More sock questions

**vorpallemur** · 9th February 10, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Fit2BKilted

My wife is planning a pair of summer-hose for me using soy-bamboo yarn... I can't wait!

You mis-spelled "polyester-rayon". But, hey, if you like it.

**Drac** · 9th February 10, 12:10 PM

I have a couple polo shirts that are 100% bamboo. A bit light for sock material but still comfortable. My wife got them through her company, she works in a promotional products firm.

Jim

**guitarmatt** · 9th February 10, 01:22 PM

I just bought some bamboo nylon blend to make a pair of socks for my sister in law who's allergic to wool. We used to have some bamboo nappies for my son which were really soft, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the yarn knits up.

**sockknitter** · 9th February 10, 01:38 PM

You might try sock liners. Some of them have moisture wicking properties.

and bamboo/soy? you'll have to let us know how those work out. Is there some wool content, too?

**vorpallemur** · 9th February 10, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Drac

I have a couple polo shirts that are 100% bamboo. A bit light for sock material but still comfortable. My wife got them through her company, she works in a promotional products firm.

Jim

There's no such thing as "bamboo" fabric. there's rayon (viscose) that happens to be made from bamboo. but that makes zero difference to the qualities of the fiber. (It's actually contrary to US law to label something as "bamboo" instead of 'rayon'. And substantial fractions of the stuff that's supposed to be made from bamboo isn't, actually.)

(I was wrong about soy protein being a polyester. It's not. It's "azlon", which are a whole class of fibers made from regenerated proteins. They're much more similar to rayon than to polyester. but again, nothing special about the soy content. )

**guitarmatt** · 9th February 10, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by vorpallemur

There's no such thing as "bamboo" fabric. there's rayon (viscose) that happens to be made from bamboo.

I'll admit, I was ready to write you off as an internet crackpot, but a quick google search verifies that you're right. Interesting, while rayon is a nice material for some things I don't think I'd have chosen in for socks. Looks like I had the (synthetic) wool pulled over my eyes.

Guess that's just another vote for Shetland.

**sockknitter** · 9th February 10, 02:55 PM

avoid monofilament nylon to reinforce the heel or toe. It may actually cut the wool. Instead, use either a wooly nylon thread - used for sergers, or get the reinforcing yarn that's got an 80/20 blend of wool/nylon

**guitarmatt** · 9th February 10, 02:58 PM

Good to know about the nylon monofilament. I haven't tried it yet, but I think I will reinforce my next pair of wool socks. I'll ask my LYS what they have in stock that'll work.

**vorpallemur** · 9th February 10, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by guitarmatt

I'll admit, I was ready to write you off as an internet crackpot, but a quick google search verifies that you're right. Interesting, while rayon is a nice material for some things I don't think I'd have chosen in for socks. Looks like I had the (synthetic) wool pulled over my eyes.

Guess that's just another vote for Shetland.

Hey, I'm a crackpot in real life, too! I just happen to know more about cellulose regeneration than is normal. And I detest the greenwashing claims that bamboo bamboozlers make. (They're all either false, or true of all rayon. and no one selling fiber, yarn, or fabric in the US has any idea where the bamboo came from, so claims about the environmental qualities of their stuff are dubious at best.)

Rayon is actually an okay material for socks. I don't think I'd knit with it (given that I don't actually know how, I'm not likely to knit with anything...), because it's not as long lasting as wool, and for the amount of time put in it, it's not worth the savings. But I've got a couple pairs of machine made socks (including a couple of casual kilt socks) which are quite nice, if not as warm as pure wool.

**guitarmatt** · 9th February 10, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by vorpallemur

I've got a couple pairs of machine made socks (including a couple of casual kilt socks) which are quite nice, if not as warm as pure wool.

Good to know. I didn't want to use cotton because it's no fun to knit with, not stretchy at all. Hopefully after one pair in synth-purgatory I'll be back in woollen paradise.