Expensive Sock Yarns...worth the $?

Pattons Kroy Socks FX (color:  Celestial)

Socks are what started my knitting career.  Well, not exactly.  One Christmas, a long, long time ago, I thought I would learn to knit to make everyone in the family socks.  And matching mittens.  It was November. 

Who says that?  Someone who doesn't knit. 

My trip to the local yarn store (lovely, high end, out of my $ range then and now) didn't end well.  However, somehow a lovely German lady nicely talked me out of knitting a noose (it's just I-cord, anyway) or giving up the idea of knitting entirely. Remember, I wasn't the knitter, my mom was. My LYS expert said "socks are, well, hard..."


Actually, I don't remember being discouraged after leaving the LYS.  I did, however, realize I had to come up with Christmas craft gift idea 2.0 and resolve myself to learning to knit. 
This is the perfect time to mention how much I do want you to support your locally owned yarn store!  My El Cheapo yarn issue has nothing to do with the locally owned mom-and-pops specialty stores filled with amazing, expert people.  I try to buy at LYS as much as I can, even if it's just needles or something small.  My issue with expensive yarn is that there is absolutely no way I can afford to do the type (tough enough to wear in my life) and volume (LOTS) of knitting I need to do. 


Fast forward to now, many years later, and I'm a sock-a-holic.  I knitted so many socks in October, I was posting a pair a day on Facebook and decided to rename the month Socktober.  No one laughed.  Seriously, my husband was starting to get worried.  UNTIL he realized this year that I can quickly make socks for his coworkers.  I have finally arrived! 

How do I do it quickly?  My beginning disclaimer is that I will always be a hand knitter, even when tiny-yarn socks are in order.  My second one is that I'm insanely hyper.  Obviously, I'm a gal that needed a knitting "machine".  I won't discuss it too much here, but, I have equal numbers of knitting machines and horses. 
How many you may ask?  More than 2 and fewer than 20; also, 19 is a poor guess.  I am NOT going to answer.  The response will either be (1) I'm crazy to have so many--you can only use/ride one at a time, right?  or (2) I'm still an amateur and need to increase the collection.  Lose-lose, and I actually like my husband.  Adding one more of either item might end me up on the street corner.  On our street corner, there is nothing but a tree, and I can't knit a barn.  Or a horse trailer.  


Notice I put the word "machine" in quotes above.  The term "machine" as it applies to knitting machine is because they didn't want to call them "your quick way to the insane asylum."  In all cases, they can be frustrating, difficult, and super duper awesome.  It is hard work.  It is NOT cheating.  I can't imagine using a knitting machine without being able to hand knit--but there are people who do. 


I should add a third disclaimer.  I love old things.  Not antiques that sit around, I like old usable things.  This is where my 1924 Gearhart Circular Sock Machine comes in.  Commonly called "CSMs" they are simply incredible and simultaneously the most difficult craft item I've ever used. It's a good thing I have a Ph.D.  Too bad it wasn't in English as I am 100% certain that the old manuals written for the CSMs were either written by Jane Austin or Charles Dickens.  Seriously, prepare to read each page 87 times--and watch lots of YouTube CSM videos.  I'll post about "her" and my other older CSMs later....back to El Cheapo yarn...



Look at the photo below:

Can you tell which are made from Patons at $4-6 per sock as compared to Opal at $10-15 per sock?  My feet couldn't tell either, someone else's wallet could.  Wishing to see if a "better" sock yarn was indeed, better, I asked for sock yarn for Christmas last year--the orange one in the middle and the purple on the end are the results.  The Opal at the LYS where my family shopped cost $30 a 100g skein.  OUCH. 


What was the difference?  My CSM liked the Opal a little better--not extreme differences--but enough that I noticed.  The Opal handled me ripping out a sock twice, so it actually got knitted three times.  Depending on which Patons you use, sometimes it's not as forgiving.  In the wash, Patons wins.  The orange Opal socks found a tiny piece of Velcro looming in the washer and the Velcro won the war.  Patons can deal with my Velcro mistakes.  For comfort, I think Patons is a little better as it is a heavier bodied yarn, however, I'm not 100% sure if the tension is the same for both types...so, comfort could be due to construction differences.
 


Even Patons isn't super cheap--it's just cheaper.  This brings me to a few thoughts:
1.  WALMART, where ARE you?  I only very rarely see sock yarns at Walmart.  (Yes, Walmart--the devil to some, necessity to others.)  Last Christmas our local store (very rural, sells more tobacco than food) had several skeins of Red Heart Heart and sole.  It had to be a mistake order.  I bought them--all of them.  (Seriously, I've been hiding yarn purchases in my groceries for years...)

2.  Why aren't 100% "everyday" acrylic sock yarns available locally?  They do exist!  See  http://www.craftsy.com/supplies/premier-wool-free-sock-yarn/14659?maid=88799&swatch=453c40&ext=SEM_G_Shopping_EC_knitting_yarn_pfs_14659_product_18226&set_currency=US&adwd_id=c&adwadgr_id=9220300057&adwtarget_id=pla-85954786177&adwmtch_id=&adwad_id=45800927857&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4qSzBRCq1-iLhZ6Vsc0BEiQA1qt-znM-xN7YG1yDlDQlvrO7nNp-_0TorfcXfR5rOSV_ulwaArjC8P8HAQ
GOOD GRIEF--world's longest link? 

Premier has this 100% acrylic that is super affordable, but, I've only just discovered it via internet search.  Has anyone tried it?  I'm game to order, but would love to hear some feedback first. 
I would ask my LYS to order, however, I'm already labeled as "one of those machine people" who "buys acrylic yarn" so I'm worried that the Yarn Nazi may cut me off completely.  Anyone have a good granny costume I can borrow? 

3.  Premier--please do more!  See photo below:

These are Premier's Cotton Fair (#2).  I LOVE THESE.  However, my CSM does not.  I still make them using the CSM, but it takes forever and my Gearhart swears at me often. 
Please, and I am truly begging, Premier, make a yarn that's just 1 ply thinner...like a thicker #1?  A diet #2?  Just a tiny bit thinner and I'll love you forever.  I will knit your entire yarn production staff a pair on the antique CSM.  Just please, make it happen!  CSMs are growing in popularity, so I know I'm not the only one.  [Another Premier note is that AC Moore is apparently not carrying it any longer--total panic--2 months have passed--Michael's now has the Premier Cotton Fair.]
So, where are we now?  I'm comparing the Heart and Sole to Patons--from yesterday's socks:

They haven't had the toes completed (Russian Kitchener)--and I have 1 HNS sock to do as well.  I'm considering wearing the HNS so I can see how they handle life.  However, Christmas looms and I have a zillion more socks to make. 

Please comment, send feedback, and tell me what sock yarns work for you.
Off to finish that 2nd HNS sock...