Declaration of Victory!!
There were several times during this project that I was certain I would never finish! But at loooong last I am submitting my report on Project Work Socks!!
Let me begin with materials; 8mm DPNs and Schachenmayr Nomotta MEGA - a 14-ply superwash wool. This is how much wool it took to make ONE sock:
If you're wondering about the darker blue - I decided to include a contrast color for a bit of interest. This makes a total of 31 ply (14 + 14 + 3 ply contrast color). There IS actually method to this madness! The last time I knit DS work socks I used a super-bulky lopi-style yarn. It was lofty and warm but eventually the soles felted from wear, meaning they began to shrink and lose their stretch. It also made for serious laundering problems as the occasional one got felted from going into his regular wash by mistake!
I started out with pale kakhi green Mega plus beige but after 4 pairs I ran out so I switched to the blue.
Here's the 4th pair of kakhi, snapped while I was working the final cuff. You have to appreciate that no sooner did I finish a pair than they disappeared. My DS was SO glad to get new socks, especially with the weather turning so cold! I realized I would have to be a little faster with the camera. If you look closely at the pic of the first 3 pairs, you'll see the last pair looks a bit different. That's because I had just finished them and they hadn't been washed yet. The other 2 pairs were fresh out of the dryer! They had already spent a week at work with my DS!
In fact, the blue pair on the left hasn't made it into the washing machine yet! I pulled them out of his laundry! LOL!! I snapped this pic, finished off the last cuff, washed and dried them - and they were gone!
For anyone wondering - The fabric of these socks is about 3/8" thick after washing. Considering how much yarn went into them at a gauge of 2 1/2 stitches to the inch they were NOT an "easy, fast, bulky knit". They had to be knit at a very tight gauge to reduce wear and keep them insular. They are so thick and stiff I could only knit my usual continental style on the tube parts (shaft & foot). For the toe (where I always start) and the turned heel, I had to knit the old way because my fingers just weren't strong enough to complete the stitches. Another reason for the ultra-tight gauge was because they are superwash - notorious for wilting and relaxing! You can clearly see the difference in the blue sock pic between the washed and worn socks and the unwashed socks. A pretty significant difference in size!
Conventional wisdom says that superwash relaxes so much from washing because the scales have been removed from the wool strands. I have a slightly different opinion, although I admit this explanation had some merit. I believe that it also has something to do with the spinning oil in the wool, put in by the mill. I have been working with 2 strands of 14-ply yarn - very, very fine "stiff" plies. Stiff from all that spinning oil. It compacts the fibers as well as reducing static electricity. Once it's washed away there is room between the fibers to move. They take on air, bloom if you will, and relax. One of the biggest reasons I believe this, is because I spin. I especially like to spin superwash wool. When I soak/wash my skeins to set the twist, any residual oil from commercial preparation is gone. When I knit with my handspun superwash, it doesn't melt in the wash like it's millspun counterpart would. So what's the difference? My handspun is squeaky clean when I knit with it, millspun is not. Frankly, I can't find any other explanation.
I couldn't resist this opportunity to show of my perfect-every-time no wrap heel. I've made heels using flaps before (in fact it's the first method I learned) but picking up gusset stitches can be so hit 'n miss. There's nothing that says "amateur attempt" like holes in the heel stitches! Not to mention that flaws in a vital spot like that spells a short life for those socks! I learned this no-wrap method from Crazy Toes 'n Heels and I've never looked back! If you're wondering about the black stuff in the heel, I added a strand of 100% linen for durability. It meant the heel stitches were murder to work because there was almost NO stretch but I know those heel will stand up to those leather work boots!
And last but not least, a shot of my DS's old work socks. Much shorter & smaller than they started out! No wonder he was glad to get rid of them!! LOL!! But I can't say they've been retired! Believe it or not, my DD #1 has taken them! (Remember on my To Do List was barn socks for her?). They have felted slightly and shrunk - which makes them perfect for her smaller feet! Thick and warm. Ridiculously perfect end to this whole tale, wouldn't you say??
Cheers until next time!
Let me begin with materials; 8mm DPNs and Schachenmayr Nomotta MEGA - a 14-ply superwash wool. This is how much wool it took to make ONE sock:
If you're wondering about the darker blue - I decided to include a contrast color for a bit of interest. This makes a total of 31 ply (14 + 14 + 3 ply contrast color). There IS actually method to this madness! The last time I knit DS work socks I used a super-bulky lopi-style yarn. It was lofty and warm but eventually the soles felted from wear, meaning they began to shrink and lose their stretch. It also made for serious laundering problems as the occasional one got felted from going into his regular wash by mistake!
I started out with pale kakhi green Mega plus beige but after 4 pairs I ran out so I switched to the blue.
Here's the 4th pair of kakhi, snapped while I was working the final cuff. You have to appreciate that no sooner did I finish a pair than they disappeared. My DS was SO glad to get new socks, especially with the weather turning so cold! I realized I would have to be a little faster with the camera. If you look closely at the pic of the first 3 pairs, you'll see the last pair looks a bit different. That's because I had just finished them and they hadn't been washed yet. The other 2 pairs were fresh out of the dryer! They had already spent a week at work with my DS!
In fact, the blue pair on the left hasn't made it into the washing machine yet! I pulled them out of his laundry! LOL!! I snapped this pic, finished off the last cuff, washed and dried them - and they were gone!
For anyone wondering - The fabric of these socks is about 3/8" thick after washing. Considering how much yarn went into them at a gauge of 2 1/2 stitches to the inch they were NOT an "easy, fast, bulky knit". They had to be knit at a very tight gauge to reduce wear and keep them insular. They are so thick and stiff I could only knit my usual continental style on the tube parts (shaft & foot). For the toe (where I always start) and the turned heel, I had to knit the old way because my fingers just weren't strong enough to complete the stitches. Another reason for the ultra-tight gauge was because they are superwash - notorious for wilting and relaxing! You can clearly see the difference in the blue sock pic between the washed and worn socks and the unwashed socks. A pretty significant difference in size!
Conventional wisdom says that superwash relaxes so much from washing because the scales have been removed from the wool strands. I have a slightly different opinion, although I admit this explanation had some merit. I believe that it also has something to do with the spinning oil in the wool, put in by the mill. I have been working with 2 strands of 14-ply yarn - very, very fine "stiff" plies. Stiff from all that spinning oil. It compacts the fibers as well as reducing static electricity. Once it's washed away there is room between the fibers to move. They take on air, bloom if you will, and relax. One of the biggest reasons I believe this, is because I spin. I especially like to spin superwash wool. When I soak/wash my skeins to set the twist, any residual oil from commercial preparation is gone. When I knit with my handspun superwash, it doesn't melt in the wash like it's millspun counterpart would. So what's the difference? My handspun is squeaky clean when I knit with it, millspun is not. Frankly, I can't find any other explanation.
I couldn't resist this opportunity to show of my perfect-every-time no wrap heel. I've made heels using flaps before (in fact it's the first method I learned) but picking up gusset stitches can be so hit 'n miss. There's nothing that says "amateur attempt" like holes in the heel stitches! Not to mention that flaws in a vital spot like that spells a short life for those socks! I learned this no-wrap method from Crazy Toes 'n Heels and I've never looked back! If you're wondering about the black stuff in the heel, I added a strand of 100% linen for durability. It meant the heel stitches were murder to work because there was almost NO stretch but I know those heel will stand up to those leather work boots!
And last but not least, a shot of my DS's old work socks. Much shorter & smaller than they started out! No wonder he was glad to get rid of them!! LOL!! But I can't say they've been retired! Believe it or not, my DD #1 has taken them! (Remember on my To Do List was barn socks for her?). They have felted slightly and shrunk - which makes them perfect for her smaller feet! Thick and warm. Ridiculously perfect end to this whole tale, wouldn't you say??
Cheers until next time!
Excellent work. Good for you.
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Thanks for the Kudos! It seems like I hardly ever finish anything so I like to celebrate a bit when I do!
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Great job! I admire your fortitude!
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I have a pattern, adapted for my firefighter friend in Alaska that you might like for you son. My friend raves about how warm and sturdy they are. Just let me know.
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They are very nice! What size needle did you use if you don't mind my asking?
Thanks for sharing!
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8mm (US size 11) certainly NOT your average sock needles!! LOL!
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