Also, you can solve that foot problem pretty easily by just keeping a pumice stone in your shower soaping up, and giving them a brisk scrubbing a few times a week. Quick, easy, cheap and saves a lot of wear and tear on socks.
AGREED! I used to wear through my thin dress socks because of the calluses i developed from playing soccer. My girlfriend finally complained one day that i always scratched her legs in bed. My mom suggested a pumice stone and I completely removed my calluses....lol big mistake! I've never had such bad blisters in my life! I eventually figured out that just 3-4 passes on my big toes and 5-6 on my heels every morning in the shower was the winning formula. 15 seconds of work each morning and it solved every single problem 100%...EZPZ
I completely understand the mental blocks that prevent you from doing something you should and then when you finally get to it you kick yourself for putting it off for so long, realizing that it usually doesn't take that long and isn't half as bad as you've built it up to in your mind. I always go for wool with nylon myself, wears so much better. Thank you for the mending tips♥
When my husband and I spent two weeks in Colorado and Utah, I did all my hikes in 100% wool socks. My oldest pair of 100%ers are about 5 years old and I have never found a hole…except for a couple that were due to our puppy…Love the darning video…
Same here, I have had some of my socks for 8 or 9 years. But I live in the south, work in the north so bugs not puppies. If the yarn fails I think it's more from processing or a week spinning 🤔
I repaired two pairs of precious handknit socks today..... it was more fun watching YOU do it! 🤣 And you did a beautifully neat job of it. Well done! Thanks for sharing with us.
I love darning (and Swiss darning) too. My grandmother (father's mother) was the knitter, my mother did the darning and other repairs of clothes. I do both, and even more textile crafts.
You did a marvellous job with those repairs! So much love and time goes into hand knit socks, they are always worth repairing. I think all three methods have their merit and can be used according to the amount of damage incurred, as you just aptly demonstrated! Apparently “visible mending” is quite the thing these days. Show off your fine mending with a splash of colour!
I remember as a child, watching my mom darn my dads socks. They were store bought, but you learned to keep things patched as it costs more to replace them.
This was great, and I love the reminder at the end about wearing our handknits! I'm guilty of treating them as "precious" as well, but I've been getting much better at wearing them lately, because that's why I knit them! I want to get into gifting handknit socks too, so it's helpful to test them out to see what is comfortable, what works, and what doesn't work for myself so my recipients will enjoy them!
Thanks for this video. I like to mend things and rarely see anyone talk about it, much less demonstrate it. I'm a fan of decorative mending, so I often use contrasting yarn and the Swiss darn, but it does depend on the project. For gifts, I often use fancy yarn and styles, but when I knit socks for myself, I usually go with contrasting heels and toes and peasant or afterthought heels to use up scraps. That makes it simple to just reknit a heel or toe with whatever yarn's on hand. It may mean one sock has a blue heel while the others have red, but it's in my shoe, anyway, and I think it just gives my socks more history. Also, I like to see decorative elbow patches on a sweater. It just shows that the object has been worn and loved.
Rugs are even harder on socks. I've never had a problem with 100% wool socks. Very helpful tips; thanks for sharing all the research. 😊 My all time fav darning.
one thing that can help increase the durability of 100% wool socks is to knit them at a tighter guage. the friction of the stitches on each other in a loose fabric has a huge wear effect in something as hard wearing as socks. i'm a handspinner, so i've spent some time leraning how to make socks from handspun that won't fall apart faster than it takes to spin the yarn :D darning is also a skill that makes handknits become more precious over time. i love seeing the journey my knits have gone through over time written out on them in their mends.
#esmecat A friend of mine who's a spinner told me she spins the yarn in a special way when it's for socks. She explained, but because I'm not that much of a spinner, I did not really understand her explanation. Do you use a special way of spinning or plying when it's yarn for socks?
@@ingeleonora-denouden6222 yep, it's all about reducing friction on the ends of the fibers. for sock yarn, i spin a worsted yarn (fibers aligned parallel to each other) which makes a smoother and stronger yarn than woolen (fibers randomly aligned) which traps more air and is floofier and warmer. woolen is good for sweaters and other garments you want to be really warm and soft... but take less abuse. then for sock yarn, i also spin at a tighter twist. this also works to reduce friction on the fiber ends, by holding them more firmly. and finally, i spin with multiple plies... usually a do a 3 ply for socks. the rounder profile of a multi ply yarn helps the stiches draw together in a knitted piece. you can see this best with lace or cables... a 2 ply yarn is a very flat profile, and it will draw/twist away from other stitches (as it strives to lay flat) helping to open up the holes in a lace pattern. 2 ply yarns make fuzzy less defined cables without that distinct pop that makes cables stand out. on the other side, the more plies a yarn has... the rounder it's profile. a 3 ply yarn is a triangle in profile... a 5 ply is almost a circle. a cable knit with a high ply yarn will stand up with nice crisp defined edges from the surface around it. 5 ply yarn is also prized for colorwork to keep the smooth surface of the knitting and show off the color not the stitches. sorry for the wall of text... but i find the way our yarn works for us fascinating. the more you know, the better your finished knitwear... even if you aren't a spinner.
I've only worn hand knit socks ever since I made enough to have a rotation - maybe 5 years ago. I rotate through two or three at a time, wearing each for two or three days before washing, with a rest day in between. I never wear them without shoes - I go barefoot on my floors - I hate walking around in socks - too slippery, and my apartment is always hot. I only use commercial sock yarn - Regia is my favorite, and some of them are gorgeous - and I've never had a hole or something wearing thin. I use a really tight gauge and knit the socks with ribbing, so they hug my foot. If you want thicker socks use Patons Kroy. I wash in a commercial machine in cold water and Woolite with the rest of my dark clothes, but in a bag, and hang to dry. The insides of the heels and toes gradually felt a little, and seem to get stronger. The only problem I ever had was Cascade Heritage, I made two pairs, and both started felting (the entire sock) after only a few washings. The yarn was beautiful, so I ripped them out and made really nice one skein shawls, that I still wear. Save that beautiful hand dyed yarn yarn for other things - who sees your socks anyway????
I love my hand knitted socks. I wear them as soon as it gets cold, starting with a cotton wool blend, then wool and bamboo and finally wool socks. I cram them in shoes, boots, etc. Merino sock yarn is not the bets for me. BFL and German sock yarns really do last longer. I embrace the nylon. My second pair of socks that I made in 2009 from Regia are getting thin. They were never treated as delicate socks. Rather I think of them like me, sturdy and up for a hike.
That’s a great point regarding what type of wool it is! I love a toothier yarn and I have some non-merino blends in my sock drawer. I should pay attention to how they wear differently. Thanks!
@@DrowninginYarn merino is so beloved because it makes a soft yarn... but that works against it for socks. merino's selling points are fine micron count and short fibers with high crimp. high crimp means more air in the yarn... more bounce and floof and warmth. (also more friction). high micron count means finer fiber ends sticking out of the yarn... less scratchy. more soft fuzzy goodness. more ends = you got it, more for friction to work on. merino is absolutely wonderful for what it was breed for... but long wearing hard abuse in the roughest conditions is not it. merino can be used in a sock yarn if it is prepped right. it can be spun to have more strength and last longer... but in doing so, it usually loses the shelf appeal of the yarn that makes it sell for the higher prices that merino usually pulls in, so it's not in the yarn companies interests to do so. sorry i keep going on about friction... but it really is the demon that destroys socks. it is amazing how different the life of sock can be with the right prep and the right techniques. and it makes me sad that nowadays, any yarn in a fingering weight is labeled sock yarn.
If I have a hole near the toe I just cut the toe open, unravel to the hole, pick up the stitches and re knit the toe. The benefit is you can add a reinforcing thread along with your thread in the weak spot.
LOVE this episode Caleb!! Really liked seeing the snippets of video showing the methods you tried. One of my mondim socks I knit with mohair which not only brings cozy fuzziness but also strength! I've worn those in hiking boots as well as in my house but I haven't done a "30-day" challenge with them (and won't because honestly I don't like wearing the same socks over and over several days in a row lol). Also I've knit the heels and toes using a sock yarn with nylon if I'm knitting the rest in 100% wool - this way I get the benefits of both, and a fun way to still use yarns I have and love. Take care!~Stephanie
Hi. Yes, this is an informative video. OK, I already did know everything you told, but that's just me, a knitting granny ;-) Maybe I can inform you on hand-knitted socks and sock-care. Most socks I knitted are made of sock yarn with nylon. The only 100% wool socks were of a thicker, hand spun, yarn. They were more like 'slippers', an extra layer for cold days / cold feet. About sock-care: I have several pairs of socks, so there's no need to wear one pair for many consecutive days. It's better for the socks if they can have a day of rest after a day of wearing. No, do not wash them after one day, just give them rest (like over a chair) and wear an other pair. Only wash them when they look dirty or when they smell. Do not put them in the dryer, but let them dry quietly lying down flat. And, like you said: then control the socks, see if there are thin spots. If there are, do the Swiss darning.
In wearing 100% wool socks, I find it is important to alternate wearing 2 or 3 pairs at a time.for several days and to also have many pairs so that you can use them in rotation.
Mending is a good skill to have . You spend time making those socks and they are precious . My problem is I don't have a alot a socks because I make them for everyone else lol. I wear my socks like a favorite sweatshirt. I have a pair that I wear all the time . So mending sure comes handy . I have never done the knitted patch before but I have used the Swiss darning and weaving method. I tend to mend them before there is a hole . You can reinforce those wool socks too as you make them . There is a few ways in doing that ..
Great mending! I read a book on sock knitting, years ago, that had a pattern that knit wool socks with a) a reinforced sole, and b) an easily detachable sole for replacement. It was almost intarsia-like how the instep and sole connected. When the sole was no longer mendable, it was snipped off, stitches were picked up at the back of the heel and each side of the instep up to the toe, then seamed closed. It was a fascinating way to knit socks! If I ever locate the book again, I’ll let you know.
Thank you! That sounds super interesting... I think someone else suggested Knitting Without Tears had something similar... maybe that's the book you are thinking of? I have it so I need to get it off the shelf and have a look.
I am into mending these days and it seems that all the socks I have been wearing and made for family and friends are beginning to get a little thin on the bottom, so I am going to try a couple of ways to do them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and demos.
Thank you for the time and effort you take to help educate other knitters. You might add a strand of kid seta to the areas of your socks that need reinforcement when the yarn doesn’t include nylon. There is no significant bulk to those areas - usually the toes and heels for me. Keep up the good work.
If your toenails wear a big hole through the toe, and if the sock was knit top down, and if you have enough yarn left, or a contrasting color you like, you can rip back and reknit the whole toe. Not sure if that would work on a toe-up sock, but it might, though your knitting would run the opposite direction on the toe. Also, I have used something like Swiss darning to repair small holes in store-bought fine-gauge sweaters, with pretty good results. Even using sewing thread in a matching color, it gives a better-looking repair than other styles of mending I've tried. Saved several sweaters I liked that way.
Use a pumice stone on the hard skin then rub coconut oil on the rough skin. Just replace your socks with a hand crochet slipper. With a blend of wool and acrylic yarn. They last longer and are padded on the bottom.
"Add Strength to Your Socks" by Roxanne Richardson is a great video tutorial where she shows how to add reinforcement to an area of your knits that will get a lot of wear. I used this technique on a pair of 100% wool socks that I made for my husband-I did it right after I knit them, before he wore them for the first time. He is hard on his socks as well, especially at the ball of his foot (I've heard this may have something to do with a high instep?). The thread I used was some leftover silk mohair I had. I chose this yarn because of the strength of it as well as because I wanted to keep the socks 100% natural fibers. Best of luck!
When I learned to knit socks, I was taught to use whatever yarn I wanted and to add thin nylon thread to my yarn when I got to the heels and toes for reinforcenment, so you can feel free to use 100% wool yarn. Thanks so much for the repair tutorial!
@@DrowninginYarn I had such yarn with reinforcement thread too. Knitted two pairs with it. But I found out those socks looked bad (pilling) much faster than those made of other yarns
The reinforcement thread is called woolly nylon and has tons of yardage so it’s will reinforce in the areas that wear most for many, many pairs of socks. I try to keep on hand a light tan or gray and a dark brown or gray. This way I can have something that will go with any sock yarn. It pretty much just hides itself in the yarn your knitting and hardly visible.
What an awesome tutorial and review on Mondim yarn and the socks you knit. I love the fact you used yarn that had no plastic😍 I use organic yarns 99% of the time myself and have dabbled with natural dyes too. I just ordered a skein of natural undyed Mondim retrosaria to knit up some socks. It'll be my second attempt to knitting up socks (the first time was when I was about 10 years old and I failed miserably) You inspired me to do it thanks!
This was such a helpful video! I've never done a mend, so it was nice to hear about it from someone else who is new to it, and makes it seem more approachable! Thank you for sharing :) Also - based on how you wore your socks, I'm actually really impressed with how they held up! I definitely would like to give 100% wool socks a try :)
Thank you! That was a really great video. I love wool socks. I just knittted my first pair of socks with the nylon. I dont find them as soft as the wool but still love them. I am sure it depends on the percentages of wool vs nylon. I knew about darning but not the other methods so I took away great info from this! I know these videos are a bit of work so I really appreciate it.
I’m glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful! What yarn did you use with nylon? I’ve had some that are incredibly soft and some that are less so. Have you used Amble by The Fibre Company? I like that yarn 😊
I’ve got one 100% wool socks out of Baa Ram Ewe wool and surprisingly, no holes or worn spots yet! My gauge isn’t particularly tight, though it probably is about 9st/in done on a US 0. I made them a year ago and wear them in rotation with my 6 other pairs of nylon/wool hand knitted socks. I have to say, they are lightweight, warm, dry faster.. They may actually be my favorite pair from how they feel on the foot! So I would 100% recommend wool socks, just made from a hardy wool (or 4-ply is what I hear suggested).
I love hiking in my hand knit socks 🌞🧦. I broke my ankle at the beginning of this summer and so I also wore hand knit socks in my air cast. They’re such a cozy comfort
Thank you for this video, couldnt be better timing! Just couple of days ago i was lookin at some of my knitted socks and found some little holes and thought i still didnt want to get rid of them because of that.. maybe i try and repair them myself too.
your video came at the perfect time. I recently lost 2 socks though in my case I believe the culprit is the shoe. In any case, I now have the tools for mending them. Thanks for the research and for sharing.
What an absolutely fantastic video!...you are adorable...but I find all your videos excellent..and this one came at the perfect time for me as I'm now Christmas sock knitting...so thank you!...wicked mending!..
Ï always darn my socks with double thread i always have holes on my heels because of my handicap i walk on my heels got no feeling in the bottom of my feet and most of the day walk with no shoes on my mother learned me to knit and dan nu shocks even ï was a kid at 7/8years. Ï always knit vanilla socks because my feet on the upperside are over sensitive. Im glad she learned me that skills after wearing my socks a week ï got holes in them dan them 2times and the ï throw them in the trash bin
There is a technique, where only the soles are knit with the 100 %wool thread taken double, this way, the whole sole is reinforced and it takes longer until it is rubbed thin. And what I experienced with 100 % wool to last longer is to knit them a bit bigger and deliberately felt them before the first wear. This way, they get more sturdy, too. And Elizabeth Zimmermann wrote in knitting without tears about how she knit the socks in a way, where it is easy to rek it the sole part and replace it, when it is worn through and keep the shaft and upper foot part which usuallyis still in working condition. All those strategies help prolong the life of the handknitted socks.
I’m just wondering, instead of sewing down your patch, if you could have joined the sides of your patch as you were knitting it, to each corresponding column of stitches on each side end of your patch, then join it to the last row as you knit it, then bind off. I hope this makes sense.
Glad I'm not the only one wearing holes because of my feet. I've worn holes in my sheets as well. 😅 If you don't like daily foot care, try one of those peels! I find they make a difference.
I have a few comments om this subject, as a fairly experienced sock knitter. I have been knitting socks for about 11 years now, ever since i had my son and wanted to make warm socks for him for the cold Scandinavian winters. 1. Nylon vs polyamide: I never knit socks in anything except sock yarn with at least 25% polyamide. It is more sturdy than nylon, and as my son and i are both fairly hard on our clothes, this is the only yarn that i have had consistent success with. I have socks right now, that are about 4 years old, and still haven't had any holes. I've knit socks for my mom and sister in 25% nylon, and my mom's lasted about a year before they got holes, my sister's approx. 2 years. So dependant on how hard one is on socks, going for polyamide might be worth it. (I can't be bothered to mend my socks, i know i should just do it, but they always slowly sink to the bottom of my WIP-basket, and then lie there for a few years as i procrastinate. 😬)
2: Reinforcing. So you have this reeeally pretty yarn that you really want to make socks with, but it is 100% wool, and you fear that you will end up with holes in them fast! I dont know if this is available everywhere, but where i live, i can buy 100% polyamide thread. It is super thin, and shouldn't affect the tension much. If it is expensive, just use it in the areas of the sock, that you know you tend to get holes, most likely the heel and the toe. If you can't get pure polyamide thread, try looking for a super thin yarn containing polyamide, and knit that along with your wool. This might affect the tension and gauge though.
3: Wool isn't just wool. When looking for yarns to knit socks with, getting better aquainted with the different types of wool might be worth the effort, as there are vast differences between types of wool, even when we only talk about the stuff from sheep. Merino wool for example, would be a bad choise for socks, as the individual hairs are super tiny and thin, and break very easily. There is also a difference between icelandic, norwegian or scotish wool, as the sheep are different breeds and have been raised in different conditions. Ask the store if they can give you any information about the specific yarn you are considering. If you can't get any info, examine the yarn a bit closer for yourself. How does the individual hairs look. Are they thin or thick, long or short. This will affect how much wear the yarn can take.
4: Natural fibres. If you dont wan't to use yarn that has synthetic fibers in them, there are still options for getting a yarn with more strength than pure wool, although they are usually a bit more expensive. Blends with silk, flax or nettle fibers are good options, and these have been used historically the same way we use synthetic fibers today. Where i live, the tradition was to use nettles, as they were free, grew everywhere, and could yield pretty long fibers when treated correctly. Nettle fibre yarns have become super popular here in recent years. That's all i had, i hope some of you could use my advice. Sorry for the looong write, and happy knitting. 🧶
I'll also add, I too knit a bunch of socks, but rarely wear them. I'm too afraid to wear them lol. I like to knit belly button knits socks and they're just so... perfect. I do need to make some just to wear them. Maybe I will do that. A nice olive green color. He doesn't get them though. I don't want to darn them a week later lol
@@annmariebusu9924 lol I tried. But then I forget I'm wearing them. I feel them in the middle of the night. I think something is touching my feet and I freak. My husband always thinks it's hilarious, me not so much lol.
omg i've always been anxious to knit socks because i was afraid they'd get destroyed wearing them and i'd be out that time and yarn, but now i'm so ready to get a pair going!!
Don't be afraid! Hand knit socks are definitely worth the time and effort and they really do last much longer than these lasted me. And, now you know you can just fix them if you need to :-) I hope you have fun knitting some socks!
My husband is a horticulturist and wears the 100% wool socks I knit him. So far no holes. He loves them and is brutal with his clothes. Thank you for the repair tips. They are appreciated and valued. Now about you. Take care of you. Get a pedicure in a good shop that can help you get rid of those areas on your feet. You need to honor your body as you honor your knitted treasures.
Informative vid on sock maintenance. Thank you. Enjoy your knits and add some good coco butter to your feet, then wrap them in your sock and fall asleep
I’m curious- if you were to wear wool/nylon socks every day (no cotton/nylon) if it would get rid of your rough feet. My husband had the worst feet, but after wearing ONLY handmade socks he has cured his athletes foot and rough patches.
In the past I have practiced the Swiss darning method as a preventive method. I do this on 100% or socks with nylon added. I enjoy my socks being snuggly fitting so this can be stressful on my socks. I am not an active person since I am 72 but wearing ones socks without shoes can be a little dangerous for socks therefore reinforcing them is best for me.
Thanks for posting this video. I’m knitting my very first pair of socks, and I am starting to dread the day I wear them…. What if they get holes? 😭 But with this lesson in preventing and fixing holes, I’m all set 😁
Don't fall into that trap! Haha... wear them from the start so you just develop the habit. You'll appreciate it when you aren't still thinking about whether to wear them or not two years later... like me. Haha.
Thanks for this video Caleb, it is right on time! Pulled my favorite socks out and 1 of them had not 1 but 2 holes on the bottom of it. I was guilty of the same thing: wearing them around the house. I also have hardwood floors and no rugs. Now to get a darning egg.
i have a darning egg and hate it. it's just awkward for me. i would prefer a darning mushroom, but can't afford to get one atm, so i use a jar lid. i stick it in the sock and use an old scrap yarn tail to wrap around and secure the rest of the sock behind. works great for me.
I’ve never darned holes in my socks but since you said they don’t feel weird I wish I had learned to darn them rather than trashing them.☹️ Especially since I usually get holes under my heels where the darning wouldn’t show. Thanks for showing the different types of mending!
i think it was the yarn harlot that used to say that her way of darning was to hold them over the bin and exclaim Darn! they really don't feel weird when darned. i've got some that are repaired so many times, they look like a patchwork quilt on the feet (which i actually enjoy. i think the meds look awesome) but feel fine to wear. never to late to give it a try.
Oh my gosh… that’s hilarious! hahah… Thanks for sharing! I’m sure I’ll have some that look like a patchwork quilt some day! And I agree… never too late to start!
Thanks for watching, Marsha! I’m sure you’ll have others in the future in need of a little mending, so hopefully you’ll have fun learning the new skill then :-)
Very cool that you got to use all three techniques on the same pair of socks. Wooo fellow crafter that does OTF!! I was surprised at how much my feet move during the row block (I'm probably doing something wrong) and I constantly have to retighten my straps. Are you doing hell week?
I’m glad I got to learn so much with this one pair!!! And my feet slip around too when I row! I’ve been out of the gym for a few weeks (I filmed some of this a while ago) because I had a minor surgery… nothing concerning! But I’m going back to the gym tomorrow, so I’ll probably learn about hell week soon… I don’t know much about it yet! Are you doing it?
It'll be interesting to see which of the three repair methods hold up the best too after you keep wearing the pair. Hope all went well and sending well wishes your way - take it easy today at the gym! Hell week is 8 days of tougher workouts that started yesterday. You had to sign up previously to guarantee a shirt which you get after completing 5/8 classes. Yes, this'll be my first time trying it :)
Way back before the invention of nylon and almost all socks were 100% wool, a way to help keep your socks from wearing out so fast was to wear them on different feet each day ... wear the sock you wore on the right foot on your left foot & left on right.
Oh interesting… this makes a lot of sense! I put them on randomly most days, but it might do me well to be intentional about which sock goes where. Haha.
My socks never wear at the heel, always at the toes. Personally I'd focus on reinforcing that area instead. Though I really don't understand why folk even bother reinforcing the back of the heel instead of the underneath of the heel. As in I don't get it, can you'll explain that to me, please?
@@chriscode6431 IDK maybe it rubs on the shoes or something? I have tiny heels so I guess my feet rub less in that area and more so in the front where its wider :)
if your shoes don't fit (too big) then the back of the heel slides and rubs. i think it is a tradition that comes from a time when people bought shoes for kids in larger sizes to grow into... but that's just a guess
I hope there's a way in here to save wool socks for someone with extreme arthritis and carpel tunnel. I wildly want to save my socks, all of which have worn and holey heels only (?!?)...
Do you feel the difference in the fabric on the inside of the sock I have sensory issues and if I can feel that there’s a difference in the fabric it’ll cause me problems I don’t have holes in my socks yet but I have similar issues with commercial socks as you do
You can feel that the patch is there since it’s a bit thicker, but I don’t think it’s bothersome or even noticeable after a minute or so. But I think you might want to try it on some store bought socks and maybe see what you think before you try it on something you are more concerned about. I am not overly sensitive to that type of thing, so I’m not sure how it would be with sensory issues.
I don’t think 100% wool socks would be any good for me either. The nylon is there for a reason. Love the different ways you used to repair them, and I will be trying the duplicate stitch on thin areas of my socks. Even if you don’t have the original yarn anymore, a contrasting color would work well.
@@DrowninginYarn It was a random skein from Hobby Lobby. I don't think Lion Brand even makes it anymore. But I love the feel, they are pretty soft. That being said, they have to be patched up constantly. I will I had heard of "Swiss Mending" when I started wearing them :)
One is high stress...the top and the other is a high pressure area. 100% wool socks. I had the same problem n had to darn. Be sure to get a sock egg. It makes it much easier. Never mind...I see u have one.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I also bought a speedweave after I filmed this video… it’s an adorable looking darning loom. Between it and the darning egg, I think I’m all set for the future!
I’ve only had a couple of pairs of wool socks develop holes, but I have a lot of pairs so I may not wear them as heavily. I’ve actually never darned socks either and I loved the details for each technique! Keep them coming! ❤️🧶🧦
Dear friends please take care of your feet! Foot soaks once per week will literally change your life. Not only will the skin on your feet feel fabulous you can also detox by adding the right ingredients.
I knit my husband socks. There was a hole in maybe 3 days. He doesn't do 'foot care' either. In that, he puts his socks and shoes on. Uses soap water from the rest of his body to wash his feet. Only wears socks in his shoes and only wears shoes when he has to lol. I don't do 100% wool socks. 25% nylon always. 75% wool. Never had a problem then.
@@Stettafire I don't know about cotton. That freaks my feet out just thinking about it. I think with a lack of stretch, cotton would be a nightmare if there's any sort of ankle or leg.
@@Stettafire I don't knit with cotton much, but it's not cotton's fault. I used cheap cotton and tried a linen stitch when I first learned to knit many, many years ago. Since then, I don't touch cotton or the linen stitch lol. Maybe it's time to try again. Now linen itself? I bought a bunch because of the sample in shop. I could make a whole sweater for me and my doberman. But... They're all different colors lol. Love linen when it relaxes.
yeah- you fixed them. i would consider mending them in new colors. why not? make the patches fun and just keep wearing and tearing them up on those wood floors. wear them in good health. and remember the millions of people that never made their own socks much less actually mended them. you rock...now do the Tom Cruise slide across the floor!!!!
Who wears the same pair of socks every day for a month? Ew, David… Plus if you wash them often it also weakens the fabric. I applaud your candor but this hardly seems scientific. Also socks and Birks? Ew, David.
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Mending socks is my quiet riot against fast fashion. ✊💪
Also, you can solve that foot problem pretty easily by just keeping a pumice stone in your shower soaping up, and giving them a brisk scrubbing a few times a week. Quick, easy, cheap and saves a lot of wear and tear on socks.
I agree with Rebecca. It doesn't have to take a lot of effort. 👍
AGREED! I used to wear through my thin dress socks because of the calluses i developed from playing soccer. My girlfriend finally complained one day that i always scratched her legs in bed. My mom suggested a pumice stone and I completely removed my calluses....lol big mistake! I've never had such bad blisters in my life! I eventually figured out that just 3-4 passes on my big toes and 5-6 on my heels every morning in the shower was the winning formula. 15 seconds of work each morning and it solved every single problem 100%...EZPZ
I completely understand the mental blocks that prevent you from doing something you should and then when you finally get to it you kick yourself for putting it off for so long, realizing that it usually doesn't take that long and isn't half as bad as you've built it up to in your mind. I always go for wool with nylon myself, wears so much better. Thank you for the mending tips♥
When my husband and I spent two weeks in Colorado and Utah, I did all my hikes in 100% wool socks. My oldest pair of 100%ers are about 5 years old and I have never found a hole…except for a couple that were due to our puppy…Love the darning video…
Same here, I have had some of my socks for 8 or 9 years. But I live in the south, work in the north so bugs not puppies. If the yarn fails I think it's more from processing or a week spinning 🤔
I repaired two pairs of precious handknit socks today..... it was more fun watching YOU do it! 🤣 And you did a beautifully neat job of it. Well done! Thanks for sharing with us.
This was great, thank you for posting. I have heard of people holding this yarn with a silk blended yarn to increase it's durability.
I love darning socks. I learned from my German grandmother when I was a kid. One of my fond connections with her.
That is so great! What a wonderful memory to have 😊
I love darning (and Swiss darning) too. My grandmother (father's mother) was the knitter, my mother did the darning and other repairs of clothes. I do both, and even more textile crafts.
You did a marvellous job with those repairs! So much love and time goes into hand knit socks, they are always worth repairing. I think all three methods have their merit and can be used according to the amount of damage incurred, as you just aptly demonstrated! Apparently “visible mending” is quite the thing these days. Show off your fine mending with a splash of colour!
Thank you so much! And yes... visible mending is definitely having a moment! Maybe I'll give it a try soon :-)
I remember as a child, watching my mom darn my dads socks. They were store bought, but you learned to keep things patched as it costs more to replace them.
I think I might start darning store bought socks as well!
This was great, and I love the reminder at the end about wearing our handknits! I'm guilty of treating them as "precious" as well, but I've been getting much better at wearing them lately, because that's why I knit them! I want to get into gifting handknit socks too, so it's helpful to test them out to see what is comfortable, what works, and what doesn't work for myself so my recipients will enjoy them!
Thanks for this video. I like to mend things and rarely see anyone talk about it, much less demonstrate it. I'm a fan of decorative mending, so I often use contrasting yarn and the Swiss darn, but it does depend on the project. For gifts, I often use fancy yarn and styles, but when I knit socks for myself, I usually go with contrasting heels and toes and peasant or afterthought heels to use up scraps. That makes it simple to just reknit a heel or toe with whatever yarn's on hand. It may mean one sock has a blue heel while the others have red, but it's in my shoe, anyway, and I think it just gives my socks more history.
Also, I like to see decorative elbow patches on a sweater. It just shows that the object has been worn and loved.
That was interesting and I enjoy the way you share. Please don’t feel the need to apologize about timing of videos. You are so fun and generous.
Thank you for saying that 😊💚
Rugs are even harder on socks.
I've never had a problem with 100% wool socks.
Very helpful tips; thanks for sharing all the research. 😊 My all time fav darning.
one thing that can help increase the durability of 100% wool socks is to knit them at a tighter guage. the friction of the stitches on each other in a loose fabric has a huge wear effect in something as hard wearing as socks.
i'm a handspinner, so i've spent some time leraning how to make socks from handspun that won't fall apart faster than it takes to spin the yarn :D darning is also a skill that makes handknits become more precious over time. i love seeing the journey my knits have gone through over time written out on them in their mends.
#esmecat A friend of mine who's a spinner told me she spins the yarn in a special way when it's for socks. She explained, but because I'm not that much of a spinner, I did not really understand her explanation. Do you use a special way of spinning or plying when it's yarn for socks?
@@ingeleonora-denouden6222 yep, it's all about reducing friction on the ends of the fibers.
for sock yarn, i spin a worsted yarn (fibers aligned parallel to each other) which makes a smoother and stronger yarn than woolen (fibers randomly aligned) which traps more air and is floofier and warmer. woolen is good for sweaters and other garments you want to be really warm and soft... but take less abuse.
then for sock yarn, i also spin at a tighter twist. this also works to reduce friction on the fiber ends, by holding them more firmly.
and finally, i spin with multiple plies... usually a do a 3 ply for socks. the rounder profile of a multi ply yarn helps the stiches draw together in a knitted piece. you can see this best with lace or cables... a 2 ply yarn is a very flat profile, and it will draw/twist away from other stitches (as it strives to lay flat) helping to open up the holes in a lace pattern. 2 ply yarns make fuzzy less defined cables without that distinct pop that makes cables stand out. on the other side, the more plies a yarn has... the rounder it's profile. a 3 ply yarn is a triangle in profile... a 5 ply is almost a circle. a cable knit with a high ply yarn will stand up with nice crisp defined edges from the surface around it. 5 ply yarn is also prized for colorwork to keep the smooth surface of the knitting and show off the color not the stitches.
sorry for the wall of text... but i find the way our yarn works for us fascinating. the more you know, the better your finished knitwear... even if you aren't a spinner.
Very helpful episode. I forgot that you were going to do a flollow up to your 30 day wool socks. Your honesty is appreicated.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for showing how easy it is to mend holes! I've also been afraid about the whole process, and you've shortened my "Stress List" by one! 😉
You’re so welcome! I was in the same boat and I’m so happy I just tried it… finally. Hahah
I've only worn hand knit socks ever since I made enough to have a rotation - maybe 5 years ago. I rotate through two or three at a time, wearing each for two or three days before washing, with a rest day in between. I never wear them without shoes - I go barefoot on my floors - I hate walking around in socks - too slippery, and my apartment is always hot. I only use commercial sock yarn - Regia is my favorite, and some of them are gorgeous - and I've never had a hole or something wearing thin. I use a really tight gauge and knit the socks with ribbing, so they hug my foot. If you want thicker socks use Patons Kroy. I wash in a commercial machine in cold water and Woolite with the rest of my dark clothes, but in a bag, and hang to dry. The insides of the heels and toes gradually felt a little, and seem to get stronger. The only problem I ever had was Cascade Heritage, I made two pairs, and both started felting (the entire sock) after only a few washings. The yarn was beautiful, so I ripped them out and made really nice one skein shawls, that I still wear. Save that beautiful hand dyed yarn yarn for other things - who sees your socks anyway????
thanks for sharing your experiences!
I love my hand knitted socks. I wear them as soon as it gets cold, starting with a cotton wool blend, then wool and bamboo and finally wool socks. I cram them in shoes, boots, etc. Merino sock yarn is not the bets for me. BFL and German sock yarns really do last longer. I embrace the nylon. My second pair of socks that I made in 2009 from Regia are getting thin. They were never treated as delicate socks. Rather I think of them like me, sturdy and up for a hike.
That’s a great point regarding what type of wool it is! I love a toothier yarn and I have some non-merino blends in my sock drawer. I should pay attention to how they wear differently. Thanks!
I agree: the German brands sock yarns are good! Last sock yarn I used was a German brand, but made in Italy, I think that's a very good combination.
@@DrowninginYarn merino is so beloved because it makes a soft yarn... but that works against it for socks. merino's selling points are fine micron count and short fibers with high crimp. high crimp means more air in the yarn... more bounce and floof and warmth. (also more friction). high micron count means finer fiber ends sticking out of the yarn... less scratchy. more soft fuzzy goodness. more ends = you got it, more for friction to work on. merino is absolutely wonderful for what it was breed for... but long wearing hard abuse in the roughest conditions is not it. merino can be used in a sock yarn if it is prepped right. it can be spun to have more strength and last longer... but in doing so, it usually loses the shelf appeal of the yarn that makes it sell for the higher prices that merino usually pulls in, so it's not in the yarn companies interests to do so.
sorry i keep going on about friction... but it really is the demon that destroys socks. it is amazing how different the life of sock can be with the right prep and the right techniques. and it makes me sad that nowadays, any yarn in a fingering weight is labeled sock yarn.
I've started using size 00/1.75mm needles for fingering weight socks and US 3 for worsted weight house socks. The denser the fabric the better.
Yes, that's what I do too. I tried even thinner needles, but then my hands started hurting because the knitting was so tight
I wear through my socks in 6 months unless I use a very dense gauge. I switch between socks and shawls/sweaters to give my hands a break/rest
My Grandmother(who was born in 1906) would have loved you! I watched her darn socks in the evenings. Great video.
Aww thanks!
If I have a hole near the toe I just cut the toe open, unravel to the hole, pick up the stitches and re knit the toe. The benefit is you can add a reinforcing thread along with your thread in the weak spot.
that’s a good idea. I’ll keep that in mind if I have larger holes
LOVE this episode Caleb!! Really liked seeing the snippets of video showing the methods you tried. One of my mondim socks I knit with mohair which not only brings cozy fuzziness but also strength! I've worn those in hiking boots as well as in my house but I haven't done a "30-day" challenge with them (and won't because honestly I don't like wearing the same socks over and over several days in a row lol). Also I've knit the heels and toes using a sock yarn with nylon if I'm knitting the rest in 100% wool - this way I get the benefits of both, and a fun way to still use yarns I have and love. Take care!~Stephanie
Thank you, Stephanie! Mondim + mohair sounds like a WINNING combination… I love a cozy sock! I appreciate your advice and feedback :-)
@@DrowninginYarn You're very welcome! Take care Caleb.
Hi. Yes, this is an informative video. OK, I already did know everything you told, but that's just me, a knitting granny ;-)
Maybe I can inform you on hand-knitted socks and sock-care. Most socks I knitted are made of sock yarn with nylon. The only 100% wool socks were of a thicker, hand spun, yarn. They were more like 'slippers', an extra layer for cold days / cold feet.
About sock-care: I have several pairs of socks, so there's no need to wear one pair for many consecutive days. It's better for the socks if they can have a day of rest after a day of wearing. No, do not wash them after one day, just give them rest (like over a chair) and wear an other pair. Only wash them when they look dirty or when they smell. Do not put them in the dryer, but let them dry quietly lying down flat. And, like you said: then control the socks, see if there are thin spots. If there are, do the Swiss darning.
Thanks for sharing your tips and thoughts! 😊
The idea of darning has always scared me but you made it look so easy. Now I’m a little disappointed that none of my socks have holes to try it out 😂
Hahaha... thanks! When the time comes, you'll be ready!!
In wearing 100% wool socks, I find it is important to alternate wearing 2 or 3 pairs at a time.for several days and to also have many pairs so that you can use them in rotation.
Mending is a good skill to have . You spend time making those socks and they are precious . My problem is I don't have a alot a socks because I make them for everyone else lol. I wear my socks like a favorite sweatshirt. I have a pair that I wear all the time . So mending sure comes handy . I have never done the knitted patch before but I have used the Swiss darning and weaving method. I tend to mend them before there is a hole . You can reinforce those wool socks too as you make them . There is a few ways in doing that ..
Great mending! I read a book on sock knitting, years ago, that had a pattern that knit wool socks with a) a reinforced sole, and b) an easily detachable sole for replacement. It was almost intarsia-like how the instep and sole connected. When the sole was no longer mendable, it was snipped off, stitches were picked up at the back of the heel and each side of the instep up to the toe, then seamed closed. It was a fascinating way to knit socks! If I ever locate the book again, I’ll let you know.
Thank you! That sounds super interesting... I think someone else suggested Knitting Without Tears had something similar... maybe that's the book you are thinking of? I have it so I need to get it off the shelf and have a look.
I am into mending these days and it seems that all the socks I have been wearing and made for family and friends are beginning to get a little thin on the bottom, so I am going to try a couple of ways to do them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and demos.
Thank you for the time and effort you take to help educate other knitters. You might add a strand of kid seta to the areas of your socks that need reinforcement when the yarn doesn’t include nylon. There is no significant bulk to those areas - usually the toes and heels for me. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the tip! 😃
More on socks please, I really enjoy your feedback on each technique
If your toenails wear a big hole through the toe, and if the sock was knit top down, and if you have enough yarn left, or a contrasting color you like, you can rip back and reknit the whole toe. Not sure if that would work on a toe-up sock, but it might, though your knitting would run the opposite direction on the toe. Also,
I have used something like Swiss darning to repair small holes in store-bought fine-gauge sweaters, with pretty good results. Even using sewing thread in a matching color, it gives a better-looking repair than other styles of mending I've tried. Saved several sweaters I liked that way.
Great tips! Thanks!
Beautiful craftsmanship, socks are gorgeous and repairs are the same. 😍😁🎉
Thank you so much!
Use a pumice stone on the hard skin then rub coconut oil on the rough skin. Just replace your socks with a hand crochet slipper. With a blend of wool and acrylic yarn. They last longer and are padded on the bottom.
"Add Strength to Your Socks" by Roxanne Richardson is a great video tutorial where she shows how to add reinforcement to an area of your knits that will get a lot of wear. I used this technique on a pair of 100% wool socks that I made for my husband-I did it right after I knit them, before he wore them for the first time. He is hard on his socks as well, especially at the ball of his foot (I've heard this may have something to do with a high instep?). The thread I used was some leftover silk mohair I had. I chose this yarn because of the strength of it as well as because I wanted to keep the socks 100% natural fibers. Best of luck!
When I learned to knit socks, I was taught to use whatever yarn I wanted and to add thin nylon thread to my yarn when I got to the heels and toes for reinforcenment, so you can feel free to use 100% wool yarn. Thanks so much for the repair tutorial!
I have some Lang yarn that came with reinforcement thread. I’m excited to try it!
My mom used dental floss :p
@@DrowninginYarn I had such yarn with reinforcement thread too. Knitted two pairs with it. But I found out those socks looked bad (pilling) much faster than those made of other yarns
The reinforcement thread is called woolly nylon and has tons of yardage so it’s will reinforce in the areas that wear most for many, many pairs of socks. I try to keep on hand a light tan or gray and a dark brown or gray. This way I can have something that will go with any sock yarn. It pretty much just hides itself in the yarn your knitting and hardly visible.
What an awesome tutorial and review on Mondim yarn and the socks you knit. I love the fact you used yarn that had no plastic😍 I use organic yarns 99% of the time myself and have dabbled with natural dyes too. I just ordered a skein of natural undyed Mondim retrosaria to knit up some socks. It'll be my second attempt to knitting up socks (the first time was when I was about 10 years old and I failed miserably) You inspired me to do it thanks!
I needed this video to encourage me to finally darn my hand knit socks! After watching, I think I will enjoy the process. Thanks!
This was such a helpful video! I've never done a mend, so it was nice to hear about it from someone else who is new to it, and makes it seem more approachable! Thank you for sharing :)
Also - based on how you wore your socks, I'm actually really impressed with how they held up! I definitely would like to give 100% wool socks a try :)
Thank you! That was a really great video. I love wool socks. I just knittted my first pair of socks with the nylon. I dont find them as soft as the wool but still love them. I am sure it depends on the percentages of wool vs nylon. I knew about darning but not the other methods so I took away great info from this! I know these videos are a bit of work so I really appreciate it.
I’m glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful! What yarn did you use with nylon? I’ve had some that are incredibly soft and some that are less so. Have you used Amble by The Fibre Company? I like that yarn 😊
I’ve got one 100% wool socks out of Baa Ram Ewe wool and surprisingly, no holes or worn spots yet! My gauge isn’t particularly tight, though it probably is about 9st/in done on a US 0. I made them a year ago and wear them in rotation with my 6 other pairs of nylon/wool hand knitted socks. I have to say, they are lightweight, warm, dry faster.. They may actually be my favorite pair from how they feel on the foot! So I would 100% recommend wool socks, just made from a hardy wool (or 4-ply is what I hear suggested).
Thanks for sharing your experience! They sound like lovely socks!!!
I love hiking in my hand knit socks 🌞🧦. I broke my ankle at the beginning of this summer and so I also wore hand knit socks in my air cast. They’re such a cozy comfort
I hope your ankle is heeling well! I agree that the handknit socks are extra cozy :-) I’m excited to wear them all winter long!
Jana with Purl Together has an excellent video on mending socks.
Great to know. Thanks 😊
Thank you for this video, couldnt be better timing! Just couple of days ago i was lookin at some of my knitted socks and found some little holes and thought i still didnt want to get rid of them because of that.. maybe i try and repair them myself too.
Thanks for this caleb. I’m off to fix 2 socks. I think I’ll try the patch method!
You’re so welcome! I included links to the tutorials that I used in the description just in case they’re helpful :-)
Great information, thank you! Watching your videos has inspired me to get back into knitting socks 🧦
You are so welcome! I hope you will... I love sock knitting! Do you watch Earthtones Girl? She is FULL of sock inspiration!
@@DrowninginYarn I have never heard of her, but I will check her out. Thanks!
your video came at the perfect time. I recently lost 2 socks though in my case I believe the culprit is the shoe. In any case, I now have the tools for mending them. Thanks for the research and for sharing.
I'm so glad it was helpful to you!
What an absolutely fantastic video!...you are adorable...but I find all your videos excellent..and this one came at the perfect time for me as I'm now Christmas sock knitting...so thank you!...wicked mending!..
Thank you so much! You are too kind 😊
Ï always darn my socks with double thread i always have holes on my heels because of my handicap i walk on my heels got no feeling in the bottom of my feet and most of the day walk with no shoes on my mother learned me to knit and dan nu shocks even ï was a kid at 7/8years. Ï always knit vanilla socks because my feet on the upperside are over sensitive. Im glad she learned me that skills after wearing my socks a week ï got holes in them dan them 2times and the ï throw them in the trash bin
So interesting and useful, thank you!
I love your sock mending. I haven’t tried Swiss darning, but am now inspired to try it. Thank you.
You’re so welcome! It’s such a useful little skill.
There is a technique, where only the soles are knit with the 100 %wool thread taken double, this way, the whole sole is reinforced and it takes longer until it is rubbed thin.
And what I experienced with 100 % wool to last longer is to knit them a bit bigger and deliberately felt them before the first wear. This way, they get more sturdy, too.
And Elizabeth Zimmermann wrote in knitting without tears about how she knit the socks in a way, where it is easy to rek it the sole part and replace it, when it is worn through and keep the shaft and upper foot part which usuallyis still in working condition.
All those strategies help prolong the life of the handknitted socks.
Interesting! Thanks! I have that book, so I’ll have to look for that info in it.
I’m just wondering, instead of sewing down your patch, if you could have joined the sides of your patch as you were knitting it, to each corresponding column of stitches on each side end of your patch, then join it to the last row as you knit it, then bind off. I hope this makes sense.
Glad I'm not the only one wearing holes because of my feet. I've worn holes in my sheets as well. 😅 If you don't like daily foot care, try one of those peels! I find they make a difference.
I have the peel... I need to use it. They kinda freak me out, if I'm being honest. But I really have heard a lot of great things!
I have a few comments om this subject, as a fairly experienced sock knitter.
I have been knitting socks for about 11 years now, ever since i had my son and wanted to make warm socks for him for the cold Scandinavian winters.
1. Nylon vs polyamide:
I never knit socks in anything except sock yarn with at least 25% polyamide.
It is more sturdy than nylon, and as my son and i are both fairly hard on our clothes, this is the only yarn that i have had consistent success with. I have socks right now, that are about 4 years old, and still haven't had any holes.
I've knit socks for my mom and sister in 25% nylon, and my mom's lasted about a year before they got holes, my sister's approx. 2 years. So dependant on how hard one is on socks, going for polyamide might be worth it.
(I can't be bothered to mend my socks, i know i should just do it, but they always slowly sink to the bottom of my WIP-basket, and then lie there for a few years as i procrastinate. 😬)
2: Reinforcing.
So you have this reeeally pretty yarn that you really want to make socks with, but it is 100% wool, and you fear that you will end up with holes in them fast!
I dont know if this is available everywhere, but where i live, i can buy 100% polyamide thread. It is super thin, and shouldn't affect the tension much. If it is expensive, just use it in the areas of the sock, that you know you tend to get holes, most likely the heel and the toe.
If you can't get pure polyamide thread, try looking for a super thin yarn containing polyamide, and knit that along with your wool. This might affect the tension and gauge though.
3: Wool isn't just wool.
When looking for yarns to knit socks with, getting better aquainted with the different types of wool might be worth the effort, as there are vast differences between types of wool, even when we only talk about the stuff from sheep.
Merino wool for example, would be a bad choise for socks, as the individual hairs are super tiny and thin, and break very easily.
There is also a difference between icelandic, norwegian or scotish wool, as the sheep are different breeds and have been raised in different conditions. Ask the store if they can give you any information about the specific yarn you are considering.
If you can't get any info, examine the yarn a bit closer for yourself. How does the individual hairs look. Are they thin or thick, long or short. This will affect how much wear the yarn can take.
4: Natural fibres.
If you dont wan't to use yarn that has synthetic fibers in them, there are still options for getting a yarn with more strength than pure wool, although they are usually a bit more expensive.
Blends with silk, flax or nettle fibers are good options, and these have been used historically the same way we use synthetic fibers today.
Where i live, the tradition was to use nettles, as they were free, grew everywhere, and could yield pretty long fibers when treated correctly. Nettle fibre yarns have become super popular here in recent years.
That's all i had, i hope some of you could use my advice. Sorry for the looong write, and happy knitting. 🧶
I'll also add, I too knit a bunch of socks, but rarely wear them. I'm too afraid to wear them lol. I like to knit belly button knits socks and they're just so... perfect. I do need to make some just to wear them. Maybe I will do that. A nice olive green color. He doesn't get them though. I don't want to darn them a week later lol
At least wear them to bed 😁.
@@annmariebusu9924 lol I tried. But then I forget I'm wearing them. I feel them in the middle of the night. I think something is touching my feet and I freak. My husband always thinks it's hilarious, me not so much lol.
I loved this!! So practical. You did an amazing job!!
Thank you so much 😊
omg i've always been anxious to knit socks because i was afraid they'd get destroyed wearing them and i'd be out that time and yarn, but now i'm so ready to get a pair going!!
Just use yarn that's 80/20 or 75/25. Wool and nylon combined. No holes
Don't be afraid! Hand knit socks are definitely worth the time and effort and they really do last much longer than these lasted me. And, now you know you can just fix them if you need to :-) I hope you have fun knitting some socks!
My husband is a horticulturist and wears the 100% wool socks I knit him. So far no holes. He loves them and is brutal with his clothes.
Thank you for the repair tips. They are appreciated and valued.
Now about you. Take care of you. Get a pedicure in a good shop that can help you get rid of those areas on your feet. You need to honor your body as you honor your knitted treasures.
Informative vid on sock maintenance. Thank you. Enjoy your knits and add some good coco butter to your feet, then wrap them in your sock and fall asleep
Very helpful! Thank you.
Thank you. These are nice to add to our bag of tricks. I remember my mom darning socks long ago.
So many people have shared that they have memories of their mom or grandma mending socks and I think that is so lovely. Thanks for sharing :-)
Great video and wise words. I’ve been watching loads of darning videos lately. I must get out the darning needle, mushroom and thread! 🙏🏻❤️
Thank you so much!!!
Your patch is lovely.
Thank you 😊
I’m curious- if you were to wear wool/nylon socks every day (no cotton/nylon) if it would get rid of your rough feet. My husband had the worst feet, but after wearing ONLY handmade socks he has cured his athletes foot and rough patches.
Great, informative video. Thank you.
In the past I have practiced the Swiss darning method as a preventive method. I do this on 100% or socks with nylon added. I enjoy my socks being snuggly fitting so this can be stressful on my socks. I am not an active person since I am 72 but wearing ones socks without shoes can be a little dangerous for socks therefore reinforcing them is best for me.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience :-)
Thanks for posting this video. I’m knitting my very first pair of socks, and I am starting to dread the day I wear them…. What if they get holes? 😭 But with this lesson in preventing and fixing holes, I’m all set 😁
Don't fall into that trap! Haha... wear them from the start so you just develop the habit. You'll appreciate it when you aren't still thinking about whether to wear them or not two years later... like me. Haha.
@@DrowninginYarn I’ll tag you on Instagram when they’re done ;)
Thanks for this video Caleb, it is right on time! Pulled my favorite socks out and 1 of them had not 1 but 2 holes on the bottom of it. I was guilty of the same thing: wearing them around the house. I also have hardwood floors and no rugs. Now to get a darning egg.
i have a darning egg and hate it. it's just awkward for me. i would prefer a darning mushroom, but can't afford to get one atm, so i use a jar lid. i stick it in the sock and use an old scrap yarn tail to wrap around and secure the rest of the sock behind. works great for me.
That’s a great tip! And I love to reuse things around the house! Thanks!
@@esmecat That is a great tip. Think I’ll give that a try!
I’ve never darned holes in my socks but since you said they don’t feel weird I wish I had learned to darn them rather than trashing them.☹️ Especially since I usually get holes under my heels where the darning wouldn’t show. Thanks for showing the different types of mending!
i think it was the yarn harlot that used to say that her way of darning was to hold them over the bin and exclaim Darn!
they really don't feel weird when darned. i've got some that are repaired so many times, they look like a patchwork quilt on the feet (which i actually enjoy. i think the meds look awesome) but feel fine to wear. never to late to give it a try.
Oh my gosh… that’s hilarious! hahah… Thanks for sharing! I’m sure I’ll have some that look like a patchwork quilt some day! And I agree… never too late to start!
Thanks for watching, Marsha! I’m sure you’ll have others in the future in need of a little mending, so hopefully you’ll have fun learning the new skill then :-)
I have some holes in my merino/nylon socks. I have a tighter gauge now so it happens less.
I think holes are unavoidable really…. But there are definitely some things we can do to prolong the inevitable 😊
Nice job on the mends.
Thank you so much!
Very cool that you got to use all three techniques on the same pair of socks. Wooo fellow crafter that does OTF!! I was surprised at how much my feet move during the row block (I'm probably doing something wrong) and I constantly have to retighten my straps. Are you doing hell week?
I’m glad I got to learn so much with this one pair!!! And my feet slip around too when I row! I’ve been out of the gym for a few weeks (I filmed some of this a while ago) because I had a minor surgery… nothing concerning! But I’m going back to the gym tomorrow, so I’ll probably learn about hell week soon… I don’t know much about it yet! Are you doing it?
It'll be interesting to see which of the three repair methods hold up the best too after you keep wearing the pair. Hope all went well and sending well wishes your way - take it easy today at the gym! Hell week is 8 days of tougher workouts that started yesterday. You had to sign up previously to guarantee a shirt which you get after completing 5/8 classes. Yes, this'll be my first time trying it :)
Thanks for the update
😊
I feel that when I wear the socks many days in a row withiut washing them, they deteriorate quicker.
Exactly!
Way back before the invention of nylon and almost all socks were 100% wool, a way to help keep your socks from wearing out so fast was to wear them on different feet each day ... wear the sock you wore on the right foot on your left foot & left on right.
Oh interesting… this makes a lot of sense! I put them on randomly most days, but it might do me well to be intentional about which sock goes where. Haha.
My socks never wear at the heel, always at the toes. Personally I'd focus on reinforcing that area instead. Though I really don't understand why folk even bother reinforcing the back of the heel instead of the underneath of the heel. As in I don't get it, can you'll explain that to me, please?
I think it's because they're thinking about it rubbing on the back? I'm not even sure lol
I think you're right, Chris! But my experience with these socks showed that you are right Stettafire... the bottom of the heel is my problem area.
@@chriscode6431 IDK maybe it rubs on the shoes or something? I have tiny heels so I guess my feet rub less in that area and more so in the front where its wider :)
@@StettafireI'm ahead of the game. I wear vibrams lol. I have toes lol. I only wear my socks in the house.
if your shoes don't fit (too big) then the back of the heel slides and rubs. i think it is a tradition that comes from a time when people bought shoes for kids in larger sizes to grow into... but that's just a guess
Thank you
Agreed I know I am rough on things, I would never make 100% wool socks
Wool/nylon for the both of us 😊💚
Also for your first darn that looks good!
Thank you so much!!!
That looks darn good! 😅
I hope there's a way in here to save wool socks for someone with extreme arthritis and carpel tunnel. I wildly want to save my socks, all of which have worn and holey heels only (?!?)...
I made cabled socks in 100% merino wool, wore them outside once and there was soooo much pilling on the heel. They took so long to make 😭😭😭
Do you feel the difference in the fabric on the inside of the sock I have sensory issues and if I can feel that there’s a difference in the fabric it’ll cause me problems I don’t have holes in my socks yet but I have similar issues with commercial socks as you do
You can feel that the patch is there since it’s a bit thicker, but I don’t think it’s bothersome or even noticeable after a minute or so. But I think you might want to try it on some store bought socks and maybe see what you think before you try it on something you are more concerned about. I am not overly sensitive to that type of thing, so I’m not sure how it would be with sensory issues.
I don’t think 100% wool socks would be any good for me either. The nylon is there for a reason. Love the different ways you used to repair them, and I will be trying the duplicate stitch on thin areas of my socks. Even if you don’t have the original yarn anymore, a contrasting color would work well.
I totally agree! Visible mending can be very cute when you pick a fun color :-)
I really miss your videos!
Darning in Yarn, woohoo!
Wow. Hahaha. Love it.
If it's an ankle sock, I like bamboo. The bamboo is breathable, but slouches if it's 'full size'.
What bamboo yarn do you use? Sounds interesting!
@@DrowninginYarn It was a random skein from Hobby Lobby. I don't think Lion Brand even makes it anymore. But I love the feel, they are pretty soft. That being said, they have to be patched up constantly. I will I had heard of "Swiss Mending" when I started wearing them :)
Crazy how many people have been mending the same way with different tools…
Where can I find the pattern to those socks?
I knit them from Summer Lee’s Shorty Sock Set 😊
One is high stress...the top and the other is a high pressure area. 100% wool socks. I had the same problem n had to darn. Be sure to get a sock egg. It makes it much easier. Never mind...I see u have one.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I also bought a speedweave after I filmed this video… it’s an adorable looking darning loom. Between it and the darning egg, I think I’m all set for the future!
That was very cool, now I can mend socks, I soak my feet 20 minutes in an apple cider vinger/ warm water solution then loofah the dead skin away.
Thanks for the tip!
I’ve only had a couple of pairs of wool socks develop holes, but I have a lot of pairs so I may not wear them as heavily. I’ve actually never darned socks either and I loved the details for each technique! Keep them coming! ❤️🧶🧦
Thanks for sharing your experience… I need whatever magic you’re working on your wool socks 🤣 💚
Dear friends please take care of your feet! Foot soaks once per week will literally change your life. Not only will the skin on your feet feel fabulous you can also detox by adding the right ingredients.
why did you put the subscribe animation at the moment you were saying you dont do footcare hahhahahahah
Hahahaha. It wasn’t intentional. I kind of just plopped it there since I had enough space without other graphics!
@@DrowninginYarn just made me laugh haha
I knit my husband socks. There was a hole in maybe 3 days. He doesn't do 'foot care' either. In that, he puts his socks and shoes on. Uses soap water from the rest of his body to wash his feet. Only wears socks in his shoes and only wears shoes when he has to lol. I don't do 100% wool socks. 25% nylon always. 75% wool. Never had a problem then.
I'm curious too about 100% cotton or maybe linen. I might try it out
@@Stettafire I don't know about cotton. That freaks my feet out just thinking about it. I think with a lack of stretch, cotton would be a nightmare if there's any sort of ankle or leg.
@@chriscode6431 LOL fair, I have a few ideas. But then agian I don't have the same issues with cotton on skin like other folk do
Your husband and I sound similar. Hahah
@@Stettafire I don't knit with cotton much, but it's not cotton's fault. I used cheap cotton and tried a linen stitch when I first learned to knit many, many years ago. Since then, I don't touch cotton or the linen stitch lol. Maybe it's time to try again. Now linen itself? I bought a bunch because of the sample in shop. I could make a whole sweater for me and my doberman. But... They're all different colors lol. Love linen when it relaxes.
Dude go get a pedi..its amazing.
Dually noted on no 100% wool.
And I dearly love how you dive in and learn new things. You're an inspiration.
Thank you so much!
yeah- you fixed them. i would consider mending them in new colors. why not? make the patches fun and just keep wearing and tearing them up on those wood floors. wear them in good health. and remember the millions of people that never made their own socks much less actually mended them. you rock...now do the Tom Cruise slide across the floor!!!!
Hahaha. I’m sure I’ll do some visible mending down the line with other colors 😊
👍
Socks need either a strong thread added to the wool or Nylon thread. Otherwise, you got it, HOLES.
It seems some people have better luck with 100% wool than others… my experience is consistent with what you’re saying though 😊
@@DrowninginYarn I've known people who do love 100% wool but I'm just not a darning fan. I did love your experiment though
Who wears the same pair of socks every day for a month? Ew, David… Plus if you wash them often it also weakens the fabric. I applaud your candor but this hardly seems scientific. Also socks and Birks? Ew, David.
This was meant to be entertaining and helpful, not scientific. Thanks for stopping by!
Just show us, never mind the blah blah blah.