Best Yarn for SOCKS My favorite sock yarn for knitting
Ready to start knitting socks?
There’s something extra cozy about a pair of handmade socks!
Curious what type of yarn to use for socks?
Here’s some of my favorite sock weight yarn, a mini tour of what’s currently in my stash, plus all your questions about sock yarn answered!
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1. Knit Picks Felici
Above photo: Here are a few fun examples of the Felici I currently have in my stash!
This yarn is so much fun to work with!
This yarn contains 75% superwash merino wool and 25% nylon, a blend that leaves you with soft, breathable, and machine washable socks! (always check the care instructions on your yarn!)
Even more fun — this multicolored yarn leaves you with effortless stripes for your socks. No changing yarn colors! Just fun, easy, multicolored socks with a BIG personality!
Knit Picks even produces a “bare” color of this yarn so you can dye it to whatever color you’d like!
2. Patons Kroy Socks
Above: What’s left of this much loved yarn in my stash
Another fun multicolored yarn that gives you instant stripes in your socks, I love my Kroy Socks yarn!
Patons Kroy Socks yarn has 75% wool and 25% nylon in it, which in my opinion is a blend that will give you the perfect sock yarn!
The blend of nylon adds some great elasticity to this sock yarn!
It comes in so many cozy color options. I’m a sucker for nearly every one of their pallets!
There are also plenty of fabulous colors that have a masculine feel, which I find can be less common to find than yarns with a more feminine feel!
If you prefer sturdier yarns that produce a long-lasting sock, this yarn is an excellent choice for your next pair of wool socks!
While this is a very durable yarn, be aware that this sock wool is not going to be as soft as your superwash merino wool yarns used for socks.
I honestly like this, though. The blend of wool makes the socks feel less “slippery slidey” when walking around my house.
It really comes down to your own personal preferences!
Probably one of the best selling points of Kroy sock yarn is, well, the selling price!
This is a very budget friendly sock that doesn’t sacrifice quality — see for yourself!
3. Knit Picks Palette
Above: The palette yarn currently in my stash, and currently being used on a project!
If you want a sock yarn that has no synthetic fibers or harsh chemicals in it, that still comes with a surplus of color options, take a peek at Palette!
Like I said, this yarn line has a LONG list of color options for you to pick and choose from.
And because it’s from Knit Picks, they are available at a very budget friendly price, too!
Just because this yarn is made of completely natural fibres, doesn’t make it any less durable.
This yarn still has great durability, and gives a beautiful finished result!
It’s the perfect choice for those who want to enjoy using a completely natural yarn for their socks.
What yarn should I use for socks?
If you’re curious about what the right yarn is to use for socks, it’s best to check your pattern.
All sock patterns should tell you what weight (and even a suggested brand!) your yarn should be for any given knitting project.
The weight of the yarn needed for your pattern should be one of the first things you see on the pattern — right towards the very top.
For the most part, the yarn needed to make your perfect pair of socks will be a weight 1, or “fingering weight yarn.”
Occasionally, for thicker socks, you’ll see a DK weight, worsted weight yarn, or even an aran weight! Just keep in mind that with extremely thick socks, they are best worn as slippers, and might not be comfortable to wear with shoes.
Since most sock patterns have a fingering yarn weight, that’s the yarn I’ll be making mention of today!
Is there a difference between regular yarn and sock yarn?
Not really.
While you can find nearly any suggested yarn weight in a sock knitting pattern, you’ll often find that specific “sock yarns” will have a nylon blend of around 25% to add durability, and to enable your socks to be thrown into the washing machine.
If you prefer using all natural fibers but still love the practicability of throwing socks into a washing machine, you can consider superwash yarns. However, be aware that superwash yarns are treated with chemicals and coated in plastic to achieve this convenience.
You can always opt for a pure wool option for your choice of sock yarn — just know you will always be hand washing your socks!
Can I use acrylic yarn for socks?
While it’s a good idea to choose a yarn that won’t break your heart if all your hard work is ruined when (either purposefully or accidentally) throwing them into a wash, I don’t suggest acrylic yarn for socks.
Acrylic yarn will not produce comfortable socks. Acrylic socks will leave you with hot, sweaty feet that are never able to breathe. Not only will your feet be stinky, but I find that synthetic yarns hold in odors like nobody’s business. Socks can take a long time to make! Consider investing in a slight additional cost to get some sort of wool blend. Your feet will thank you later! And, I love a good budget yarn that doesn’t sacrifice quality, so keep reading for some good inexpensive suggestions!
Can I use cotton yarn for socks?
While I always grab the store bought cotton socks for my family, cotton yarn is not the best choice for knitting socks.
While cotton yarn will give you beautiful breathability, it will also leave you with droopy socks that feel stiff and uncomfortable.
If you want cotton in your socks, try looking at wool blends that have a small amount of cotton in them.
Is alpaca yarn a good choice for socks?
Yes! Alpaca yarn is a great choice for socks!
Alpaca yarn has basically all the benefits of wool — plus it is beautifully soft.
How much yarn do I need for socks?
If you’re making an average pair of woman’s socks, you’ll usually need just one skein of yarn!
Making knee socks, men’s socks, or anything out of the ordinary that might be a little “larger?” Buy two skeins.
If you’re making a pair of tiny baby socks — I could easily get multiple pairs out of one skein of sock yarn. (And I have!)
What else can I use with my sock yarn?
Sock yarn comes in so many beautiful colors and patterns, it’s hard not to get carried away sometimes with adding these beautiful skeins to your stash!
Thankfully, you can use sock yarn for virtually any other project that requires that same weight of yarn.
Just be sure you have enough to complete your project, and that you’re using the appropriate yarn weight and needle size!
Weight 1 sock yarn can be used for hats, mittens, toys, lightweight blankets… anything you can think up!
Bear in mind that anything made with a weight 1 yarn will be lightweight! As long as your yarn is blended with nylon as much of sock yarn is, you’ll still have great durability in your finished product!
Leave a comment — and check out my free knitting patterns!
Have any questions about sock yarn? Please leave them below and I would be happy to answer them!
If you’re interested in free knitting patterns, I love to keep my designs posted here on my blog.
And, if you have remnants of sock yarn — perhaps you’d like to knit some mice and a little wardrobe for them! You can find that free collection of patterns on my blog HERE!
