Sock Yarns: Wool & The Best Sock Yarn For Your Socks

By Jodie Morgan

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Socks are a popular project choice for crocheters and knitters. Knitting and crocheting socks is addictive! This is my guide to my favorite sock yarns. There are many types of yarn, but some yarns are better for crocheting or knitting socks than others.

Sock Yarn Feat Img

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Frustrated Teacher Quits In Disgust, Sells The Farm, Moves The Family Halfway Across The World And… Starts Knitting

My Quick Recommendations

The above links take you to Love Crafts and We Crochet.

There are many beautiful patterns, stitches for socks, and yarns to knit or crochet into socks. Experiment with color and different stitch techniques, and have fun! You can find some more great yarns for socks below.

I reviewed, fact checked and updated this post on June 3, 2023.

Table Of Contents

What’s The Best Yarn For Socks?

Paintbox Yarns Sock is best for crocheted and knitted socks. Read my more detailed reviews of the best sock yarns below. Your searches of the market are over!

Paintbox Yarns Sock Yarns

A ball of Paintbox Yarns Socks Yarn

Four fantastic colorways.

  • Zebra Print
  • Fair Isle (Mock)
  • Stripes (plain colors and graduated)
  • Pixel (uniformly speckled)

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Washable by machine. Don’t tumble dry
  • Made Of – Superwash wool and polyamide
  • Yardage – 427yds (390m)
  • Yarn Weight – 4 ply
  • Skein Weight – 3.5oz
  • Gauge – 30 stitches, 42 rows to 4″
  • Needle – 2mm – 3mm
  • Hook – 1.15mm – 1.70mm

Product Design

One pair is made from one skein. This company also has many variants worth checking out. Subscribe to their newsletters for the latest deals or closeout sale.

Pros

  • Smooth with great softness
  • The array of colors are fun
  • Each cake has a lovely gradient
  • Machine washable at 40°C
  • The favorites of lots of knitters
  • Cheap prices
  • Shopping on this site is easy and things are often on sale
  • Squishy

Cons

  • Not super soft
  • Few solid stripe options
  • Complex stitches won’t show up

How do I choose a good huge yarn for arm knitting? Consider these options.

Malabrigo

Malabrigo Sock Yarn in Red

100% superwash merino fibers make this incredibly soft wool. A joy to use.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Cold machine wash and flat dry
  • Made Of – Superwash merino
  • Yardage – 440 yds
  • Yarn Weight – Fingering
  • Skein Weight – 3.5 oz (100g)
  • Gauge – 32 stitches to 4″
  • Needle – US 1 (2.25mm) – US 3 (3.25mm)
  • Hook – B (2.25mm) – E (3.50mm)

Product Design

The selection of colorways have solids, speckles, and variegated ones.

Pros

  • Soft
  • Squishy
  • Durable, and creates lovely results
  • The store has more gorgeous options (and crocheting tools)
  • Affordable shipping to your country, including the EU & Finland

Cons

  • These may not last as long as yarns containing nylon

What is the best yarn for crocheting? Learn more in my guide.

Patons Kroy Sock Knitting Yarn

Patons Kroy Sock in blues reds and yellows

The fingering weight yarn is soft and durable. Wool wicks away moisture.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Machine wash and dry
  • Made Of – 75% Wool/ 25% Nylon
  • Yardage – 166 yds (152 m)
  • Yarn Weight – Fingering
  • Skein Weight – 1.75 oz (50g)
  • Gauge – 22 sc & 24 rows
  • Hook – (US D/3) 3.25mm

Product Design

Stunning patterns add interest and fun to your projects.

Product Evolution

Most ankle-length pairs require two balls. (For larger men’s sizes, three balls.)

Pros

  • Colors don’t fade even after many washes
  • Plenty of various colors
  • Durable
  • This is something that’s skin-friendly
  • Warm
  • Makes thick fabric

Cons

  • First wear might be itchy. They soften after washing
  • Variegated yarns won’t result in two socks exactly alike
  • Has knots

What are the best yarn brands for knitting? See my guide.

Comfy Fingering

We Crochet Comfy Fingering Yarn in multiple colors

Thinner and lighter than most, but the natural fibers are good for sensitive skin.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Machine Wash/Tumble Dry
  • Made Of – 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic
  • Yardage – 218yds (199m)
  • Yarn Weight – Fingering
  • Skein Weight – 1.8oz (50g)
  • Gauge – 4″ = 21–32 single crochets
  • Hook – B-E (2.25mm-3.5mm)

Product Design

Cotton sock yarns are great for people sensitive to wool.

Product Evolution

WeCrochet also offers other yarn weights.

Pros

  • Canada, UK, & AU Shipping
  • A variety of solid colors; bright and pastel
  • Soft
  • Washes well
  • Make many things!
  • Shiny drape
  • Good stitch definition
  • It doesn’t split

Cons

  • It pills
  • Cotton isn’t as durable as wool

Berroco Comfort Sock

Berroco Comfort Sock Check Price On Amazon

Acrylic/nylon blends aren’t usually good. Wool wicks moisture. Acrylic doesn’t. A good alternative to wool if you’re sensitive to it.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Wash and tumble dry on low
  • Made Of – 50% Nylon 50% Acrylic
  • Yardage – 447 yds
  • Yarn Weight – Fingering
  • Skein Weight – 3.5 oz (100 g)
  • Hook – 3.25 mm (D)

Product Design

The acrylic blend is easy to care for and soft against the skin. Nylon adds strength and durability.

Pros

  • Quality
  • Bright colors
  • Any weather
  • Self-striping options
  • Feels soft
  • Hard-wearing
  • They’d make lovely bed socks

Cons

  • Your feet may sweat
  • Acrylic absorbs odors, so wash after use

Regia

Regia 4 ply self striping sock yarn

Sock yarns of this type come in a wide range of bright colors.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Machine washable and dry
  • Made Of – 75% wool 25% nylon
  • Yardage – 459 yds (420m)
  • Yarn Weight – 4 ply
  • Skein Weight – 3.50oz (100g)
  • Hook – 2-3mm

Product Design: A 100g ball of this nylon blend yarn makes one pair of socks. Regia manufacturer Schachenmayr collaborated with Arne and Carlos, well-known creators, to develop self-patterning products. There are many free patterns to learn how to make a sock using this product.

Pros

  • Excellent engineered patterns and gradients.
  • Good price
  • Ships to the United Kingdom
  • Colors and gradients galore
  • This sort of thing is stretchy

Cons

  • Scratchy, but softens with washing
  • Crocheted socks lose the pattern, knit socks look better

How Do You Choose Sock Yarn?

Here are some key decision-making factors to consider when choosing the best sock yarn.

What Kind Of Care Does It Need?

During cooler weather, a wool sock is worn every day. They should be durable socks and withstand frequent washings and wear. Try to avoid ones that discolor with repeated washings. It saves time to use a machine-washable ones, like superwash merino wool. Other types of a few yarns are available if you don’t mind hand-washing.

What Kind Of Yarn Is Used For Socks?

Even in blends, sock knitters avoid silk, bamboo, angora, cashmere, or alpaca. Silk sock yarn is best suited for shawls or delicate knitted items. Cotton-blend yarn is also more fragile than pure wool yarn. They don’t stand up well to abrasion. If you live in a warm climate, stick to cotton or cotton-blend yarns. This is the best yarn for summer socks.

Pure synthetics won’t provide much warmth over the long run. When worn, this type of yarn holds moisture against your feet, making them cold and clammy. There isn’t a best acrylic sock yarn because it doesn’t keep your feet warm and makes them sweat.

Start with socks yarns if you’re new to knitting socks. These are stronger and easier to wash than similar weight yarns not designed for socks. Blends of cotton/nylon and bamboo/cotton/nylon are the best non-wool yarns. They are the best choice if you have an allergy to wool.

Socks need to absorb or wick moisture away from sweaty feet. Sock wool is the best. It absorbs up to one-third of its weight in moisture before it feels wet. Knitters often prefer cotton sock yarns, but these are not as absorbent as wool.

What Yarn Weight Is Best?

Choose fingering weight sock yarn (400m/100g) if you like thin socks. Socks made from thicker wool, such as DK weight or sport weight, are bulkier. Consider how much space you have in your shoes!

Thinner sock yarns include fingering weight yarn, sport weight yarn, and DK weight yarn that range from 6 to 8 stitches per inch in gauge. The finer the gauge, the more form-fitting the sock will be. I wouldn’t recommend single ply yarn because it’s not sturdy enough. Knit socks in worsted-weight yarn with gauges up to 4 stitches per inch.

What’s Your Budget?

The more expensive it is, the longer it lasts. It’s up to you to choose the most affordable thing for you. Mulberry silk and wool is more expensive than others! Most sites offer something to suit any budget. If you need help choosing, contact their customer service.

As socks are so popular, you can often get excellent patterns free of charge online.

The Socks Should Snugly Fit The Leg

People prefer socks that are tight and non-floppy. It’s important they hug the leg and toes. Pulling up your socks is no fun! You need plied yarn (individual fibers they twist into one thread) with less yield.

Wool and nylon are blended to give elasticity. Wool is amazingly elastic, but nylon reinforces its strength. When worn in shoes, socks are put to the test. The friction created means the socks need to be durable.

What Knitting Or Crochet Tools Are You Going To Use?

Knitters recommend these knitting needle options:

  • 6″ double-pointed needles
  • Two circulars
  • Magic loop using one long circular needle to knit two socks at a time
  • 9″ circulars

For crocheting socks, check the yarn label to see which size to use.

What Does The Yarn Feel Like?

The way it feels on your hands may differ from how it feels on the calf or foot. Some people are more sensitive to scratchy materials. Some people can tolerate rough yarns in socks they wouldn’t tolerate in scarves or sweaters.

Remember, the softer it is, the shorter time they last, as they pill or wear out quicker. You can’t tell this from shopping online, so read the reviews and ask fellow crafters about their experience.

What Colors Do You Want And What Stitch Pattern?

Enjoy intricate stitch patterns? Consider the color of your yarn. With plain or ‘kettle dyed’ yarn, which is the best solid color sock yarn, intricate stitch patterns in socks will stand out. Dark colors hide textures and cables. If you want the pattern to stand out, choose lighter colors.

Self-striping yarns are some of my favorite sock yarns. This is perfect sock yarn for colorful, wild sock patterns. Remember, the heel of your sock affects the stripes.

Which Is Best For You?

  • Paintbox Sock – Great for affordable self-striping socks
  • Malabrigo Socks – A lovely, more luxurious option
  • Patons Kroy Sock Knitting – My top budget pick
  • Comfy Fingering – This is perfect lightweight summer yarn
  • Berroco Comfort Sock – Good if you’re sensitive to wool
  • Regia – The definitive choice for knitting fun self-patterning socks!

Comparable Products To Consider

Looking for more options for handknit socks? See these:

FAQs About Sock Wool

What Is Sock Yarn?

It’s a special type of super fine yarn. Many specialty ones are hand-dyed.

What Size Is Sock Yarn?

The American Craft Yarn Council places this in the Super Fine category with symbol number 1. Small needles, such as 2.25mm or US needle size 1-3, are used.

What Weight Is Sock Yarn?

(Fingering in the US and 4 ply in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.) Yarns of this type vary in thickness or weight, such as super bulky or worsted weight. Socks in these thicknesses would be ideal for bed socks or for hiking. It’s often a blend of fibers, which makes the finished fabric stronger.

What Is The Best Yarn For Socks Good For?

It can also be used in blankets and shawls.

What Is Different About The Best Sock Yarn?

What’s different about it is how it’s specifically engineered to be stretchy, long-lasting and moisture wicking.

What Size Needles For Sock Yarn?

The best knitting needle size is 2.25—3.25mm or US 1 to 3.

What Size Hooks For The Best Sock Yarn?

The best crochet hook size is 2.25—3.5mm or US B–1 to E–4.

What Can I Make With Leftover Yarn For Knitting Socks?

You can make scrap shawls, wraps, gloves, headbands, bracelets, use them as filling for pillows or amigurumi creations. Or as stitch markers for your next project!

How To Knit Socks With Sock Weight Yarn

During the class, you learn Arne’s techniques for knitting toe-up. Arne & Carlos use Regia Pairfect Design Line 4-Ply. The self-striping creates different effects. Blended with 75% superwash wool and 25% polyamide (for reinforcement). This gives it stretch and durability, and it’s machine washable.

What Are Popular Yarn Blends for Knitting Socks?

When blended with merino and nylon, mohair is a wonderful, durable fiber. Do you have cold feet? Nothing beats angora’s warmth. Even a small amount of angora in a wool blend of very fine yarn increases its heating capacity. But you can’t go wrong with pure wool socks or wool superwash yarns blended with nylon.

Why Wool and Nylon?

Wool’s bounce and fiber memory are best. Cotton yarn and angora are less elastic. Choose a blend of wool and nylon if you prefer less elastic fibers. A superwash yarn and nylon blend is warm, abrasion-resistant yet stretchy. A wool and nylon blend is right for most people! A super fine acrylic yarn isn’t suitable, as it doesn’t have any of the qualities necessary for a good lightweight sock yarn.

What Is The Best Self Striping Sock Yarn?

Self-striping yarn creates fabulous stripes. Experts suggest long color changes for the best self-striping. Felici Yarn is excellent and affordable.

What Is The Best Worsted Weight Sock Yarn?

Chroma is a fabulous worsted weight yarn – 70% wool, 30% nylon.

Conclusion

All you need to know about knitting these essential items, you’ll find a gorgeous, quality fiber content to suit your needs. Your search for good sock yarn is over. I’d love to hear your preference. Let me know in the comments. (Your email address is never published.)

Read Next: Get my articles on where to get the cheapest fiber here.

Frustrated Teacher Quits In Disgust, Sells The Farm, Moves The Family Halfway Across The World And… Starts Knitting

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