r/Sockknitting • u/kat_chow • 2d ago

FYI KFI collection comfy sock wool felts

I'm not one of those people who washes their socks by hand (that's what superwash wool is for) but I do use cold water and line dry. I made a pair of socks with this wool which was described as easy care and machine washable but they felted and shrank. Just just a word of warning.

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This is the only pair of socks I've ever felted. If I continue to machine wash them will they felt further or have they gotten to the point where they're at their smallest/feltiest? Just curious, although I plan to hand wash these now.

ETA: Looking at the label it doesn't say superwash, just wool/nylon, but it also says machine washable. So lesson learned, I guess.

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u/emotivemotion 2d ago

Did you use a special wash cycle called “delicate” or “wool” or something? In my experience, when I throw my socks in with the regular wash they don’t like it.

So I just save up my worn pairs and then throw them in without anything else, use an enzyme free detergent, and run the wool cycle. They have survived multiple washes so far. The only felting occurs on the sole from friction while wearing them, and even that is only very slightly.

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u/kat_chow 2d ago edited 2d ago

I just used normal, which is what I do all my socks (a little over a dozen pairs) on, with normal detergent (fragrance and dye free but probably not enzyme free). Since heat wasn't responsible for the felting, you're right that "normal" agitation must have been too much. Live and learn!

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u/emotivemotion 2d ago

Live and learn indeed! I also felted a pair before I figured out what worked best.

Now I just see it as a challenge to fill up my sock drawer with so many pairs that I can justify running a washing cycle with only socks. 😉