Socknitters Forum

[rhllamas]

Here's an observation I have observed which I pass on to you for your musings over the festive period.

You may recall that I designed some socks which were knitted with vertical stripes
http://socknitters.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1640&highlight=vertigo

Anyway, it appears that these socks wear much better than those knitted in the traditional way, i.e. in the round. After a few years they are not worn at all, whereas all my other socks wear out quite quickly, and NO, they're not made in acrylic yarn ( spit spit)

The difference is that the yarn runs vertically on the sock not horizontally.

I have my own theory as to why this is, but I wondered about yours.
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[tracyknits]

Because you didn't wear them as often?
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REVISED 2011 Knitting Resolution: 6 "big projects" - shawls and/or sweaters ('cause I'm just too distracted by other patterns to do only VLT patterns this year!)

[NeedleQ]

The type of yarn used. Highly twisted, mostly wool and needle size may all play a part in the wear of socks. Also what the socks are worn in, snug well fitting shoe, one would think would cause the lest wear, were as lose fitting shoes would rub up and down causing wear. Just a few thoughts.
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needleq

Ravelry: NeedleQ

[Viola]

Hmm ... well if they are of a similar yarn as you would usually use and are worn under the same conditions I'd say the wear of these sideways knit socks has to do with the way a sock normally stretches. For some reason your creations experience less friction. But what do I know I'm still trying to get my 'easy' slipper sox done.

[Daniele]

Hmm, that does make sense. The more the yarn stretches in one direction, the thinner the strand, and logically more fragile when getting stomped. Could be a solid consideration.
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[rhllamas]

That is exactly my opinion.

My reasoning is as follows:

Knitted fabric stretches far more along the row than down the rows, that's why socks are normally knitted in the round - they stretch to get over your heel and snug themselves back to your feet. It's why we love 'em.

The sideways socks need to be far more accurately fitted as they don't stretch in this way.

Although there is a bit of lateral stretch in these sideways socks, I don't think the yarn is deformed so much when you pull the fabric apart laterally - each little length of yarn which is subject to the stretch is shorter between the places where it's held by the stitches in the ajacent rows and I suspect that this length will be much shorter than the staple, so there's less opportunity for the fibres to slide along each other and make the yarn thinner and thus the fibres less well attached to each other.

I should have mentioned that I was assuming my sock-making and wearing to be scientifically controlled, and that the yarn and the wearing parameters were the same all cases.

The actual socks have hardly worn at all in 3 years whereas all my other ones wear out at the toes very quickly, then under the ball of the foot, then under the heel, and I don't think I've gat any "normal" sock without darns except the most recent "Eternity Socks" which I've only worn about 5 times


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To Err is Human
To Arr is Pirate
To Ooh is Choir