Remember
these?
Completed in January, 2013. Made from really nice fingering weight wool (Louet Gems 100% merino). After two years of not-hard wear, this:
On inspecting my other me-made socks of similar age, made from "sock wool" i.e. wool with 25% or so nylon, they are in better shape. If I'm going to spend a lot of time hand-knitting socks in future, I'll pay better attention to the fibre content.
Anyway, since I spent A LOT of time knitting these particular ones (the most complicated/fancy socks in my wardrobe) I thought I'd spend a little time mending them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgIixVmt2_ZN2EgV8b8WyHvgCBJdzSxyfTIkYodP_IjibJcAWAw0G8hpBhqgsvYn8N4vSpS6dCBUgyn7BscgDqbHGU2IsqcyB-2VJacT5ZD7AriIuNL_U4O_L5XEQcwH09seulEYhQq0/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG)
For the record this is the first time I have ever mended socks. I knew that you can darn by sort of weaving a patch, but IMHO that's really ugly. So I did a little research. Turns out you can also darn by doing duplicate stitch, i.e. following the path of the original knitting. Even to fill in an actual hole!
Here's the info.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYLiXYJJeWI5I-vv2FZDgASG2k2z-SB0IdHKpsTUs7AbLPAMJ3lHv1q1MkE5Nv7ErsRDvYq5sissy8zvIbeRoNLBivMMsMwLqrjBXlFZxVRZ8X1u9tzeKqOcEGFek7TQRHsIjvO2iKcM/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG)
The finished patch is only moderately ugly. I don't know how long it will last, but it'll give these poor tired socks a new lease on life for a little while at least.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2itRt7IOVjY3bHlJTxnvb7_47FKt89le0GUJLs2ld0eA99CZ7dur56SHPXeGbOXNhBvlj0UO3aPVgQzXTVzZcOoxtH2v1lac169M_aoIoPo7e1JsXcOM5-0GZ_IXbBcSvu8cJ4IriZ50/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG)
Then I inspected the other one. Sigh. What do they say? A stitch in time saves nine ...
You did an excellent job!
ReplyDeleteYou're right--I think every skein of 100% merino should have "not suitable for socks" on the label. I knit several pair before learning that lesson. Beautiful reknitting job, however!
ReplyDeleteHow clever and what a great save, they are such lovely socks!
ReplyDeletePaton's Kroy wears like iron especially if knit on size 0 needles (U.S. needle sizing)! I usually start with size 2 for the first inch at the top, switch to size 1 for most of the rest of the top, and then to 0 for the foot.) Kroy is wool with nylon, though--definitely not merino! You did a great job saving your beautiful socks, which must have been great fun to knit.
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely socks , maybe you could put some light leather on the soles and wear as sock slippers ??
ReplyDeleteDarn indeed! I knit socks as well and don't look forward to the first time one of my socks springs a leak. Check out this link for a very cool way to remedy the situation. http://jackie-es.com/the-designing-day/repairing-a-hand-knit-sock-with-a-knit-in-place-patch.php She actually reknits the area. Very cool!
ReplyDelete