Grey Socks for Winter's Grey Days
The grey weather and descent into chilly temperatures we had this weekend went pretty well with the completion of the socks on John's feet. My sweetie now has another pair of grey socks in his collection. He's quite happy with them, and after we did our photo shoot on Sunday morning, they pretty much stayed on his feet the rest of the day. He might not like a lot of color, but he does like his hand knit socks. Almost as soon as it gets cold, he starts wearing his handknit wool socks and he'll pick them over anything else in his drawer.
Well, except for yesterday when we were at Costco and he purchased some boot socks. He gave me a sheepish look as he put them in the cart. I have to get these because I don't have any really thick socks that I can wear in my boots in the winter, he said. I forgave him because he definitely is correct on this account. He doesn't have any good thick boot socks.
So now I need some yarn recommendations. John is definitely not a handwash wool sock kind of guy. I need something that is superwash at the very least, a bit of nylon in the best case, and has some subdued colorways that a Chicago boot wearing guy in the winter will give his seal of approval to. My first thought is Socks that Rock Heavyweight (and I know where to find a good supply of that) in a semi-solid color. I have also heard/seen the Opal DK weight, but it doesn't (or at least didn't when I last checked) come in colorways that John will wear. Clearly I could also consider spinning some, but that means that he might not see these socks for a year or two. Any other suggestions for goot boot weight sock yarn?
Well, I don't have any suggestions for a sock yarn, but I did finish my Here There Be Dragons socks! I love them, thanks for the pattern.
I was at my LYS over the weekend and I saw some socks they had knit out of some Baby Alpaca Grande. But that would defeat the purpose of superwash wouldn't it?
Great socks! :)
mega boot stretch by Meilenweit? It actually works up similar to Trekking, but it is a little coarse.
There's also Lorna's Laces sport -- the hanks I have in stash actually seem to be more of a DK weight. There are a couple of masculine, plain LL colorways (pinstripe for one which is black and grey thin stripes).
Interlacements Toasty Toes makes great boot socks but I'm not sure I've seen a John-friendly colorway. :)
I made some thick hiking socks for a friend of mine in KFI Cashmereno (they are cashmere/merino/nylon blend; discontinued now because KFI pushes DB Cashmerino) -- worked at a nice gauge, they've kept up their appearance and worked well in boots (slight pilling but nothing major). So, looking for a wool-nylon blend DK yarn that isn't specifically a sock yarn might work...
Let me dye you some! I sell sport weight, merino/nylon yarns, the WPI is 15. I can dye it any color you want (except gray, haven't done that yet!) Just let me know the yardage & I would love to send you a skein to try!
Halcyon Yarns has a thick sock yarn called "Canadian Sock Yarn" that has some man-friendly colors, but it's not superwash (note though, that my husband will ONLY handwash his boot socks - even the commercially knit ones.) Shelridge Farms Soft Touch Ultra is a little thicker than regular sock yarn, but probably not enough... I hate to suggest it, but there is always Wool-Ease (eek!) A lady in my sock class used it for a pair, and when she brought them in I was surprised at how nice they were for a "superstore" yarn.
You could also knit holding 2 strands of thin yarn together....
http://www.twosheep.com/helix/
Please tell me you have this scarf... It is so fitting! I couldn't find an email address on your page, so I am posting it here!
Regia 6-ply is a good boot sock yarn. I made a pair for my husband almost two years ago and he's still wearing them (he wears them in his workboots). They're not showing signs of wear yet!
How about Mountain Colors Bearfoot, using 2 strands together? I haven't used it that way but they have some nice dark muted colors and it's a warm, cushy yarn.
I knit boot socks using Briggs and Little Tuffy which has a nylon content. It goes into the washing machine but not the dryer so much. It's not superwash, but it doesn't seem to shrink in warm water.
I vote for Mountain Colors Bearfoot. It is warm! Although, I would not machine wash this yarn. Also, it bleeds. Best and favorite socks for me and my husband.
I have found that this from Texere makes excellent boot socks and washes really well
http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=91&PHPSESSID=7bcf0694524b14d16089a50e89455c24
Lots and lots of colours too.
I know you are based in the US, so this isn't particularly helpful, but perhaps we could do a swap?
regia does a 6 fach line and they have some pretty boring men colours. The silk also comes in 6 ply as well.
The variegated yarns are nicer to work with but the 'standard' German brands seem to be more hardwearing
They don't contain nylon, but I have used both Brown Sheep Nature Spun sport and worsted for socks and I love them both. I knit them at a pretty tight gauge and they seem durable.
Go here for great bootsock yarn in colors your guy may like. No affiliation, it's a great blog I always read.
http://www.whathousework.typepad.com/
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport, or Paton's LaLaine. Both are superwash wool with out nylon. The Patons is really nice because it is a round woven yarn (looks like mini icord) which should hold up well to lots of wear and tear.
I'd go with Regia 6 ply. That stuff is indestructable! I love the 6 ply silk and it comes in nice manly colors that John will love! If the 6 ply isn't thick enough you could double the 4 ply! I think these would be heavely in boots. My second choice would be Mountain Colors Bearfoot doubled but that might actually be TOO hot!
I second the Shelridge Farm wool/nylon blend - especially the subdued, heathered tones. I bought some to make winter socks for my brother.
Socks that Rock have a nice gray colorway called Gunmetal - shades of gray, but not the same as the ones you have just knit. Maybe in the medium or heavyweight?
Or Megaboots stretch (Meilenweit?)
For super heavy he'll never complain that he doesn't have heavy socks, how about bartlett? It's kind of coarse, but it makes some wicked thick winter boot socks. I put nylon reinforcing thread in heels and toes of mine. It's not machine wash, but I do. Since we only have cold water, it's not a problem. I lay them out to dry, but I've put my bartlett mittens in the dryer until they are only damp. They've fulled a little bit, but not much. I think the other suggestions might be nicer though!
Someone mentioned Mountain Colors Bearfoot doubled, but there's also the Mountain Colors Weavers Wool Quarters, which is about a DK weight, which I bet would make some /awesome/ socks.
Which... hmmm. My own hubby could use some good thick socks. I think I'll be taking my own advice sometime soon! :)
Briggs & Little has a really nice yarn for boot socks...check out the Tuffy yarn. I've made several pairs with this yarn and it's very long lasting. Not superwash but seems to hold up ok in cold wash.
http://www.briggsandlittle.com/wool/default.htm
My second ever pair of socks were a pair of hiking socks made out of Briggs & Little Tuffy. They were red and ivory "Hockey Socks" and they went out in the very first Sockapalooza exchange. I've since lost touch with the recipient, but that yarn seemed pretty indestructible to me. It has nylon, does not felt, and I've put swatches through the wash/dry with no shrinkage or felting visible. This yarn does have more VM than most commercial yarns and it's a bit coarse straight out of the hank but when washed it blooms into lovely soft (ok softer) coziness. Definitely my pick for the boot socks. While you're there ordering yarn also order the "Heavy Socks" pattern.
The best yarn I can think of is the Gems Merino Opal from Louet. And you're right, the colors are not man-friendly, but I do know that it does dye very well and you can achieve black with Wilton Icing Dye I've made a pair of socks in the Opal and they are so cushy and thick, I just love them for scooting around my house.
I'm a bit late to the discussion, but I'd like to recommend Cascade 220 for boot socks. I've made several pairs of socks for my husband with this and they're warm, soft, and reasonably well wearing. His jewelry studio is in the basement, with a concrete floor, and it gets COLD down there. He says these socks really make a difference.
I do handwash all our socks (it just takes a few minutes), but 220 does come in a superwash version, too.
No idea about the boot sock weight yarn but, like yr first commetor, I finished the "Here there be dragons socks". Interesting knit.
My niece, for whom they were an 18th birthday present, likes them too. So that's good.
I used suffolk wool that I purchased from www.freshislefibers.com. This is a wool that can be washed and dried by machine. Marian hand dies all of her wool. Some of the wool is dyed with herbs and flowers from her yard. I think she has a charcoal color listed. You can check out a picure of them on the fresh isle website or visit my blog http://tincantextiles.blogspot.com.
I can second the Cascade 220. They make a Superwash version now, which has a decent range of colors (or lack thereof) and will definitely make a thicker sock.
If he doesn't mind a bit of texture, you can also use cables to add some thickness to the socks (or double strand a normal sock yarn).
great grey socks ;-)
How's about some of the Chasing Rainbows Superwash - it's a heavy weight sock yarn, knits up on a size 3 needle. I think John might like the colorway Dove or perhaps Moody Blues ? It certainly would be a fast knit!
I don't know about the colours, but Artyarns Supermerino makes really great warm/soft/comfy winter socks. I haven't had a problem with wear on mine, either. I knit one pair with wooly nylon in the toes and heels, but I'm not sure whether it made a difference.
(I knit the Supermerino on size 3s, BTW)
No recommendations but I know this much - I've really enjoyed this interview! Thanks.
My dad has been asking for socks, so I'm going to make him a pair of heavy-ish wool ones with Sandnesgarn Smart. It's 100% superwash wool...no nylon, but it seems to hold up well when I use it for mittens, so I think it'd be okay for socks.
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