While we have focused on handpainting cotton yarns in the past few weeks, we have more sock yarns coming in the shop at www.thankewe.etsy.com. This next group will be a superwash wool/nylon blend. Nylon is a wonderful addition to wool sock yarn - it makes the yarn much more durable.
This seems to be the winter that many of my handknit socks have finally shown signs of wear. Like Elizabeth Zimmerman, I replace the heels when they wear out. I haven't always had a bit of the original yarn to use for repairs, so replacing heels makes for very interesting socks indeed! The technique EZ suggests is to pick up stitches around the hole and knit as if knitting the toe. Works well! I do it on 2 circular needles and it's really a breeze. I pick up stitches a few rows away from the stitches where the hole is so that I am working with strong fabric areas. I don't bother about trimming the excess frayed yarn. Doing so could only weaken the fabric and encourage "runs". I leave it there on the inside of the sock. Since it's my heel, I can't feel it, so why bother about it? I like repairing my hand knit socks. I am not ready to let them go, just because the heels have worn through.
That's it for today. See you on your blog!
2 comments:
Thanks for the tip on socks. I have two pairs right now in desperate need of some patching. What EZ book can I find the explanation of that in? Or is it on a DVD? Let me know. Thanks.
I'm thinking it was in Knitting Around by EZ - it's my go to book on everything.
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