What type of yarn is best for socks?

When you want to knit or crochet a pair of socks, it type of yarn you choose to use does make a difference. Socks wear out extremely fast, so it is extra important that you choose a durable yarn, otherwise, your socks will quickly get holes in them.

You should also choose a yarn that can withstand machine washing, as well as potentially being dried in the dryer. Socks get dirty easily, so it is important that the yarn can withstand relatively high temperatures in order to keep them clean.

Even though the yarn you use for your socks has to live up to a number of requirements to achieve the best result, it is far from hard to find a usable yarn. You can simply go for what is called 'sock yarn'. 

What is sock yarn?

Sock yarn is a collective term for a number of yarn types that are ideal to use for knitting or crocheting socks. Sock yarn is generally designed to be durable, as well as suitable for machine washing at 40 degrees.

There are a number of different types of sock yarn, all of which vary a lot in quality. This is because the fibres in sock yarns are often a blend of a variety of yarn types in order for them to have a certain set of properties. You will therefore be able to find exactly the type of yarn that has the specific properties you want for your socks.

Some of the sock yarn types available include:

Cotton blends

You can find sock yarn that consists mainly of cotton yarn. The advantage of this type of sock yarn is that you will get some soft and comfortable socks that will not itch or scratch your feet.

However, cotton yarn does tend to be a bit thin as well as non-heat regulating. You can make up for this if you go for a cotton yarn that is mixed with another material, such as wool.

Wool blends

One of the most popular types of yarn to knit or crochet socks with is wool yarn - and for good reason. As previously mentioned, wool is heat-regulating, so the yarn helps ensure that your feet do not get too hot or too cold.

Wool also transports moisture away from the body without the wool itself getting wet or damp, which is especially useful for socks. When it comes to sock yarn, wool is often blended with polyamide, cotton or nylon.

Alpaca blends

Alpaca yarn is in many ways reminiscent of wool yarn, as it is also heat-regulating and moisture-absorbing. However, alpaca yarn has the added benefit of being extremely durable. This yarn is therefore perfect for knitting or crocheting socks, as the socks will last you a long time.

If you want to use sock yarn made from alpaca, you will often find that the alpaca yarn is mixed with wool and/or polyamide. These materials help make the yarn even more ideal for making socks.

The types of sock yarn mentioned above are among some of the most popular types, but there are also many other types of sock yarn that you can try out.

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