Philosockphy: Sock of the Month – Blind Warps and Yarn Dyeing

 

You’re not going to believe this, but you’ve never seen anything like the Philosockphy sock of the month club. No, we’re not kidding–their famous Yarn Dyeing process looks like it came straight from Hogwarts, and the Blind Warps are nothing short of revolutionary. How does it all work? The Philosockphy has been kind enough to let us in on their secret with our first ever Philosockphy sock of the month feature!

Blind Warp

A type of yarn that is woven in a way that hides the threads. These threads are usually hidden because they would be visible on either side of a traditional weave. The benefit to this process is that weavers are able to produce fabrics with a more complicated design in less time than it takes to produce them through other methods. This technique has been used for centuries, but it became especially popular during the industrial revolution, when more complex patterns could be created quickly by weaving machines.

Color in Socks

The great sock encyclopedia is a wonderful tool for those who are looking for socks with a fun, bright color. What I love about this store is that you can get just about any type of socks. Whether it's an ankle sock or a crew sock, they have it all! Plus, they have many different categories to choose from. You can find your favorite color socks here or even go with something specific like cool mens socks or colorful socks for men. And if you're not feeling creative at the moment, don't worry because they also offer a monthly subscription service!

Yarn Dyeing

The process of yarn dyeing is slightly different for each type. For example, you need to submerge wool yarn into a bath with a color-fixative agent (such as alum) before dyeing it. This prevents the wool from absorbing water, which can make it difficult to get a clear color result or add depth to your hue. If you're doing low-water immersion dyeing, you can use a separate bath from where you're dipping your cotton skeins in order to achieve this effect.

Design with Intention

When you think about your sock drawer, what do you see? A mix of warm wool and colorful cotton socks? Or a chaotic mess with unmatched socks all thrown together in no particular order? Do you have to pull out each pair to figure out which goes with which shoe or are they all just a hodgepodge pile at the bottom? If it's the latter, it may be time for some new sock drawer inspiration.
To help you get started on dressing up your sock drawer, we've created an infographic about different types of socks for men. From crew socks to crazy color dress socks, there are plenty of fun options that will keep your feet happy.

Stretch

The first type of sock we're going to discuss is called a blind warp. This name may sound deceivingly simple, but blind warps are actually quite complex. The term blind warp describes a technique for knitting socks that involves twisting yarn strands together without looking at them. It's a very time-consuming method because both ends are knit at once, so it requires two needles. Most people say that this type of sock has a more elastic feel to it when you wear it.
There's also another popular kind of sock called the yarn dyeing. This technique is less common, but there are some major benefits if you can pull it off correctly like getting your favorite colors or having access to any yarns you want!