What is sock yarn?
I've mentioned it on Instagram a bit, but
I reconsidered what sock yarn is.
Popular sock yarns like Opal and Regia
are definitely suitable for socks, no doubt about it.
When buying yarn overseas,
most shops probably allow you to choose by thickness and material.
Among the thicknesses,
there's "Fingering" which is the clearest term
to describe the Japanese "chuboso" (fine-medium) thickness.
And almost synonymous with that are the terms
"sock" and "4-ply".
If it says "sock",
you'd unconditionally imagine "socks," right?
You'd think, "So it's good for socks?"
I asked a British supplier I work with a direct question.
① "Is the yarn you brand as 'sock' actually for socks?"
And,
② "What is the definition of sock yarn?"
The answer is...
① "Sock is merely about weight (heaviness, thickness)."
This means it's used to describe thickness.
It doesn't mean it's sock yarn that's suitable for socks.
But it doesn't mean you shouldn't knit socks with it.
I'll organize that point later.
② "There is no definitive definition for 'sock yarn'."
This also means you can knit with any yarn you like.
Well, any yarn becomes a sock if you knit it as a sock.
However!
There are still yarns that are suitable for socks.
For everyday socks, nylon-blend yarn is definitely recommended.
Durability is the most emphasized feature here.
Next might be the twist (yori).
This also contributes to durability, elasticity, and resistance to rubbing,
which are characteristics of yarn suitable for socks.
When choosing yarn to knit socks, these two points (nylon blend, twist) should be sufficient to consider.
Another point I personally prioritize
is whether it can be machine washed.
It gets dirty easily and I want to wash it frequently.
Alternatively, for bed socks to help you relax,
it's fine if there's no nylon and less fit,
so you could knit them with high-quality, warm materials.
LemonJellyPool's Sock Yarn
Up until now, LJP has mainly offered
MerinoSock and MerinoSockSpringy
as yarns for socks (or so I intended).
Left: MerinoSockSpringy
Right: MerinoSock
These two types are SuperWashMerino,
which is merino wool treated with a superwash process,
so it doesn't shrink when washed due to its anti-shrink properties.
MerinoSock is 4-ply, with 4 strands twisted together.
It's currently the most popular base, and many customers use it for knitting garments.
MerinoSockSpringy is 2-ply, with 2 strands twisted together.
"Springy" means elastic.
Since this yarn has two round-shaped strands twisted,
it's springy and cable patterns are easy to create,
and it's incredibly easy to knit with.
Both are completely non-itchy and become softer and more familiar with each wash,
making you exclaim, "Oh, hand-knitted socks are pure luxury♡!"
Personally, I felt that nylon was slightly
inferior in quality,
so I basically didn't carry nylon-blend yarns.
However, I reconsidered this
because I wanted to focus on socks here.
There's a wide variety of nylon, and
it has various names like polyamide.
And the quality of that nylon isn't listed in the yarn's description.
I believe the blending ratio also changes the feel and durability.
After much research, I have decided to newly carry two types of nylon-blend sock yarns.
Daily Sock
75% Superwash Merino and 25% Nylon
The nylon used is German-made 6.6.
This nylon has a texture close to silk,
and honestly, if you put it next to MerinoSock, you can't tell which is which.
Left: Daily Sock
Right: MerinoSock
And even if I closed my eyes and had them shuffled,
I couldn't tell which was which just by touching them.
It's 4-ply with a proper twist,
and there's absolutely no coarse feel of nylon.
However, since it's 100g and 425m, compared to MerinoSock,
it might feel slightly thinner (though the difference is almost imperceptible).
Since it's a nylon blend, its durability is guaranteed.
If you wear socks daily or prioritize durability, I recommend choosing this yarn.
Hence, "Daily Sock" for everyday socks.
However, the name is just for clarity; it doesn't mean you can't wear the previous MerinoSock or Springy every day.
↑ Men's Emily's Favorite Socks
Soft Sock
Next up is
85% Superwash Merino and 15% Nylon
The nylon is 6 blend.
This nylon is said to have a texture similar to cotton.
Indeed, when you touch it, it does have a cotton-like feel.
As the name suggests, it's truly soft and fluffy.
Actually, I was thinking of adding just one type of sock yarn instead of two,
but I thought many customers would like this yarn,
and after knitting with it, I became a fan myself.
Since it's 4-ply, it has a good twist,
and at 100g and 400m, it feels even fluffier.
Compared to MerinoSock of the same length, it's fluffier and more springy.
And, when I placed the two new types side by side,
Left: Soft Sock
Right: Daily Sock
The difference is quite noticeable.
The left feels moist to knit with, while the right feels crisp.
How was it?
Unfortunately, the perfect season for knitting is about to end,
but that's exactly why!
Sock season is here.
Let's knit up a stash, one pair at a time,
imagining happy feet in winter ♪