Socktober: Celebrate Hand-knit Socks with Hand-Dyed Yarns

In the knitting world, every project is a celebration: of creativity and handmade goodness. October is the month of socks. Dedicated to Socktober, it’s a celebration of hand-knit socks for charity. At Symfonie Yarns, the month of knitting socks is close to our hearts because it honors the tradition of making something with yarn that’s both functional and artistic. Every pair of socks is unique and a journey that a knitter makes. With hand-dyed yarns, it is an opportunity to make every pair special. Why? Well, the colors are inspiring, and you would certainly want to bring joy to the wearer? The right yarn transforms every stitch into a story of color, warmth and care. The project might look good, but it easily packs 1000+ of hand-knit stitches. And what better way to bring people together than through colorful yarns?

Start with The Sock Knitter’s Dream Yarn

So, looking for where to start? For socks, the fiber content and the yarn weight matter. The basic need for socks is to keep your feet toasty warm, so a yarn that is known to be comfortable is required. The yarn weight table indicates that sock-weight or fingering-weight yarn is the best option. That’s why so many knitters choose Terra, our hand-dyed sock yarn. A merino-polyamide yarn blend in fingering weight, it has the softness of merino wool with the strength and stretch of polyamide, making it the perfect balance of comfort and durability. Plus, the range contains machine-washable yarn, ensuring your socks get a quick wash and hold their shape and withstand everyday wear.

When it comes to hand-dyeing techniques, it offers options for solid shades and variegated colors, from classic shades, neons, pastels and combinations for striped colorwork, monochrome, and more.

Also read: Why Choose Merino-Polyamide Yarn for Your Next Project?

Can You Use DK or Worsted Weight Yarns for Socks?

Most knitters believe that fingering weight yarn is the gold standard for socks; however, there are experiments with heavier yarns. Many find socks a wonderful stash-busting project to put to use various scraps and bits of yarn. DK-weight yarn works for cozy, thicker socks for lounging at home. They feel wonderful, though they may not fit well into everyday shoes. Worsted-weight yarn makes delightfully fluffy socks, almost like knitted slippers, but not practical for snug-fitting footwear.

Playing with Colors

One of the joys of knitting with hand-dyed yarns is seeing how colors unfold in your stitches. Solid Colors highlight stitch patterns like cables, lace, or ribbing. You can create a wonderful striped pattern. Variegated colors create playful pools and stripes that turn even plain stockinette socks into works of art.

Sock Patterns to Try This Socktober

Choosing the right pattern is as important as choosing the right yarn. At Symfonie Yarns, we’ve curated patterns to inspire your Socktober projects. Here are a few favorites from our Pattern Inspiration page:

1. Striped or Colorwork Socks: Pair two contrasting skeins for playful designs. Socktober is the perfect time to experiment with bold color combinations. The Beach Day Blues Socks or the Desert Bloom are good options. You can work with two semisolid shades or pair one semisolid and one variegated shade.
2. Classic Ribbed Socks: Perfect for first-timers, ribbing ensures a snug fit and works beautifully with both solid and variegated yarns. A k1, p1 ribbed pattern is a beautiful start for stretchiness.
3. Textured Lace Socks: Delicate stitchwork shines in solid shades of Terra. A wonderful gift project for someone special.
4. Cabled Socks: Echoing traditional fisherman’s sweaters, these socks are timeless and look incredible in hand-dyed yarns with subtle tonal shifts.

Planning Your Sock

The right sock yarn solves all your challenges. However, pair it with the knitting needles that feel comfortable. Work with traditional double-pointed needles or choose a circular knitting needle that works for the magic loop technique, or choose handy mini circulars. Sock fit matters, especially for two reasons - comfort and longevity. The pleasure of wearing hand-knit socks is a labor of hard work and time, so it is important that they fit properly.

A well-fitted sock is more comfortable to wear and will last much longer. Socks should be planned with a little bit of negative ease. Negative ease means that the fit should be smaller than the foot (and leg) they’re to cover. You want the sock to stretch a bit so that it will stay up on your leg and stay in place on your foot. A common problem cited with hand-knit socks is that the legs don’t stay up—in many cases, this is simply because the sock is too big.

So, cast on this October. Let your needles sing, your yarn shine, and your socks carry the magic of Symfonie Yarns — one stitch at a time.