Socks from accessory to status symbol
Socks from accessory to status symbol
Socks: as an accessory Socks are often overlooked, but this veritable garment can make all the difference both in our outfits and in how we use them.
Besides their practical and almost indispensable function in everyday life, they can also be an expression of personality.
Socks, precisely because of their fundamental protective function, have a long history to tell, dating back thousands of years, which we have tried to explore in this post: Do you know the history and origins of socks?
Do stockings, socks, offer us the opportunity to express our personality? Certainly! Choosing to wear certain colours, certain patterns or models with particular motifs and stitches (in the case of hand-made socks), always being coordinated with our clothing or preferring a strong contrast, tell a lot about us! Classic, whimsical, shy, cheeky, colourful, mismatched, socks can be our calling card.
It is no coincidence that the fashion world has recently rediscovered them but, beyond the trends of the moment, socks are a very important element in protecting an important part of our body, which supports us in all senses, at various times of the day and in all environments. Think, for example, of the time we spend at home and how pleasant, relaxing and regenerating it is to wear comfortable, warm socks. We at LanaOnline are absolutely convinced of this, so much so that we have allocated an exclusive corner both in our shop and in our online store where you can find not only dedicated yarns and knitting needles, but also accessories for every need.
Let's start by getting to know the various parts that make up the sock and which can be useful in its realisation.
Let's come to the different techniques for creating socks: everyone can follow the one that suits or intrigues them best and can choose which working tools to try their hand with, from the classic game with 5-iron needles of different lengths, material, or with mini circular needles. One can then choose whether to start from the toe up; a technique called (see Drops' tutorials) 'toe up' with the magic loop technique.
Or you can choose the traditional technique, starting at the neck of the leg, then making the heel and going down to the toe; see toe decreases - If you love crochet, you can also crochet socks in the round, and crochet the heel. There's something for everyone!
An important support can be obtained from this table developed with reference to 2 types of 4- and 6-ply Regia yarn and which indicates, according to size, the foot length in cm, the number of stitches to be started, the heel and leg measurements.
Receiving or gifting handmade socks is also a gesture with a special meaning! The invitation is therefore to create socks for both you and your loved ones, starting with the little ones! In our assortment, you will find sock yarns from Regia Schackenmayer created especially for children such as Regia Pairfect Kids Colour. The particularity that distinguishes the entire Pairfect line is the development of special patterns and colour changes that are repeated identically for both socks: within each ball of yarn, there is in fact a section of yarn of a different colour (it has to be cut off) that indicates the exact half of the ball of yarn: it has to be cut off and the creation of the second sock can thus begin. Look at these wonderful patterns and colours!
Also in the Schackenmayr range, check out the Regia yarns signed by famous designers: in this case they are Arne and Carlos from the Design Line!
Also in the Drops yarn assortment there is more than one yarn suitable for hosiery: composed of 75% wool and 25% polyamide, Fabel yarn has for years been offered with a rich colour chart of both plain and fancy yarns.
In addition to the classic wool and polyamide, the yarn Drops Nord is enhanced by a percentage of alpaca, which will make your socks and garments even warmer and softer.
Our focus on fibre and product quality directs us to the Made in Italy company Laines du Nord. With a long tradition in the production of high-quality yarns, Laines du Nord is one of the most highly regarded yarn manufacturers for their craftsmanship and the quality materials they use in the composition of knitting and crochet products.
Yarns from Laines du Nord are often preferred by knitters and crocheters because of their excellent print quality and the beautiful effects the finished products create.
We would like to talk about these sock yarns by emphasising the quality of the fibres that make up these products and the chlorine-free treatments that Laines du Nord offers.
Among the Laines du Nord branded yarns, you will find a variety of options with amazing effects, such as Paint sock, Watercolor sock. Incredible nuances in the transition between colours also for the yarn Paint Gradient sock and Infinity sock! Observe from the photos the nuances, the degradé shades, the magical multicolour stripes that develop in the processing
What else can we need and can help us in the creation of knitted or crocheted socks?
Sock needles or knitting needles game: having a set of knitting needles game with the various sizes makes it easier to find the needles of the size you need for the yarn you are using. Sock needles are usually about 15-20 cm long. You can find them either individually or in assortments with various sizes (sets) from Drops or Knit pro.
Circular needles: also here the availability is varied in both sizes and materials: they can be interchangeable or fixed.
Stitch counters: these are useful tools for keeping track of the stitches in your work and help you to keep a correct count.
Stitch marker/marker ring: these rings are used to mark the stitches in your work, such as the beginning of the round or the point where you start to decrease or increase.
Thread cutter or scissors to cut the yarn.
Sock blocks: these are useful accessories for blocking socks, once they have been finished, to give the sock the correct shape for it to hold during drying.
Books, magazines, publications or online patterns: with these aids, it will be easier to understand the stitches and techniques required.
Making socks safer and more fun for little ones is possible! There are in fact both liquid latex products to apply to make them non-slip, and colourful and fun thermoadhesive shapes from the Schachenmayr Regia line
We can transform home socks into a warm slipper by applying the suede insoles of the Schachenmayr Regia line. Once the sock has been made, it will be easy to attach the insole with a stitch of your choice using the holes on the (black) edge on the perimeter.
To make the edges even more elastic, you can combine the wool yarn with Prym's transparent elastic yarn.
The choice of accessories obviously depends on many factors, first and foremost personal taste, then on the pattern you have chosen to make, your skills, etc.
Publications, magazines or patterns that can be downloaded online are a further support for sock making, both in technical terms and in terms of ideas and suggestions. Socks & Sockettes published by Corrado Tedeschi, for example, is a manual in which the technique is explained. 52 weeks of socks by Laine, on the other hand, is a collection of patterns by famous international designers .
Good creativity to all!
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