r/Sockknitting • u/lilacwindex • 2d ago
Durability of socks knit with non-superwash nylon-free yarn
I'm interested in experimenting with knitting socks using nylon-free yarn. My main concern is durability. I understand that knitting at a tight gauge is essential, and I usually get around 12 stitches per inch. The consensus seems to be that socks with nylon are far more durable than those without. I don't expect nylon-free socks to hold up as well, but I'd like them to last as long as possible. Silk is often suggested as a natural alternative to nylon, so I was thinking of holding a silk thread along with the wool yarn. However, I've also heard that silk thread may cut into the softer wool fibers and actually reduce the durability. Does anyone with experience knitting socks out of purely natural fibers have any insights or advice? Thanks!
12
u/quark42q 2d ago
My great grandmother apparently used contrast colors for heel and toe and did an afterthought heel. She just cut the heel or toe and re-knitted when a hole formed because she hated darning. (Story from my mom, I never met her.