Sock Yarn Talk - keenWhale

Even though I’ve been knitting actively for a few years now, I can’t say I’ve tried a huge variety of yarns.

There are just so many options out there — different fibers, blends, textures, finishes and everyone seems to have their own strong opinions. It can be overwhelming. But even without chasing every new skein that pops up in my feed, I’ve still picked up a few impressions along the way.

But still — certain preferences have formed. I’ve found some favourites, and some that ended up firmly on my “not again” list. So I thought I’d try to put my thoughts in order and share a few impressions.

If you knit socks, you probably know how important durability is when it comes to choosing yarn. It matters to me too — but just as important, if not more, is how the yarn feels while I’m working with it.

My rule of thumb is simple: if my hands enjoy knitting with it, chances are the person wearing the socks will enjoy them too. That tactile comfort means a lot to me.

Of course, I know there are knitters (and wearers) who prefer things a bit more… spicy 😇
Yes, I’m talking about those slightly scratchy yarns with character. And if someone asks for socks like that — sure, I’ll knit them. But it won’t be a voluntary decision 😁

We’re a good match

Let me introduce the favourites. These three yarns have never let me down — they feel great in my hands, hold up well in socks and just make the whole knitting process more enjoyable.
Each one has its own character, but they all check the two big boxes for me: comfort and durability.

A separate mention goes to sock yarns with silk content. Silk socks are my partner Gunta’s top pick, so naturally I knit them quite a lot. And honestly, there’s nothing more satisfying than slipping another silky-soft pair into her sock drawer. One of our regulars at home is OnLine Supersocke Silk Color — a yarn made of 55% merino, 25% polyamide and 20% silk. It’s both pleasantly soft and surprisingly durable.

When it comes to gloves, I usually go for yarns with a bit of alpaca in the mix – like Drops Nord by Garnstudio. Or I turn to my all-time favourite Arwetta, paired with a strand of mohair-silk (Tilia by Filcolana).
That combo gives just the right amount of softness and warmth without being bulky.

And of course, there’s the lovely Alpaca Soxx by Lang Yarns — a yarn I somehow find too precious for socks but absolutely perfect for gloves.

For double-layered mittens, my usual combo is Drops Nord for the outer layer and Arwetta for the lining.
It’s warm, soft and holds up well – a mix that works every time.

We Didn’t Click

And then there are the so-called outsiders. Not because the yarns are bad – far from it. They’re durable, come in great colour ranges and have plenty of loyal fans.
But for me they just don’t work. The texture feels too scratchy and my hands don’t enjoy knitting with them.

Still, I’ve tried giving them a fair shot – sometimes more than once. So here’s my personal top 3 of “great yarns that aren’t for me” – Opal, Regia Tweed, Grundl Hot Socks.

Not only did I give these yarns a try, I even finished the socks 😉 But the process just wasn’t enjoyable – quite the opposite, in fact. And with so many yarns out there that do make the knitting itself a pleasure, I’ve decided it’s perfectly fine to let go of the ones I didn’t click with.

Choosing yarn is a challenge with a capital C – you know what I mean. There’s just so much of it, and it’s all so tempting. I keep trying new ones, which probably explains the growing number of storage containers at home.
I wish I could write about every single skein, but for now I’m sticking to the clear favourites – and the ones I didn’t quite get along with. Something tells me this won’t be my last post about yarn. It’s just too big a topic for one go.

To be continued – obviously.