How to Select the Best Yarn for Knitting Socks
Making a nice comfortable pair of socks starts with picking the right yarn. After knitting several pairs of socks for myself and others, I have some yarn favorites that have worked best for me.
Color Choice
The first thing to consider is color. If you are a beginner, pick a light solid color. Sound too boring? Speckled yarn works as well. However, solid yarn can be the best bet when knitting your first set of socks.
If you are an advanced knitter, pick any color or dye style you like! Keep in mind, if you like to knit at night, picking a lighter color or investing in a good Ott light can be game changing! Socks are great fun to knit. However, if you knit socks in the dark, be prepared to tink or frog back the next morning. Rule of thumb: Use light yarn or work in plenty of light and all will be well.
Fiber Content
Merino Nylon Blends
As far as fiber content is concerned, the yarn blend most widely regarded as best for knitting socks is 75% Superwash Merino wool and 25% Nylon. Merino wool is soft and is much less barby than most other sheep wools. Hence, merino is a lot more comfortable on the skin. This fiber combo can be purchased in superwash, which means it can go into the washing machine and come out of the dryer looking like new.
The nylon gives the socks some stretch and strength. The Merino gives the socks softness and warmth. Cascade Heritage yarn is great for socks, and is the 75% Superwash Merino/25% Nylon combo that I like.
In addition to the Cascade Heritage, we also have some hand dyed sock yarn from Lyrical Fibers, Seracraft, Gracelynn Wool, Expression Fiber Arts and Lynn’s Fine Yarn, which come in this fiber make up. Hand-dyed yarn is fun to knit with and add a unique character to your socks. Some yarn also comes in a wonderful 80% Superwash Merino and 25% Nylon, which works perfectly as well.
Other Durable Blends
Even though 75% Merino/25% Nylon yarn is a wonderful option for knitting with, there are many other yarns that make fantastic socks.
100% Merino wool can also be a good option. Malabrigo makes a wonderful sock yarn that is 100% Superwash Merino. They make fine socks and wear very well for a yarn with no nylon content. The colors are spectacular too!
BFL (from Bluefaced Leicester wool) is as soft and strong as Merino. A BFL blend with nylon makes a great sock. Trilogy Yarns has some hand dyed BFL sock that fits the ticket. In addition to 75% BFL and 25% Nylon sock yarn, Trilogy also has an 80% BFL and 20% Nylon blend for socks. Both make yummy socks and her dye technique is outstanding!! NOTE: BFL can be washed in the washing machine with cold water, but DO NOT put it in the dyer. Lay your socks flat to dry.
Luxury Blends
If you want something luxurious and you don’t mind hand washing your socks, try a Merino/nylon/cashmere blend. It is best not to go any higher than 10% on the Cashmere. You are in danger of felting your socks if you get too aggressive washing them, or having them wear out or fuzz up more easily. They do make a wonderfully soft sock and a fine gift for someone who doesn’t mind washing things by hand. If you get a 80% Superwash Merino 10% Nylon and 10% Cashmere (Of which Trilogy Yarns has an amazing selection), you can get away with washing them in the washing machine, but be sure to lay them flat to dry.
My favorite pair of socks, as far as comfy-squishy-walking-on-a-cloud-soft are made from 80% Merino, 10% nylon, and 10% Alpaca. They are wonderful to wear. However, it is best to be aware of a couple of caveats. You must wash them by hand because they can shrink and felt in a washing machine. The yarn can sometimes be prone to be a little splitty as you knit. I must say the end product is worth the struggle of knitting and the hassle of hand washing. They are divine to wear and super warm and cozy.
Another great blend is Merino and Silk. When talking about this blend, I can’t forget The Yarn Fairy and the Pixies. A genius with color, Wendy (The Yarn Fairy) comes up with some hand dyed products that are to die for (pun intended). She offers an Elf Kiss Sock yarn that is 85% Fine Merino/ 15% silk. That is one of my favorite squeezes. Again, Fine Merino/Silk screams “Wash me by hand!!!”.
Number of plies
All of these yarns blends have a couple of things in common that you MUST have when you are knitting socks. They are all plied. You may find a single ply that you love, but it might be best to make something else with it. Single ply yarns are just not sturdy enough to wear well as socks. If you are going to go to the trouble to knit your socks, you want to be sure they are going to last by picking the right ply and the right fiber combo. Three plies or more are great in socks and add durability
Yarn Size
While the yarns I have recommended here are all sock/fingering weight yarns, you can knit socks with sport weight or worsted weight yarn. However, your pattern selection needs to be suitable for a heavier-weight yarn. A vast majority of sock patterns tend to call for sock/fingering weight yarn.
The pattern will let you know what yarn size you are aiming for. When choosing your pattern, you should keep in mind the intended use. If you have a friend that tromps around Alaska in the snow and in boots, knit them a pair of worsted-weight superwash Merino socks! They will be warm and they will last. Slipper socks are often knit with worsted or aran weight yarn. If you are making everyday wear socks, as a general rule, go for sock/fingering weight yarn. The color variety it so fun and they make wonderful socks that fit any shoe. In addition, the smaller yarn lays flatter against the skin.
“Knit on with confidence and hope through all crises.” Elizabeth Zimmermann
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