a dyer's perspective on this one.
I actually do call all my sock-weight yarn bases sock-weight yarn, but I also give guidance as to which of my yarn bases would make good socks and which wouldn't. I regularly recommend a 4-ply 80/20 superwash merino/nylon as well as a 4-ply 50/50 superwash merino/silk for socks. Interestingly, in my experience, silk is actually considerably stronger than nylon, and that is the one base I cannot break with my fingers no matter how hard I try. It also makes great warp for weaving.
I don't use the term "fingering weight" at all because I sell all around the world (or at least I did before COVID) and as many of your viewers will confirm, fingering is a naughty word in much of the English-speaking world. ;-)
I love silk for strength. I typically use silk blends for anything that has beads on it for that reason.
Excellent video. I would like to knit my first pair of socks this year, so the discussion on plies, was really helpful. Thx
I'm so glad!
Demonstration was very good 👍🏻
Glad you liked it!
Great explanation and visual examples!!
Yay! I really do try to pay attention and have had comments about visual examples.
Hey great video thank you so much, I’ve bought some yarn that I fell in love with in Norway but trying to work out its weight as it doesn’t have it on the sleeve! This has been really helpful.
Just a FYI on the blue Yorkshire wool, Leicester is said “less-ter” most of the letters your don’t pronounce, same as most of England’s counties and towns, just to keep everyone confused :)
You know, I know that pronunciation intellectually but I just can't help myself with all of the extra letters LOL. You might want to look into figuring out the yarns Wraps Per Inch (WPI), that can be super helpful.
🧶💕🧶 Interesting. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I wish I'd had this video a few weeks ago when I was looking for yarn to make a pair of shorts and top that will be PJ's! But I now know for future reference, thank you.
If reference to the WYS yarn. I'm in England and I'd just like to tell you that we pronounce Leicester, Less-ter. We have really weird spellings for some places, and I get them wrong all the time, so how we expect people from other countries to get them right is beyond me! Lol.
Take care Barbara xx
I'm pretty well established as being absolutely horrible at pronouncing things LOL ... apologies for mangling your language. I hope your PJs turn out OK.
@@WatchBarbaraKnit It's totally fine, speaking words is hard, lol!
My PJs are coming along nicely, 22 rows and the first leg will be finished :)
This video was SO useful! I’m in the transition from big box (Joann’s/Michaels) to boutique yarn. I both crochet and knit. Could you do a review on some of the “budget friendly” yarns that one may find? Like my store has Cascade sock and some other brands I’ve never heard of!
That might take a while for me to figure out. There are simply sooooo many different yarns out there and the availability of them vary widely. Cascade is a great budget friendly yarn that's been around for a long time. Quality wise there is nothing to be worried about there!
Thank you for this video Barbara. I am currently knitting my 2nd pair of socks and am using 25% wool,75% acrylic. The ply and twist are good, I hope I am not wasting my time on a pair( Taat)that won't last but if that be the case, it will be a good learning experience. Again, thank you for this valuable information.
It should be fine. I am not a sock knitting experts, but the info that I have read from sock knitting experts is that many of them do not care for knitting socks with acrylic yarn. Acrylic doesn't "breathe" and makes for clammy socks with potential for promoting poor foot health (fungus and stuff). But the Nylon might help in that arena?
thank you for this very informative video....so looking forward use this new found knowledge (esp. about the nylon in the shawls....:))...for the upcoming Texas yarn crawl!
Oooh, that sounds like a ton of fun.
Very informative!! Thanks
Yay!
Hi - it's pronounced 'Lester'!! (I live in the county...) WYS wool is awesome for socks and lace projects.
Thank you, thank you!! I just started my first vanilla socks and was very confused about this lol!!
So glad to be timely!
G’day Barbara, that was REALLY useful and helps me to decide carefully before I choose yarn, pattern projects 👍🏻🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Yay! Here's to successful projects!
Thanks for the video! It should say this on the labels!
Unfortunately I'm not in charge of labels LOL!
@@WatchBarbaraKnit if only women ran the world! 😂🤣
so imformative! thank you
My Pleasure!
Very good segment! Will watch it again! Thanks so much.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just got into knitting socks. Loving it.,, thanks for the information.
Super cool! Have fun with your socks.
Omg..I been trying knit some socks which I believe is wrong..I been trying for months to knit my first sock
Socks can be really tricksy, best of luck for you.
Thank you for the funded Information, very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
This was very helpful. I knew the basics, but to see examples & have someone point out specifics about how each would work is just marvelous. Thank you.
Is there an easy to find & affordable yarn you’d recommend for someone who is starting their sock making journey? My skin can’t take Patons Kroy. I have been testing a few cuff down patterns with Lion Brand collection SW merino DK, it’s soft, has some bounce & seems to hold its shape well, but it’s DK. I have been having trouble with every type of heel, so I keep tearing my test sock out & starting again.
I have trouble finding good fingering options from big brands. Being on disability I can’t afford hand-dyed or high end brands. Spending $25 to practice & learn isn’t on the table. Maybe once as a treat after I get more confident.
I’d love to hear what brands & options you’d recommend.
Thanks for the great info. Have a great day.
Love the shawl behind you . Is that one of your patterns for purchase? Beautiful color too.
Yes, it is! You can always find information about the piece on my silent partner in the description notes below the video. But that is Onoclea and you can find more about it here: www.tumpedduck.com/designs/onoclea/
Similarly, Malabrigo "Sock" fingering-weight yarn isn't that great for socks. It doesn't have any nylon in it, and isn't one of those tightly-plied yarns.
This may or may not be one of the yarns that I was not name checking lol.
Came to the comments to say this, LOL. Love that yarn, would never make socks from it!
Thanks!! I’m sitting here with a skein of Malabrigo Sock, trying to figure out what it wants to be. This made me wonder if it would be better as socks or shawl, gloves or hat, and your comment definitely helps!
@@maryannc7223 Shawl or hat, I'd say - socks and gloves get more wear and will end up damaged
Labeling yarn as 'sock' yarn, not intended for socks is a bit deceptive and tricky. I found some of that in my stash so will use it for one of your scarfs or hats. Still very nice yarn. Very informative, thanks!
I doubt it is ever really malicious. To paraphrase "Never ascribe malicious intent to that which can as easily be explained by ignorance." LOL
thank you soooo much. this explains so much for me. I always learn so much from you. thank you thank you thank you!
I'm so glad you liked it!
Excellent content
Thanks!
Thank you . I learned so much.
I'm so glad!
Thanks for sharing this great knowledge..👍😊❣
Glad you enjoyed the video.
I've been using Paton Classic worsted (US 7) worked on US 6 PRYM. They seem to be quite durable and they are nice and comfortable on my slightly neuropathic feet. I knitted some socks with a DK Merino and acrylic and I found that they were too hot and very moist in the shoe. The virgin wool seems to settle my feet and their sensitivity. I don't understand why sock yarn has to be so fine or super fine and nylon is a hard fibre like acrylic and it has no give. As an older gent, I'm not as active any more and I doubt that my choice of yarn would be durable in my former employment as I was on my feet walking and lifting people and making beds and dressing folks where I'd be twisting and turning as I provided health service to them. But the comfort of these socks I'd knitting is really amazing to me as I have been learning this last month to knit socks. I get 8sts/inch with it and it is comfortable !
Heavier weight socks are great if your shoes can accommodate them. I think most socks are designed for fine yarns because of the going into a shoe part of the program.
This was super helpful! Thank you!
My pleasure!
Very informative video; thank you so much!!
You are so welcome!
Very informative
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome insight! 👏🏻
Thanks for watching!
sometimes I knit thick socks for boots in aran yarn and add a 2/3/4ply acrylic yarn in the heels and toes or other vulnerable places. men in my family like them. It makes them last longer. I knit baby socks in anything lovely and soft as there little feet spend most of the time waving around in the air! Bamboo fibres are lovely and pure silk lasts but it expensive.
Yeah baby socks don't need a lot of sturdiness LOL.
🤔🤔off to check labels of the yarn I intended for socks now! 😄 pilfered and “not my store” might not be the best word combo?😭😭
LOL. I totally returned everything back to their rightful places.
I so wish I had found you a month ago, I just spent 50 usd on some beautiful Highland yarn for some scrumptious socks. I just looked at both colourways single ply and loose as a goose.im so heart broken 💔😢
Thank you so much for this video it was every informative. Thank you again!
My pleasure!
Thank you for explaining this. Could u maybe explain more thoroughly about why not to use nylon for shawls.
If a Lacey shawl it will not block as well and not show detail. That was one of her reasons. This should be included when buying yarn and purchasing patterns. I am embarrassed to say I am 71 and did not know details.
I'll see if I can come up with enough for a video but mostly it's what debra said! You can totally use it for a shawl that doesn't need to hold a fine block. But for a lace shawl (or any lace project) that needs to hold a fine block, it's not the best choice.
What sort of fibres would you recommend besides wool for socks? I want to knit a pair for a friend who’s vegan and I’m not sure what would have the necessary strength - silk being both out of my price range and an animal product!
When I have consulted avid sock knitters the general opinion is your best bet for non-wool is cotton, but it tends to sag. You can find some cotton yarns that have a little bit of elastic in them which helps with that. The only one I can think of off the top of my head also has silk in it so that kills the vegan thing.
I have never used it so I don't know how good it is and if it's pricey, but I know there is also bamboo sock yarn available.
But couldn't you use a nylon & wool bland yarn for a lace shawl if you kill the yarn with steam when blocking? Wouldn't that hold the lace shape?
Nylon is not acrylic or polyester, it cannot be killed in the same way. Nylon is a man made celluostic fiber … made from cellulose derived from plants. Also, heat makes nylon brittle so it is not recommended.
Would deliberately felting a sock help make it last longer? Or would it take out some of the structure and make the problem worse?
It would make it smaller. I know there are slipper patterns where you deliberately make them big and felt them down. But it gets thicker when you felt and I don't know if that's desirable in socks?
Thank you so much, this is the video I've needed! One question though, the WYS yarn says 4 ply on the wrapper, but you showed that it's made of 3 ply, so why is it called 4 ply? Also, does that mean that '4 ply yarn' is the same as fingering weight? (ps, Leicester is pronounced 'Lester'...) Thanks again! 😊❤️
I'm afraid it means that I made a mistake and miscounted the number of plys. I should have read the label LOL. As far as 4 ply being synonymous with fingering weight ... that's a more complex issue and one I don't fully understand. In the UK ply can either be an actual description of the number of plys involved and/OR a description of the weight of the yarn. You'll need someone more well versed than I to explain that one.
@@WatchBarbaraKnit In the UK and Europe (mostly Germany from my experience), there is still the occasional use of plies as a description of yarn thickness. I presume the plies were made the same thickness and the number plied together made what we now call Fingering/sock weight, DK etc. It's either Regia or Opal that use this still in their product names.
I just had a quick rummage through my stash and the wys signature 4-ply is a 4-ply yarn.
On another note, most commercial yarns in this part of the world don't state "superwash" or not. If they say it's machine washable, it tends to be SW.