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Permalink Reply by Debbie Morton on October 2, 2009 at 6:04am: Hi. I've recently started sock knitting and love it but noticed today I have a problem with one spot in the toe of all my socks wearing thin. I've only worn these two to three times and it is happening on three pair. I'm not sure if is it my shoes or the yarn. All my yarn is 75/25 wool and nylon. Is there a way to reinforce the toes or is there a better wearing yarn that I could just use on the toes? I'm really addicted to this new hobby but don't want to spend time fixing holes. Any help is appreciated.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on October 2, 2009 at 6:24am: You can get reinforcement yarn, which is thinner but tougher than the yarn. You add it to the yarn you're using at the places you need it. I've used wooly nylon as reinforcement thread (nylon serger thread), but all I can see that it does is leave you with a framework for darning. You can also knit with double strands in those places, but you might have to go down a needle size or two to get gauge. You're lucky it's the toe, at least if you make your socks top down. You can cut off the toe, pick up the live sts and knit a new toe with reinforcement yarn or double strands. I usually wear out mine just front of the heel turn, where there usually is no reinforcement. I'm working on a solution to that, but for now, I have to darn. Are you using Stroll sock yarn from KP? That has held up very well for me. My biggest problem with wear has been with bamboo. It hasn't held up well for me. I hope this helps. --Peggy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terry on November 19, 2009 at 1:29am: My Mom always swore by embroidery floss as the best reinforcing thread for toes and heels. She would buy a couple of packs to match the sock yarn and when she got to the heel, she just picked up the embroidery floss and carried it along with the main yarn. Same for the toes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on November 19, 2009 at 5:13am: Terry, What a great tip! Thanks for this information. --S; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on November 19, 2009 at 9:30am: I'll have to try that! How many strands did she use? All six? --P; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terry on November 20, 2009 at 1:18am: I'm not sure how many strands she used; I'm only guessing, but knowing how thrifty Mom was, she probably only used 2 or 3 strands. All I know is her socks were fabulous. I hope some day mine are as well made as hers. When she passed away a couple of years ago, my brother (executor of her estate) gave all her clothes, including her handknit socks, sweaters, everything, to Salvation Army. I wish I had been able to keep a pair to use as a pattern because of how she designed the heel, other than the embroidery floss. She came up with her own special method which fit her foot perfectly. She had a narrow heel, as do I.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on November 20, 2009 at 8:35am: I'll try it with just two and see what happens. I'm not happy with the wooly nylon, and the reinforcement yarn is really hard to find. --P; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Customer Service on October 2, 2009 at 8:35am: Hi Debbie,

There are a couple of things you can do. First, I will often go down a needle size for heels & toes so it makes a firmer fabric. If your stitches are too loose, especially in those areas, they will rub together & wear out. Also, what yarn are you using? Some of the softer fibers will wear out quicker unless knit at a very tight gauge. I like to use things like our Stoll or yarns like Opal for hard wearing areas, even if I'm working with a softer fiber for the rest of it (for instance, I'm planning on doing some stripey socks out of cashmere/merino blend, but the toes are going to be out of some black Stroll in my stash so they don't wear out too quickly.)

Also it could very well be your shoes - if your socks are all wearing out at one particular place, you might check to see if your shoes are rubbing there.

Hope this helps!
Stacey
Customer Service; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by CreationsofFaith on October 8, 2009 at 4:28pm: I have come to love felting my creations. I have made and designed many bags and accessories. Recently, I have started making arigurimi. Is there any reason I can't felt these little guys? I thought if I made them in pieces, felted them & then added the eyes, embroidery & stuffing...what do you think?
Thank you, Faith

By the way, "palette" felts just beautifully!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on October 8, 2009 at 6:48pm: Faith: I'm sure you can felt them, as long as you're making them out of feltable yarn. Superwash won't felt. Some other yarns don't felt well, either. You're right, Palette felts well. I like to make a swatch and felt it, so I have an idea of how much shrinkage I'll have, and it isn't the same side-to-side as top-to-bottom. I've forgotten which is more. Good luck, and let us know how it goes! --P; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terry on October 15, 2009 at 10:57pm: Hi all,
I'm sorry; I just realized I was hijacking a conversation here. I'm still new at navigating this forum, so I'm unsure how/where to post general questions....

I'm trying to find a video tutorial demonstrating how to set up and begin double-knitting. I want to make neck scarves for Christmas gifts and thought double-knitting them would increase the warmth. Help!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on October 16, 2009 at 6:16am: Terry: There's no such thing as interrupting on this website! The nature of it allows people to go back to their conversations if they want. Thanks for your question. I've never done double knitting, but Kelley recently did a podcast on it here. It sounds like fun. The tutorial is here, but there's also a link to it on the podcast notes. Knitty Gritty also had an episode on the topic. I wasn't able to find it online, though. Maybe you know how to search better. Good luck! Let us know how you get on! --P; ▶ Reply to This