Reinforcing Sock Toes and Heels

Links to things you’ll see in this video –

Beautiful violet-colored double pointed needles by Signature Needle Arts

My “Cheaper than Therapy” sock knitting bag by dellaQ Knitting Bags and Cases

The light green sock yarn that I’m using on my current sock project is by White Bear Fibers, sock yarn in color “Cedar”

The pattern for the green sock is here

My DPN needle holder tube can be found here.

The cuff-down pink sock pattern is my Learn to Knit Socks tutorial

The toe-up tan sock is my Learn to Knit Toe-Up Socks tutorial

The red spiral scarf I’m wearing is a free pattern and tutorial

The pattern for the green scarf on the mannequin can be found here

The yarn for both the red spiral scarf and the green scarf is Hazel Knits DK Lively

13 comments on “Reinforcing Sock Toes and Heels

  1. Rusty – the toes and heels will always wear out first, regardless of the yarn you use. You’ll get more wear out of the socks if you reinforce the toes and heels.

    Good luck!
    S t a c i

  2. Addendum to my comment. This is all from someone who wants to knit some socks but hasn’t yet.

    I also read somewhere that someone said that they didn’t have great success with reinforcing yarn because the wool yarn would still wear out and leave behind the reinforcing yarn. It made me think that it might be better to do the heel and toe in a different yarn, one that has a high percentage of nylon.

  3. hi stacy,
    just to tell you thanks again for you precious tutorials

    I just want to inform you that I am making my 2nd sweater following your instructions and that I advertise your site in one of my blog’s post “sweater”

    I really think you are greate !

    thanks Cindy

  4. Hi Staci,
    May I ask what size dpns you are using on the sock? I love the signature art needles too and I have a set of dpns and a circular. I read on the sock pattern to use a smaller size than recommended on the yarn band, so I thought I would ask what you are using as your sock looks perfect.

    thank you : ]
    karen

  5. Hi Stacy! I was wondering if going down one needle size to knit the heel and then the toe would do the same thing as the reinforcing thread, because the fabric would be slightly denser than the rest of the sock. Also, couldn’t reinforcing thread, over time, actually cut the yarn (unintensionally, of course)?

  6. Hi Stacy, I love your sock pattern. Iwore a hole in the bottom of the heel so this time I am continuing the gusset stitch thru the bottom of the heel until you get to 40 stitches then I just do the regular pattern for the rest of the sock. I am anxious to see how they wear. Love your verypink web.

  7. Thanks for the great videos! I knit my socks two at a time on two circular needles. How does the reinforcing work when you get to one side of the work and work around. The thread is on the opposite end of the needle. I wear out my socks on the bottom of the foot more than on the heel. I hope this is understandable. Thanks for the tips.

  8. Hi Staci, the reinforcing threat you used in your sox would it be to much to do a whole sock in it? Would it be to stretchy or be just like a nylon sock? Also knitting socks with the thread, did you find this way better or to use the same yarn your sock is made with and a needle the way better?
    I love, love, love your help and am getting ready to take one of your sock knitting classes.
    Merry Christmas and Happy new year.

    Thanks,
    Alicia

  9. Alicia – the thread I used for reinforcing is not stretchy at all, and would make a VERY stiff sock if you used it in the whole sock. You can really reinforce toes and heels using any yarn or thread or yarn.

    S t a c i

Comments are closed.