Regia, Opal, Drops Fable are all awesome budget sock yarns. I've knit almost every color of Patons and they are all great. I have not had good experiences with knit picks. Felici fades, has knots and wears through very quickly. Same with Stroll in my. I wear my socks in shoes at my 40+ hour a week retail job. I machine wash and dry. If a yarn can't hold up to that I can't spend my time and money on it.
Hi! I just started knitting socks and this is my second pair. The first pair was made from Regia yarns. You can definitely feel the wool content. My son thinks they are very comfortable. He hasn’t worn them a lot outside of the house yet but I’ve asked him to keep an eye on the wear. I recently purchased Premier brand Cotton Collage from Hobby Lobby. 46% cotton, 33% super wash fine Merino wool, 12% polyamide, & 9% PBT. I’ve made one sock. It was pretty nice to work with. It feels so soft. It came back into shape after my son tried it on for the fit. 50g, 246 yds. 225 m. One ball was so tangled that I (the seasoned untangler) had to cut it and splice it. Bugs me because it is self-striping. I’ll get back with you about wear and tear. I appreciated your video info very much!
Used to buy patron kroy and knit picks’ stroll. Now just spin my own sock yarn very cheap. Uses down breed as their wool are naturally felt resistant. Happy knitting!
- drops fabel way better than you would think I wear them in hospital in my clinical practice (nursing student) so too much wear and I can say there are no signs of wear. I did a the toe with k2tog-ssk without leaving sts in between so you can see the thread and still no holes haha (they losen up with wear but after machine wash they shrink up to the original even snugglier fit) -drops nord fluffy yarn but I think they shrunk... but it is super soft if thats what youre looking for -alize superwash thick yarn cheap with a lot of meterage (420m) (5.60 euros) -katia united socks it comes in 25gr so its perfect for colorwork sock because you wont endup with too much leftovers its pretty affordable (2euros) and it comes in some beautiful bright colors that dont bleed These are the sock yarns in my country (alize has the artisan sock yarn but I havent tried yet) Hope this helps the non American sock knitters ❤
Thank you for this very nice video. I've been knitting socks for quite a number of years, and I'm always happy when Paton's Kroy is on my needles. I like the feel of it, the color choices, and how it looks knitted up. I think it wears well too. I also like Knit Picks Stroll and Opal yarns.
Thank you for the suggestions! I use indie dyed yarn for all of my projects, as I like the feel and comfort while knitting. However, I've been wanting to test out these yarns for kid projects because I'd rather not use pricy yarn for a project that will be so heavily worn. 🥰
Patons Kroy Sock is my go-to yarn. I agree that there is some variation in thickness depending on the line and I have to go down a needle size to get the fabric I want. Bec I’m knitting for myself, I fit each pair to my foot without negative or positive ease. I think this gives longer wear bec less stress on the fibers. I LOVE the look and feel of Felici, but the fuzzing makes me crazy!
I’ll try Kroy again. I didn’t like it at all when I used it a few years ago. It is thicker than other yarns and I didn’t like the fabric it knit up into. I want to try West Yorkshire Spinners now, too. Thanks!
Opal, Regia and West Yorkshire Spinners are affordable and imho are the very best. I used to buy those soft merino hand dyed expensive sock yarns, which are lovely, but recently went back to these tried and true brands. They are affordable and last for a very long time.
i literally just finished a pair using the llops and threads in the same colourway and i agree the spring isnt there as much after the first time u wear them but nice to work with..thanks for all the great info ive been wanting to try the estelle perfect pair and the medi-pedi
I love Patons Kroy sock yarn. It’s a fantastic price for a hard wearing sock. I recently purchased some indie dyed yarn off Etsy but didn’t read the description well enough as it only came with 200+ yards. I’ll be knitting some shorties with it because if I bought another skein, it would end up being a 40.00 pair of socks, and that’s just blowing my mind! I can’t find much variation in the selections at my local Hobby Lobby but have found Amazon to be a good source for Patons. Just have to watch the prices and snag them when they hit 7.99 or lower. Lowest I’ve seen them is 5.00 per skein.
I make 3 or 4 pairs of socks a month so Kroy is my go to yarn. It takes dyes beautifully and knits up quite fast. Quality is very reliable, no knots, no thinning, uniform patterns. I like a merino for shortie pairs but whatever you are knitting, you cannot go wrong with kroy.
My favorite is Patons. It wears well and I like how the socks feel. I've been helical knitting it with other more expensive yarns and getting some great socks :) Also been using Deborah Norville premier yarns. 50% wool, 25% rayon made from bamboo (what is that?) 25% nylon. 50 g ball is around $5. It seems to be a nice sock, and easier for me to get. My JoAnn's is pathetic and there's no Michael's or Hobby Lobby within 100 miles. I like what you said about Stroll, I'll have to order some, thank you for your review - when I can't touch and feel a good review is the next best thing :) - I ordered Holst Garn based on your review - now just have to sit down and knit with it, thank you!
I've been wanting to try fair isle sock designs but have been a little confused by how hard it is to find good solid color sock yarns at my local craft stores lol, but I might try to see if I can find knit picks stroll online! Thank you for the video!
Hey, loved your video. I do like Patons and I can get it locally. However my favorite yarn is Cascade Heritage. It is soft but wears as well if not better then Patons. I wait for it to go on sale online. Thanks for all the info!
I've made myself 2 pairs of Lion Brand Mani-Pedi. Though the label seems that 2 skeins would make a pair, with the way the striping is, I went back and bought an extra skein. The one had a hot pink in the middle of it and I am not one who wears pink so I just had a lot of ends to sew in. The socks feel nice, a little finer than Kroy Socks Stripes which I knit on a size 1, size 2 doe my husband including FX. For the Mani-Pedi I was knitting on size 0 which is the smallest needle in my ChiaoGoo Mini Red kit for socks. The Mani-Pedi I've made now 3 pair, one pair had no trouble matching up the stripes at all, but these last two.... grrrr. But they are finished and they feel really nice. And like the Kroy, they machine was well and are durable.
Thanks for the input! I want to try another pair of mani pedi using two balls. Mine are just a bit too short to want to wear often so they haven’t really been put to the test. How frustrating about the stripes not matching up though!
Great topic! I’ve been buying many lower cost sock yarns to try out lately too. Right now I’m knitting with Paton’s Kroy in Gentry gray with the Muslin color accent (both solids) for a design and the socks seem to be coming out larger than the self striping kroy I’ve used in the past. Actually the same thing happened last year with a different solid kroy so maybe it’s the solids that are thicker? I’ve tried the mani-pedi and really like that one. Another I liked that I thought I wouldn’t is the wool free sock yarn by I think Premier and I also like the Premier serenity sock yarn. I’m using West Yorkshire spinners Christmas sock yarn right now, it’s similar in feel to mani-pedi, maybe thinner. I just bought yarn bee cozy toes and Premier cotton collage to try (from hobby lobby) cotton collage is 46% cotton, 33% merino 12% polyamide and 9% PBT. Cozy toes is acrylic and polyester so anxious to see how those turn out. I have a skein of Perfect Pair, but haven’t tried it yet. I wish the big box stores carried more solids for contrasting heels/ toes/ cuffs
I usually use 65-70 g for my preferred length socks, so I consider cost for 100g or if I have leftovers for contrast heel/toe. In the US, you can also get Premier wool free at some craft stores. It retails around $5USD for 50g 235 yard ball and is 93% acrylic, 7% PBT which is similar to spandex. It is my go to for 'no wool' socks, but isn't the most enjoyable in a hot sweaty summer due to all the acrylic - wool just keeps feet dryer and less sweaty. I am in the midwest and my family gets really sweaty feet in normal socks when most of the days are over 90 for three months. So my experience may be different than others. I find these good fall/spring socks when highs are only in the 70s or 80s. In local yarn stores, Cascade Heritage Sock has tons of colors and is super soft like stroll and retails around $12USD for a 100g ball 75% wool 25% nylon. Its another of the very soft yarns, so it will fuzz like stroll, but if you love knitting with super soft squishy merino yarn that machine wash and dry, I highly recommend it. It is solids. Universal yarns Bamboo pop is another wool free option in LYS and it is $8USD for a 100g ball. Its 55% bamboo, 37% cotton, 8% PBT which is the same stuff in the Premier wool free, but the natural fibers make this a better warm weather sock. They have some that are self striping but gradient into the next color similar to Mani Pedi but not as long of stripes, but the colors in my LYS this last year have been self striping but each stripe is flecked colors.
That is super helpful, thanks! Lots more to try. There really are so many options it is hard to know what is best but nice to hear opinions on what people like 😊
I am knitting with Patrons Kroy sock yarn and having a horrible time with it. I searched for a critique of it to see if I'm alone. I got just past the heel on a men's size sock and realized there's not enough yarn in a skein. I bought 3 new skeins because ,of course the dye lot colors were different. Started over with the new skeins and now I am running into thick and thin spots which are making keeping stitches even nearly impossible. Overall, not happy at all with this yarn!
I tend to use a lot of hand dyed yarns from various indie dyers but I love knitpicks stroll handpaint for socks. Though the gauge is off if I use normal needle suggestion for it. I have to go down to a zero though that could just me as a knitter. lol Speaking of it I'm just about kitchener some toes of my little girls socks with some in the hollywood colorway that I dont think is available anymore. Thank you for the video it was super insightful. Also there is another yarn you could look into for your next video. It's from hobby lobby yarn bee color idyll 50% merino, 30%nylon, 20% acrylic. I got it to try out for her another pair of socks since shes refusing to wear store bought socks recently. I havent broken into the ball yet to know how it works up but its super duper soft and cozy feeling.
I was gifted a few skeins of Stroll. I would like to use it as a stripe and toes/heels along with some scraps. Which would you say it is closest in "weight" to? I have mani pedi, kroy and berrocco yarn
Thanks for this detailed comparison! I've tried the Estelle Sock Twins before and found it annoying to knit with. There were knots and uneven spots in the yarn. The socks were nice enough when they were done. I'm not sure how they're holding us as they were a gift.
West Yorkshire Spinners and stylecraft are my favourites as they're nice and soft. I cannot stand Drops Fabel, you couldn't pay me to use that budget sock yarn. Opal is just something else, that yarn does not felt, pill, fluff up, break, shrink, nothing. I swear an atomic bomb could hit and I wouldn't be surprised if nothing but opal socks were pulled out of the wreckage
Knit Picks Stroll and Hawthorne Make up about half of my 30+ pairs of socks. You stated that Stroll only comes in solids and that is incorrect. Stroll comes in solid, hand painted, gradient, tonal, and tweed. I also use Paton's Kroy Socks, Red Heart Heart and Sole, Premier Serenity, Opal, and OnLine.
How does the loops and thread pair feel on your feet compared to the wool? As in moisture absorption and does it feel breathable? Do you notice a difference?
They feel just fine, I think I’m more sensitive to the stretching out and feel of the yarn than to moisture. The bamboo also really helps balance out the acrylic content to make it more breathable. I wore them all summer without feeling exceptionally sweaty or anything,
For most small to medium size feet, yes. It did depend on width, foot length and height of the sock using the main colour. I like to knit them toe up and weigh the ball to make sure I don’t go over half per sock.
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Regia, Opal, Drops Fable are all awesome budget sock yarns. I've knit almost every color of Patons and they are all great. I have not had good experiences with knit picks. Felici fades, has knots and wears through very quickly. Same with Stroll in my. I wear my socks in shoes at my 40+ hour a week retail job. I machine wash and dry. If a yarn can't hold up to that I can't spend my time and money on it.
Hi! I just started knitting socks and this is my second pair. The first pair was made from Regia yarns. You can definitely feel the wool content. My son thinks they are very comfortable. He hasn’t worn them a lot outside of the house yet but I’ve asked him to keep an eye on the wear. I recently purchased Premier brand Cotton Collage from Hobby Lobby. 46% cotton, 33% super wash fine Merino wool, 12% polyamide, & 9% PBT. I’ve made one sock. It was pretty nice to work with. It feels so soft. It came back into shape after my son tried it on for the fit. 50g, 246 yds. 225 m. One ball was so tangled that I (the seasoned untangler) had to cut it and splice it. Bugs me because it is self-striping. I’ll get back with you about wear and tear. I appreciated your video info very much!
Used to buy patron kroy and knit picks’ stroll. Now just spin my own sock yarn very cheap. Uses down breed as their wool are naturally felt resistant.
Happy knitting!
Which breed?
- drops fabel way better than you would think I wear them in hospital in my clinical practice (nursing student) so too much wear and I can say there are no signs of wear. I did a the toe with k2tog-ssk without leaving sts in between so you can see the thread and still no holes haha (they losen up with wear but after machine wash they shrink up to the original even snugglier fit)
-drops nord fluffy yarn but I think they shrunk... but it is super soft if thats what youre looking for
-alize superwash thick yarn cheap with a lot of meterage (420m) (5.60 euros)
-katia united socks it comes in 25gr so its perfect for colorwork sock because you wont endup with too much leftovers its pretty affordable (2euros) and it comes in some beautiful bright colors that dont bleed
These are the sock yarns in my country (alize has the artisan sock yarn but I havent tried yet)
Hope this helps the non American sock knitters ❤
the katia sock actually bled (I think) and the alize yarn became soooo soft I love it
Thank you for this very nice video. I've been knitting socks for quite a number of years, and I'm always happy when Paton's Kroy is on my needles. I like the feel of it, the color choices, and how it looks knitted up. I think it wears well too. I also like Knit Picks Stroll and Opal yarns.
Thank you for the suggestions! I use indie dyed yarn for all of my projects, as I like the feel and comfort while knitting. However, I've been wanting to test out these yarns for kid projects because I'd rather not use pricy yarn for a project that will be so heavily worn. 🥰
Patons Kroy Sock is my go-to yarn. I agree that there is some variation in thickness depending on the line and I have to go down a needle size to get the fabric I want. Bec I’m knitting for myself, I fit each pair to my foot without negative or positive ease. I think this gives longer wear bec less stress on the fibers. I LOVE the look and feel of Felici, but the fuzzing makes me crazy!
I’ll try Kroy again. I didn’t like it at all when I used it a few years ago. It is thicker than other yarns and I didn’t like the fabric it knit up into. I want to try West Yorkshire Spinners now, too. Thanks!
Opal, Regia and West Yorkshire Spinners are affordable and imho are the very best. I used to buy those soft merino hand dyed expensive sock yarns, which are lovely, but recently went back to these tried and true brands. They are affordable and last for a very long time.
I do find the Patons Kroy is thicker than other sock yarns. Almost a sport weight.
i literally just finished a pair using the llops and threads in the same colourway and i agree the spring isnt there as much after the first time u wear them but nice to work with..thanks for all the great info ive been wanting to try the estelle perfect pair and the medi-pedi
I love Patons Kroy sock yarn. It’s a fantastic price for a hard wearing sock. I recently purchased some indie dyed yarn off Etsy but didn’t read the description well enough as it only came with 200+ yards. I’ll be knitting some shorties with it because if I bought another skein, it would end up being a 40.00 pair of socks, and that’s just blowing my mind! I can’t find much variation in the selections at my local Hobby Lobby but have found Amazon to be a good source for Patons. Just have to watch the prices and snag them when they hit 7.99 or lower. Lowest I’ve seen them is 5.00 per skein.
I make 3 or 4 pairs of socks a month so Kroy is my go to yarn. It takes dyes beautifully and knits up quite fast. Quality is very reliable, no knots, no thinning, uniform patterns. I like a merino for shortie pairs but whatever you are knitting, you cannot go wrong with kroy.
Agree!
My favorite is Patons. It wears well and I like how the socks feel. I've been helical knitting it with other more expensive yarns and getting some great socks :) Also been using Deborah Norville premier yarns. 50% wool, 25% rayon made from bamboo (what is that?) 25% nylon. 50 g ball is around $5. It seems to be a nice sock, and easier for me to get. My JoAnn's is pathetic and there's no Michael's or Hobby Lobby within 100 miles. I like what you said about Stroll, I'll have to order some, thank you for your review - when I can't touch and feel a good review is the next best thing :) - I ordered Holst Garn based on your review - now just have to sit down and knit with it, thank you!
That’s a good idea to blend two different kinds! I appreciate your feedback, and agree that having reviews are super helpful!
I've been wanting to try fair isle sock designs but have been a little confused by how hard it is to find good solid color sock yarns at my local craft stores lol, but I might try to see if I can find knit picks stroll online! Thank you for the video!
Hey, loved your video. I do like Patons and I can get it locally. However my favorite yarn is Cascade Heritage. It is soft but wears as well if not better then Patons. I wait for it to go on sale online. Thanks for all the info!
I keep hearing about the Cascade, going to have to try it out!!
I've made myself 2 pairs of Lion Brand Mani-Pedi. Though the label seems that 2 skeins would make a pair, with the way the striping is, I went back and bought an extra skein. The one had a hot pink in the middle of it and I am not one who wears pink so I just had a lot of ends to sew in. The socks feel nice, a little finer than Kroy Socks Stripes which I knit on a size 1, size 2 doe my husband including FX. For the Mani-Pedi I was knitting on size 0 which is the smallest needle in my ChiaoGoo Mini Red kit for socks. The Mani-Pedi I've made now 3 pair, one pair had no trouble matching up the stripes at all, but these last two.... grrrr. But they are finished and they feel really nice. And like the Kroy, they machine was well and are durable.
Thanks for the input! I want to try another pair of mani pedi using two balls. Mine are just a bit too short to want to wear often so they haven’t really been put to the test. How frustrating about the stripes not matching up though!
I’ve used Patons Kroc for shawls because it’s light and soft and the colors are beautiful. 👍
Kroy (stupid autocorrect)
Great topic! I’ve been buying many lower cost sock yarns to try out lately too. Right now I’m knitting with Paton’s Kroy in Gentry gray with the Muslin color accent (both solids) for a design and the socks seem to be coming out larger than the self striping kroy I’ve used in the past. Actually the same thing happened last year with a different solid kroy so maybe it’s the solids that are thicker?
I’ve tried the mani-pedi and really like that one. Another I liked that I thought I wouldn’t is the wool free sock yarn by I think Premier and I also like the Premier serenity sock yarn.
I’m using West Yorkshire spinners Christmas sock yarn right now, it’s similar in feel to mani-pedi, maybe thinner. I just bought yarn bee cozy toes and Premier cotton collage to try (from hobby lobby) cotton collage is 46% cotton, 33% merino 12% polyamide and 9% PBT. Cozy toes is acrylic and polyester so anxious to see how those turn out.
I have a skein of Perfect Pair, but haven’t tried it yet.
I wish the big box stores carried more solids for contrasting heels/ toes/ cuffs
Thank you so much for your input, I love hearing others like. Noting down your suggestions for the future
I usually use 65-70 g for my preferred length socks, so I consider cost for 100g or if I have leftovers for contrast heel/toe. In the US, you can also get Premier wool free at some craft stores. It retails around $5USD for 50g 235 yard ball and is 93% acrylic, 7% PBT which is similar to spandex. It is my go to for 'no wool' socks, but isn't the most enjoyable in a hot sweaty summer due to all the acrylic - wool just keeps feet dryer and less sweaty. I am in the midwest and my family gets really sweaty feet in normal socks when most of the days are over 90 for three months. So my experience may be different than others. I find these good fall/spring socks when highs are only in the 70s or 80s.
In local yarn stores, Cascade Heritage Sock has tons of colors and is super soft like stroll and retails around $12USD for a 100g ball 75% wool 25% nylon. Its another of the very soft yarns, so it will fuzz like stroll, but if you love knitting with super soft squishy merino yarn that machine wash and dry, I highly recommend it. It is solids. Universal yarns Bamboo pop is another wool free option in LYS and it is $8USD for a 100g ball. Its 55% bamboo, 37% cotton, 8% PBT which is the same stuff in the Premier wool free, but the natural fibers make this a better warm weather sock. They have some that are self striping but gradient into the next color similar to Mani Pedi but not as long of stripes, but the colors in my LYS this last year have been self striping but each stripe is flecked colors.
That is super helpful, thanks! Lots more to try. There really are so many options it is hard to know what is best but nice to hear opinions on what people like 😊
Thank you for your video. I use Regia too. It’s not too bad. I see people with Opal too.
I am knitting with Patrons Kroy sock yarn and having a horrible time with it. I searched for a critique of it to see if I'm alone. I got just past the heel on a men's size sock and realized there's not enough yarn in a skein. I bought 3 new skeins because ,of course the dye lot colors were different. Started over with the new skeins and now I am running into thick and thin spots which are making keeping stitches even nearly impossible. Overall, not happy at all with this yarn!
I tend to use a lot of hand dyed yarns from various indie dyers but I love knitpicks stroll handpaint for socks. Though the gauge is off if I use normal needle suggestion for it. I have to go down to a zero though that could just me as a knitter. lol Speaking of it I'm just about kitchener some toes of my little girls socks with some in the hollywood colorway that I dont think is available anymore. Thank you for the video it was super insightful. Also there is another yarn you could look into for your next video. It's from hobby lobby yarn bee color idyll 50% merino, 30%nylon, 20% acrylic. I got it to try out for her another pair of socks since shes refusing to wear store bought socks recently. I havent broken into the ball yet to know how it works up but its super duper soft and cozy feeling.
Thanks for the suggestions! I use a size 0 for all my socks too. So cute about your little girl!
LOVE Patons Kroy
I was gifted a few skeins of Stroll.
I would like to use it as a stripe and toes/heels along with some scraps.
Which would you say it is closest in "weight" to?
I have mani pedi, kroy and berrocco yarn
Thanks for this detailed comparison! I've tried the Estelle Sock Twins before and found it annoying to knit with. There were knots and uneven spots in the yarn. The socks were nice enough when they were done. I'm not sure how they're holding us as they were a gift.
Thanks, good to know it wasn’t just my set that had issues. Pretty colours but not one I’d seek out again 😊
There is a forgotten boomerang heel?
West Yorkshire Spinners and stylecraft are my favourites as they're nice and soft. I cannot stand Drops Fabel, you couldn't pay me to use that budget sock yarn.
Opal is just something else, that yarn does not felt, pill, fluff up, break, shrink, nothing. I swear an atomic bomb could hit and I wouldn't be surprised if nothing but opal socks were pulled out of the wreckage
Knit Picks Stroll and Hawthorne Make up about half of my 30+ pairs of socks. You stated that Stroll only comes in solids and that is incorrect. Stroll comes in solid, hand painted, gradient, tonal, and tweed. I also use Paton's Kroy Socks, Red Heart Heart and Sole, Premier Serenity, Opal, and OnLine.
Thanks for the correction!
I love Felici by Knit Picks
So I’ve heard! Hope to try it someday!
How does the loops and thread pair feel on your feet compared to the wool? As in moisture absorption and does it feel breathable? Do you notice a difference?
They feel just fine, I think I’m more sensitive to the stretching out and feel of the yarn than to moisture. The bamboo also really helps balance out the acrylic content to make it more breathable. I wore them all summer without feeling exceptionally sweaty or anything,
Have you tried Regia? The Arne & Carlos ones caught my eye...
I have Regia sport weight socks that lasted years.
Have you tried the ice sock yarns? I am so tempted because of the price!
I have not! Sounds interesting though!
I have knit several pairs and it is excellent for durability
Kendra, Thanks for sharing. Can you please tell me what kind of paper you use for your yarn label bands? Thank you.
For the yarn I sell? At first I just printed on card stock but switched to getting them printed as documents from Vistaprint and cutting them to size.
I find Stroll splits when knitting and can really slow you down. Mary
Oh interesting, I really haven't noticed that but always good to hear what others think of it.
What is the name of the shawl you are wearing ?
Exploration Station by Stephen West
Kendra Makes Thank u so much!
Im struggling. What number yarn do you buy? Il
Size 1 or fine
Will 50 grams be enuf for a pr. if doing contrast cuff, heels and toes? Thank you for the review❤
For most small to medium size feet, yes. It did depend on width, foot length and height of the sock using the main colour. I like to knit them toe up and weigh the ball to make sure I don’t go over half per sock.
@@KendraMakes thank you so much for your response!!