Hello, and happy first Friday of 2024. Any energy left for 2024 planning? I hope so, because today my (handknit sock-wearing) feet are officially kicking off Make Socks Mend Socks 2024!
Make Socks Mend Socks is gentle challenge to replenish your sock drawer (or someone else’s, if yours is full!) over the course of the year. The idea is simple: set an intention for your sock making for 2024, and we’ll cheer each other on, sharing ideas and tips along the way.
I started this challenge two years ago, hoping to not just celebrate making new socks (which I love to do, but am also quite slow at) but also mending socks that still have plenty of life left in them (because they deserve love too!). And I’d love if you joined me. The challenge is totally flexible, so you can fit it to your own needs. Have a few pairs of handknit socks, and want to add a couple more to your sock drawer? Great! Have enough mending to see you through an entire year? Go for it! Want to knit a dozen pair of socks from stash yarn, tackle your sock WIP pile, knit your first pair of socks, knit festive socks for your whole family … that’s all good too! Really just about anything goes. The point is to think about what you’ll need and use and make it happen.
So, how to take part: I’ll be running Make Socks Mend Socks here on Substack and on Instagram. I’ll set up quarterly threads here for us to share how we’re getting on—I like the idea of having a space where we can share tips, links, etc. And on Instagram, use the hashtag #makesocksmendsocks2024 to share. Each quarter, I’ll draw a name from the Instagram posts and comments here for a little sock-themed prize.
Ready to jump in? Share your Make Socks Mend Socks 2024 intentions below. I’ll go first: I’m hoping to end the year with 12 more pairs of handknit socks in my drawer, a mix of mended and freshly knit (so an average of one pair a month, though I might not work at a steady pace!) Your turn!
(PS If you know someone who might like to take, why not share with them too!)
I’d love to join in this year! I really enjoy knitting socks and always have at least one pair on the go. I’m not hard on my own socks so I don’t actually have any in a mending pile. My aim is to knit at least 18 pairs this year between shorties for myself, full size for myself, at least 6 pairs of men’s shoe size 10 for charity (Operation Christmas Stocking) and a pair for my husband for Christmas, a tradition. I’ve got 3 pairs in progress right now and plans to start a 4th from newly wound yarn so those give me a good start.
Hi Katherine, I’m in! Since the sock knitting class 5, yes 5 years ago, I’ve knitted a few pairs but this year I have at least 5 pairs planned to knit. I’m halfway through my first pair for my daughter in law and next will be a pair for my son. This is my plan, whether it happens I don’t know but this group might keep me on track🤞.
It's been so good to see you do this the last two years, and this year I'm ready to join in. My sock drawer is in desperate need of repair and replenishment. I'll set a goal of six pairs made or mended, and a stretch goal of 12 pairs which is unlikely given my history, but you never know.
My secret weapons are WIPs (3 pairs in progress) and sock tubes (3 of those too I think). But I would like to knit a couple of pairs from scratch too. In the past I always had a vanilla self-striping pair on the needles for social knititng, car rides, waiting rooms, etc.
I picked up a pair of socks in progress over the holidays - the Esther Socks by Grus Knits - and am now 70% done, so onwards!!
This is nicely timed as I was going through my sock box over Christmas. Have found three pairs of socks that need some preventative darning (I do re-enforced toes now, these are early socks so it's nice that they're still with me), plus I unearthed a WiP pair (I do try and at least start the second sock so when I find them again, it's not a complete second sock horror scenario) to go into my bag as a commute project and cast on a new sock for WFH boredom moments.
I do want to make a dent in the lovely sock yarn I have bought over the last couple years and haven't got round to knitting as well.
I already commented on Instagram, but seeing all your plans is inspiring me! In addition to making at least 6 pairs this year, I want to use up stash yarn. I have a large sock yarn stash that hasn't gotten enough love (and keeps growing).
As far as patterns go...in addition to subscribing to Stephen West's Year of Socks for a second year, there are two new sock books coming out this spring by Julie Ann Lebouthillier and Summer Lee, both of whom write lots of excellent sock patterns. So I will have plenty of inspiration, now let's see if I keep up the sock knitting or get distracted by sweaters!
Count me in, I have quite a few pairs forlornly sitting in a basket waiting to be mended and several new pairs started abandoned alongside. This will definitely give me a nudge to help them along and out of there!
I’ll join in again Katherine. Last year I knitted several pairs of socks but forgot to add the tag if I posted them on IG. I rarely need to darn my socks.
I’ve got a pair on the needles at present. A simple garter rib pattern by a local designer. I’m using an Opal yarn, which I find wears very well.
At the end of 2023 I finally turned about six pairs of knitted socks out of my sock drawer. They included some of the first socks I knitted, many years ago. Much worn and washed, they had all faded and got thin, or had felted and no longer fit. I’m sad to see these go, as we have travelled together and they are part of the journey memories.
I'm in. Would like to continue my box of socks to open on Christmas day adding 4 pairs this year, the aim is one per season. I have 3 pairs to mend and get back in rotation. I want to focus on robust socks, ideally some commercial dk yarn if I can get my hands on it otherwise two 4ply yarns marled together. My first pair I hope to cast on next week holding a commercial self patterning yarn with a strand of mohair. Handknit socks are the best 🥰
My sock drawer overfloweth! I don't seem to wear them out, either. So my goal this year is to knit socks for others, reduce the self-striping yarn stash through a combination of decreased input and increased output, and try to get out of my self-stiping-yarn-induced vanilla sock rut (but they are so fun!) by knitting a few fancy socks. Would love to learn to darn but have no holes yet to work on.
I'm in. I love hand knitted woollen socks and a lot of sock yarn to use up. I've done the Handmade Sock Society by Curious Handmade for the past few years but I think I've got stuck in a rut with one designer and want to expand. Usually a 100g ball is sufficient for me to get a pair of calf and trainer socks from so as long as the pattern is interesting I can hopefully do a couple of pairs in a month. I've also got one sock that needs mending so I'm looking for hints and tips on how to mend, I'm usually not very good at darning.
I’d love to join in this year! I really enjoy knitting socks and always have at least one pair on the go. I’m not hard on my own socks so I don’t actually have any in a mending pile. My aim is to knit at least 18 pairs this year between shorties for myself, full size for myself, at least 6 pairs of men’s shoe size 10 for charity (Operation Christmas Stocking) and a pair for my husband for Christmas, a tradition. I’ve got 3 pairs in progress right now and plans to start a 4th from newly wound yarn so those give me a good start.
Hi Katherine, I’m in! Since the sock knitting class 5, yes 5 years ago, I’ve knitted a few pairs but this year I have at least 5 pairs planned to knit. I’m halfway through my first pair for my daughter in law and next will be a pair for my son. This is my plan, whether it happens I don’t know but this group might keep me on track🤞.
It's been so good to see you do this the last two years, and this year I'm ready to join in. My sock drawer is in desperate need of repair and replenishment. I'll set a goal of six pairs made or mended, and a stretch goal of 12 pairs which is unlikely given my history, but you never know.
My secret weapons are WIPs (3 pairs in progress) and sock tubes (3 of those too I think). But I would like to knit a couple of pairs from scratch too. In the past I always had a vanilla self-striping pair on the needles for social knititng, car rides, waiting rooms, etc.
I picked up a pair of socks in progress over the holidays - the Esther Socks by Grus Knits - and am now 70% done, so onwards!!
This is nicely timed as I was going through my sock box over Christmas. Have found three pairs of socks that need some preventative darning (I do re-enforced toes now, these are early socks so it's nice that they're still with me), plus I unearthed a WiP pair (I do try and at least start the second sock so when I find them again, it's not a complete second sock horror scenario) to go into my bag as a commute project and cast on a new sock for WFH boredom moments.
I do want to make a dent in the lovely sock yarn I have bought over the last couple years and haven't got round to knitting as well.
I already commented on Instagram, but seeing all your plans is inspiring me! In addition to making at least 6 pairs this year, I want to use up stash yarn. I have a large sock yarn stash that hasn't gotten enough love (and keeps growing).
As far as patterns go...in addition to subscribing to Stephen West's Year of Socks for a second year, there are two new sock books coming out this spring by Julie Ann Lebouthillier and Summer Lee, both of whom write lots of excellent sock patterns. So I will have plenty of inspiration, now let's see if I keep up the sock knitting or get distracted by sweaters!
I'd love to join!! Lots of woolly socks to make for my husband, with a few thrown if for me. I also have lots to darn....xx
I'm happy to join in. I've got two sock knitting goals for this year:
1. Knit 12 pairs
2. Work out the best fitting vanilla sock recipe for me
I've signed up for a monthly yarn subscription service to help make the goal fun
Count me in, I have quite a few pairs forlornly sitting in a basket waiting to be mended and several new pairs started abandoned alongside. This will definitely give me a nudge to help them along and out of there!
I’ll join in again Katherine. Last year I knitted several pairs of socks but forgot to add the tag if I posted them on IG. I rarely need to darn my socks.
I’ve got a pair on the needles at present. A simple garter rib pattern by a local designer. I’m using an Opal yarn, which I find wears very well.
At the end of 2023 I finally turned about six pairs of knitted socks out of my sock drawer. They included some of the first socks I knitted, many years ago. Much worn and washed, they had all faded and got thin, or had felted and no longer fit. I’m sad to see these go, as we have travelled together and they are part of the journey memories.
I can definitely join you on this. I’ve currently got 3 pairs staring at me from the mending pile. Could do with improving my darning skills though.
I think you mentioned a little mending gadget you had?? Not just the old skool wooden mushroom.
Once the mending’s done, I’ve got a few nice skeins in the stash to work up some new socks too.
I'm in. Would like to continue my box of socks to open on Christmas day adding 4 pairs this year, the aim is one per season. I have 3 pairs to mend and get back in rotation. I want to focus on robust socks, ideally some commercial dk yarn if I can get my hands on it otherwise two 4ply yarns marled together. My first pair I hope to cast on next week holding a commercial self patterning yarn with a strand of mohair. Handknit socks are the best 🥰
My sock drawer overfloweth! I don't seem to wear them out, either. So my goal this year is to knit socks for others, reduce the self-striping yarn stash through a combination of decreased input and increased output, and try to get out of my self-stiping-yarn-induced vanilla sock rut (but they are so fun!) by knitting a few fancy socks. Would love to learn to darn but have no holes yet to work on.
I'm in. I love hand knitted woollen socks and a lot of sock yarn to use up. I've done the Handmade Sock Society by Curious Handmade for the past few years but I think I've got stuck in a rut with one designer and want to expand. Usually a 100g ball is sufficient for me to get a pair of calf and trainer socks from so as long as the pattern is interesting I can hopefully do a couple of pairs in a month. I've also got one sock that needs mending so I'm looking for hints and tips on how to mend, I'm usually not very good at darning.