Help Wool Socks with Holes

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I have a bunch of older commercially knit socks with holes in the soles, not sure what to do with the socks, are they even salvageable? Most of the holes are the size of a quarter.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
I have a bunch of older commercially knit socks with holes in the soles, not sure what to do with the socks, are they even salvageable? Most of the holes are the size of a quarter.
Honestly... probably not worth it, especially if either of you have any foot issues. And it's a bad idea for anyone who has circulation issues, because even a small rough spot in darning can cause a small sore to start.

It wouldn't hurt to try darning one, for practice, and to get an idea of whether it's practical for you. Use an old incandescent light bulb for a "darning egg". Slide it inside the sock, then weave a patch over the hole, with a good quality wool/nylon sock yarn (a tiny bit of nylon in sock yarn greatly increases the resistance to wear)

The problem with commercial socks as opposed to home knit ones is they use very fine yarns, and often a stitch which results in s terry-cloth-like texture on the inside. They're much more comfortable than coarser handknits, but not really easy to darn if you wear holes in them.

Summerthyme
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Honestly... probably not worth it, especially if either of you have any foot issues. And it's a bad idea for anyone who has circulation issues, because even a small rough spot in darning can cause a small sore to start.

It wouldn't hurt to try darning one, for practice, and to get an idea of whether it's practical for you. Use an old incandescent light bulb for a "darning egg". Slide it inside the sock, then weave a patch over the hole, with a good quality wool/nylon sock yarn (a tiny bit of nylon in sock yarn greatly increases the resistance to wear)

The problem with commercial socks as opposed to home knit ones is they use very fine yarns, and often a stitch which results in s terry-cloth-like texture on the inside. They're much more comfortable than coarser handknits, but not really easy to darn if you wear holes in them.

Summerthyme

I have darning eggs, needles, etc., I failed to mention in my OP that I was hoping for ideas on how to re-use them but not as socks. I know trying to turn them into fingerless gloves, when you cut the foot part of the sock off, might be an option but I don't own a serger.
 

Martinhouse

Deceased
When I was a little kid I got a potholder loom for Christmas. It was of metal, with lots of teeth on all four sides. I think it might have been adjustable...it used "rings" of knit fabric cut of socks that couldn't be mended any more, especially the top cuff part of the sock. One hooked the rings onto the teeth going in one direction and then wove loops all across the other direction with a crochet hook. To finish, each loop was crocheted onto the one next to it with the crochet hook as it was removed from the loom. Somehow, the last loop was secured so that it left a loop to hang the potholder on a hook.

I think there may have been directions for doing this same sort of thing in the old "McCall's Giant Golden Make-It Book", but I made mine on the metal loom.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
Oh, using them is easy, roughly sew up the holes (no need to be fancy, get a box of catnip from the shop - fill the toe (you can tie the toe if it is the problem) then tie the neck of the sock with the catnip inside. The result is a stuffed catnip sock about the size of a rat and cats just love them. My Mom would sometimes embroider eyes and whiskers on them but that's for the humans the cats don't care.

The only downside is that other socks can become cat toys but then they tend to anyway - this way the cats have their own "socks" you can distract them with.

The other thing my Mom did with them made rag dolls, I've never done that but I have made a lot of cat toys. Note, they will chew threw them eventually but they have a lot of fun doing it and they are cheap. You can stuff the inside of one sock with parts of another old sock if the catnip doesn't fill the space or you want an extra layer of protection for it.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Oh, using them is easy, roughly sew up the holes (no need to be fancy, get a box of catnip from the shop - fill the toe (you can tie the toe if it is the problem) then tie the neck of the sock with the catnip inside. The result is a stuffed catnip sock about the size of a rat and cats just love them. My Mom would sometimes embroider eyes and whiskers on them but that's for the humans the cats don't care.

The only downside is that other socks can become cat toys but then they tend to anyway - this way the cats have their own "socks" you can distract them with.

The other thing my Mom did with them made rag dolls, I've never done that but I have made a lot of cat toys. Note, they will chew threw them eventually but they have a lot of fun doing it and they are cheap. You can stuff the inside of one sock with parts of another old sock if the catnip doesn't fill the space or you want an extra layer of protection for it.

Little Girl loves socks she carries them around in her mouth, thanks this is a great idea!
 
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Marseydoats

Veteran Member
I cut some of them off and use them as leg warmers. And depending on how uncomfortable they are, I use them for layering. I pretty much always wear 2 pairs of socks in the winter.
and I've got a couple pairs that I've cut the toes out of, I call them my "poison ivy sleeves". The wool is too thick to scratch thru so I wear them on my arms when I've got a bad case, and bleach the heck out of them when I take them off.
 

Slydersan

Veteran Member
My grandma and mom used old socks (not just wool ones) as dust-rags. Roughly patch the hole ... or not... if it's small it won't matter. Turn the sock inside out so the bumpy part is on the outside (picks up more dust), slide it over you hand and go to town dusting. Trust me that was one of my chores as a kid... I have lots of time using them. LOL (and might be one of the reasons I hate dusting now as an adult)
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
It can also depend on what the sock is made out of - commercial cotton socks don't darn well but they make great cat toys or dust cloths.

Commercial wool socks with a thick enough yarn might be worth darning, they can also make good cat toys but usually, do better if you quick sew and interior lining (or use an old cotton sock as a liner) to keep the catnip from falling out too soon. Kitties love the feel and taste of wool and will eat through it pretty quickly so that's another good reason for a lining or inner sock.

My cousin's grandmother (who was in probably born in the mid-1890s in a back hollar of the Piney Woods in Mississippi) used to make dolls out of old socks, I think they were mostly wool but it has been a very long time since I saw one. I think she embroidered the faces and the effect was something like the stuffed monkey toys some people also make from old socks.

She would make a dress or overalls to put over the basic doll to make it more interesting, I have a strong memory of playing with one when I was about five that had belonged to her young daughter who had died decades before around age five or six.

So the doll was probably made in the 1930s.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I ended up throwing the majority of them away. I wadded a couple up into knots so that Nellie could play with them, she carries them around in her mouth like kittens.
 

bluelady

Veteran Member
Oh, using them is easy, roughly sew up the holes (no need to be fancy, get a box of catnip from the shop - fill the toe (you can tie the toe if it is the problem) then tie the neck of the sock with the catnip inside. The result is a stuffed catnip sock about the size of a rat and cats just love them. My Mom would sometimes embroider eyes and whiskers on them but that's for the humans the cats don't care.

The only downside is that other socks can become cat toys but then they tend to anyway - this way the cats have their own "socks" you can distract them with.

The other thing my Mom did with them made rag dolls, I've never done that but I have made a lot of cat toys. Note, they will chew threw them eventually but they have a lot of fun doing it and they are cheap. You can stuff the inside of one sock with parts of another old sock if the catnip doesn't fill the space or you want an extra layer of protection for it.
Oh, I had forgotten after all these years...my mom used to make dog toys from old socks. She stuffed a sock with other old socks, or whatever she had, tied a knot in the ankle, and they became great chew/throw/pull toys for our dog. The day would inevitably come when we'd go in the living room and find all the stuffing pieces strewn everywhere. You could stuff it all back in & sew up the hole...for a while. But by the time it was too shredded there would usually be more old socks available. The dog we had the longest was a super intelligent Sheltie cross, ladylike, never touched socks (or anything else) that weren't hers. But she did love her toys! Our neighbor used to bring wrapped toys for her for Christmas & her birthday, just to see her unwrap them & play with them. There was a little box in the living room for them and the socks, and my brother made a sign for it in fancy lettering, "Missie's Toy Box". Fun memories! :)

Gosh, how did I forget? Tomorrow I will ask dh to save all his socks for the dog. :) (Usually he cuts them open for rags.)
 

Deb Mc

Veteran Member
I have darning eggs, needles, etc., I failed to mention in my OP that I was hoping for ideas on how to re-use them but not as socks. I know trying to turn them into fingerless gloves, when you cut the foot part of the sock off, might be an option but I don't own a serger.
Maybe to use as a coin pouch, if you have small enough clasps for them?

I once turned a deerskin driving glove into a "medicine bag" with fringe and beadwork. So, anything is possible, if you're willing to go outside your comfort zone.

Are these socks wool? If so, maybe felt them and use them as fabric, later, as part of an applique quilt?

Good luck with your endeavors. :-)
 
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