Sock Expert, I'm back

[SKS]

@max b , two more questions if I may:

1. Are there thick summer socks?
2. What's your opinion on bamboo? I understand that exact mix of fibres differs per manufacturer, but in general terms... Good, bad, ugly?

 

[max b]

@max b , two more questions if I may:

1. Are there thick summer socks?
2. What's your opinion on bamboo? I understand that exact mix of fibres differs per manufacturer, but in general terms... Good, bad, ugly?

yes, of course. You can produce cotton socks on all the machines. So also on 88, 120 or 176 needles, which lead to a medium to an heavy weight cotton sock. We tried bamboo years ago (before it was "trendy") as we always experiment new yarns. It was good, but didn't really have (at that time, maybe was too early) a good commercial result. We used 100% bamboo. The touch was good and the comfort too.

 

[TimothyF]

Are argyle socks invariably very messy on the inside? I have both low-end and high-end argyles (obviously have not sampled every maker), but the high-end ones are still very "messy" on the inside (loose hanging threads everywhere behind the argyle pattern)

 

[max b]

Are argyle socks invariably very messy on the inside? I have both low-end and high-end argyles (obviously have not sampled every maker), but the high-end ones are still very "messy" on the inside (loose hanging threads everywhere behind the argyle pattern)

When you have different colors, the yarn of one color has to enter and then to exit somewhere. So either inside you have a "link" thread between the two point where it is entering and it exiting, or you have the thread cut. The real argyle machine cut the threads, but not very short, otherwise they will "slip off" and damage the design. For the real argyle machine, the inside threads are more or less 7 or 8 mm long. If you produce argyle on other machines it is really messy as there are a lot of threads around.

 

[Son Of Saphir]

What is the benefit of a sock made with 70% long staple cotton and 30% quality silk by a good maker?
Is it as durable as quality cashmere (70%) and 30% quality silk done by a good maker?

 

[max b]

What is the benefit of a sock made with 70% long staple cotton and 30% quality silk by a good maker?
Is it as durable as quality cashmere (70%) and 30% quality silk done by a good maker?

The hand is completely different and the cotton is stronger than cashmere

 

[Son Of Saphir]

^^^
could it be that a well made 70% cotton 30% silk sock could last longer than a well made 70% cashmere 30% silk sock?

 

[CityDweller]

@max b: Thank you for the wealth of knowledge in this thread. What compositions would you recommend for someone whose priorities were ease of washing, comfort, and durability, in that order?

 

[max b]

^^^
could it be that a well made 70% cotton 30% silk sock could last longer than a well made 70% cashmere 30% silk sock?

yes. But the cotton and silk will be a much "dry" hand compared to the cashmere and silk

 

[max b]

@max b: Thank you for the wealth of knowledge in this thread. What compositions would you recommend for someone whose priorities were ease of washing, comfort, and durability, in that order?

the best is always cotton. if durability is an issue, cotton+nylon.

 

[jonathanS]

What are your favorite sock brands?

All the socks I wear end up with holes in them. I just wear loafers without socks these days because of that. But am looking for a better solution. I’ll take photos of my issues with socks.

I always machine was in a bag & flat dry.

 

[max b]

What are your favorite sock brands?

All the socks I wear end up with holes in them. I just wear loafers without socks these days because of that. But am looking for a better solution. I’ll take photos of my issues with socks.

I always machine was in a bag & flat dry.

For durability unfortunately no other solution than having more nylon and elastan in the composition.
Socks are subjiect to friction, specially on heel and toe. To compensate, the yarn should be very thick or having syntetic blended. Of course this will change the comfort and the transpiration of the skin. I don't think in your case it is related to they way you wash the socks. Somehow it is different for every person, it is also a phisical matter due to the form of the foot, the way of walking, the shoe .. and of course can be because of the quality of the yarns used.

 

[jonathanS]

For durability unfortunately no other solution than having more nylon and elastan in the composition.
Socks are subjiect to friction, specially on heel and toe. To compensate, the yarn should be very thick or having syntetic blended. Of course this will change the comfort and the transpiration of the skin. I don't think in your case it is related to they way you wash the socks. Somehow it is different for every person, it is also a phisical matter due to the form of the foot, the way of walking, the shoe .. and of course can be because of the quality of the yarns used.

My guess is that, being Asian (it’s well established that Asian have different feet), I’m trying to fit my feet into a last that isn’t good for my feet. Perhaps, worse, I’m Asian American, so my feet are physically bigger than a lot of Asian feet.

This must cause friction with the shoe. Do you think bespoke shoes will help solve this issue?

I think it’s unlikely an issue with the yarns; I’ve tried almost every high end sockmaker out there. (Panthrella, budd, coggi, the big Italian sockmaker (I think it starts with a B), gamrellli in Rome, even RLPL). The best were RLPL but even those gave way with time. Now I just don’t wear socks, which isn’t the ideal solution.

 

[FlithyButler]

The best were RLPL but even those gave way with time. Now I just don’t wear socks, which isn’t the ideal solution.

As the expert stated, socks are subject to friction, and inevitably will wear away with time (no matter how much they happen to cost), which will occur at different rates depending on your particular foot anatomy and physiology.

I have the same issue, having feet with extremely concentrated small pressure points on the sole (also resulting in "corns"), and socks that wear out quickly.

FFS a knit fabric is being constantly pulverised by your entire body-weight with added impact force together with gravity against the world, of course it is going to "give way with time".

Socks are disposable items by their very nature (ever seen any used ones for sale on the Classifieds here?).

Having gone through all the most expensive socks available and with a slanted question towards bespoke shoes, sounds like you just need some psychological validation in proceeding to spend megabucks on a non-existent problem

 

[jonathanS]

Socks are disposable items by their very nature (ever seen any used ones for sale on the Classifieds here?).

I laughed at this. You’re right though. USED SOCK FOR SALE!!!!!