ao far I have done one pair with wooleze and it seems to be popular with the free patterns I have found on line but it is a thick yarn and makes heavy socks..must admit I like the sports yarns best so far

The sock yarns are wonderful but takes a much longer time to make a pair of socks with it compared to worsted weight. I guess it just depends on what you have in mind, a heavier pair of socks or lighter ones. I made a pair with Wool Ease too. They are way too big (my fault) so I wear them for slipper socks, but that yarn makes a nice sock.

Which yarn(s) would be good for cold feet? I have two family members whose feet are always freezing.

Wool! Or a wool blend, for cold feet. Even better, Alpaca! I got some sock weight alpaca and made a pair. I can only wear them when I my feet are really cold. Or when I know I will be outside all day in cold weather. So far, I think my favorite sock yarn is by Regia. They have a nice selection of sock yarn, nice to work with and nice to wear. I don't have an online source, as I buy at a local yarn shop, or at various yarn shops while on vacation. I have not made socks out of any weight other than sock weight.

Tami

I am currently making socks with a "shepherd worsted" weight wool yarn (Lorna's Laces). How does this yarn compare with other yarn? It is taking so long that I am afraid to go any lighter weight than this! What other types of yarns are a comparable weight to this one?

Do you have to be sure to get yarn that does not felt when using wool?

Heavier sock yarns are OK for boots but may make socks that are too thick for regular shoes and sneakers. Most wool sock yarns are made from superwash wool with nylon for strength and longer wear. There are some sock yarns that are not superwash and will felt if machine washed so I always check the label. If you want to splurge, Mountain Colors Bearfoot is heavenly soft and warm because it has mohair. There are also sock yarns with stretchy elastic built in (Trampoline, Regia Stretch, Lana Grossa Mega Boot, Cascade Fixation) that will make your socks fit better. Paton's Kroy is a good value in a wool sock yarn, comes in tons of colors and is available widely. There are some online sites with great prices on sock yarn (Elann, Knitpicks) and one devoted to sock yarn (Simplysockyarn).

These are great suggestions and I am going to look them up online. For some reason my sock developed several "holes" and for the life of me I can't figure out why, but this morning I ripped the whole thing out, even though I was almost to the toe. AAUGH! I am so frustrated!!! I have the fantasy of beautiful soft heirloom-quality (lol) socks and what I really have is a large ball of crinkly-but-beautiful yarn. I was using the pattern from knoon but just ordered Sock Wizard online. Maybe toe-up would be easier????

Catlover, I use the Ann Norling Adult Basic Sock pattern. It gives you the instructions for 3 different weight yarns and is very simple to use.

As a suggestion, how about raiding your stash and making a baby sock first? It will give you all the same parts of the sock to work with, but will take only a small amt of time, so if you have to rip out and try again, you haven't lost that much time. You can always use it for a Christmas ornament. You can find free patterns for baby socks on line, I'm sure.

Tami

Tami, good idea! Thanks, CL PS My local yarn shop sells Ann Norling patterns so maybe they have the one you mentioned.
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