I’ve often read that socks should be knitted using yarn that contains nylon, otherwise they will wear out really quickly. But I want to try and challenge that! I love knitting with non-nylon sock yarn, and have found that by considering the type of yarn I choose and the way I knit my socks, there are lots of things that I can do to make them last longer. Here are a few things to try (they will all work for socks with some nylon in too!).

Reinforce heels and toes

Heels and toes can be reinforced in a number of ways. You could knit reinforced heels by slipping alternate stitches or you could hold your yarn double with another, stronger yarn for these areas. Another option is to duplicate stitch over heels once they’ve been knit.

Use smaller needles

The tighter your gauge, the more durable the fabric will be. Of course there is a balance to be struck here, and you don’t want to make a fabric that is so dense that it doesn’t stretch around your foot as you move. This approach might involve some maths, as you might need to adjust the number of stitches (and therefore your pattern) to achieve the result that you want with smaller needles. If your pattern has a number of sizes, you could simply try knitting a larger size, but going down a needle size. You’ll need to swatch to find out what works for you.

Allow your socks to felt

Natural (non-superwash) wool has a tendency to felt when it comes into contact with moisture and friction. This is not always a useful characteristic, but felted wool is more durable. Try knitting your socks slightly larger and allow them to felt through wear around the heels and toes.

Look for different fibre blends

In the same way that nylon is blended into sock wool for strength, there are many sock yarns that contain other, natural fibres for the same purpose. These might include nettle, silk, alpaca or mohair.

Consider specific sheep breeds

Many sock yarns are made from merino, which is wonderfully soft, but definitely not the most durable yarn. There are other options! Look for breeds such as Romney, Hebredian, Blue Faced Leicester and Corriedale which may not feel quite as soft as merino next to the skin, but which will make a more durable sock yarn (and still make very comfortable socks).

Use a high-twist yarn

Yarn that has been spun with a slightly higher twist will be more durable, as will yarn that has been worsted spun (when all the fibres are combed into alignment). More plies will also add to the durability of yarn to a certain degree.

Choose your pattern carefully

Think about what you want your socks to do. Lace socks, for example, will be great in warmer weather but they won’t last so long if you wear them in walking boots for long hikes. Squishy cables will add warmth and texture and result in a thicker fabric, so may be more durable, but will also be warmer.

Get good at mending

Hand knitted socks are worth darning! A good darn can massively prolong the life of your socks, and it’s worth taking the time and care to do it properly (learn how here). Inspect your socks regularly for holes, or weak areas and fix them as soon as you spot them. In extreme cases it’s perfectly possible to remove and re-knit an entire toe or heel.

How to Knit Tougher Socks