bio: socks

New Socks

You may have heard that buying organic cotton clothing is better for the environment. Hae Now has a pretty good explanation why.

Organic cotton does tend to be softer than its conventional counterpart in my experience, and some claim it lasts longer. However, beyond knowing you're keeping pesticides out of the ecosystem, I can't find a compeling reason why organic cotton clothing would improve your life.

Conversely, organic clothing is expensive and there aren't a lot of styles available. Overall I think buying used clothes is a better option, but it's not a choice for socks and underwear, so I buy organic socks and underwear. I chose to replace my socks with Maggie's Organic crew socks, and have been happy with them.

To decrease the number of orphan socks you end up with, replace all of your socks at once. I admit to only buying cute socks for a long time. Granted that'll be great for my upcoming projects :-)


Increase the life of your Socks

I would suggest avoiding the loss of socks (i.e. shoving socks into one of those mesh laundry bags before washing), darning, and possibly even clipping your toe nails more often.

I found three ways of darning socks. The first is the easiest but least recommended, thanks to SenatorGM on youtube. Craftzine gives a great tutorial on the most common darning method. And Holly Shaltz demonstrates a more complicated method that blends in better on knitted socks.


Life after Dish Clothes

To bring the discussion of socks full cycle, I ask 'what happens next?' First we can make old socks into cute projects, for example this happy sock thing by Michele of greeting arts.

After sock thing has been well loved, what happens to it? Assuming it doesn't become a family heirloom, it can be torn apart and sewn into dish clothes. Dish clothes is kinda the lowest level project. You can make anything cloth into a dish cloth.

After much usage that dish cloth will be disgusting, and then what? If your sock was made from all natural fibers (cotton, hemp, linen, wool) you can compost it. Unfortunately most socks have at least a little spandex in them :-(

All natural fiber advice still stands for other cloth items you buy! You can even compost lint from the dryer if the load contained only natural fibers. You know in case you're feeling OCD enough to sort your laundry by fiber content... :-P


Sock Projects from the Internet

Here are a few sock projects I've found so far. More will come on Tuesday.


Rain Blanken has a wristband tutorial, which is a simple project (requiring little more than cut and hem) for hestiant crafters.








A Happy Heart Blog gives instructions for these leg warmers, which is another cut and hem project more or less. (She actually removes the heel from the sock, which necessitates more sewing)






The Soxophone Player knitted these wine socks, but I imagine that actual socks could be used for this project as well.

On a simllar note, socks could be made into can or mug cozies as well.







Plan the Perfect Baby Shower designed a baby sock bouquet! Only folding required. They suggest it as a nice way to present a gift, but if your baby has grown out of his or her socks you might just keep them around for decoration before finding them a new home.