packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
I have a bunch of older commercially knit socks with holes in the soles, not sure what to do with the socks, are they even salvageable? Most of the holes are the size of a quarter.
Honestly... probably not worth it, especially if either of you have any foot issues. And it's a bad idea for anyone who has circulation issues, because even a small rough spot in darning can cause a small sore to start.I have a bunch of older commercially knit socks with holes in the soles, not sure what to do with the socks, are they even salvageable? Most of the holes are the size of a quarter.
Honestly... probably not worth it, especially if either of you have any foot issues. And it's a bad idea for anyone who has circulation issues, because even a small rough spot in darning can cause a small sore to start.
It wouldn't hurt to try darning one, for practice, and to get an idea of whether it's practical for you. Use an old incandescent light bulb for a "darning egg". Slide it inside the sock, then weave a patch over the hole, with a good quality wool/nylon sock yarn (a tiny bit of nylon in sock yarn greatly increases the resistance to wear)
The problem with commercial socks as opposed to home knit ones is they use very fine yarns, and often a stitch which results in s terry-cloth-like texture on the inside. They're much more comfortable than coarser handknits, but not really easy to darn if you wear holes in them.
Summerthyme
Oh, using them is easy, roughly sew up the holes (no need to be fancy, get a box of catnip from the shop - fill the toe (you can tie the toe if it is the problem) then tie the neck of the sock with the catnip inside. The result is a stuffed catnip sock about the size of a rat and cats just love them. My Mom would sometimes embroider eyes and whiskers on them but that's for the humans the cats don't care.
The only downside is that other socks can become cat toys but then they tend to anyway - this way the cats have their own "socks" you can distract them with.
The other thing my Mom did with them made rag dolls, I've never done that but I have made a lot of cat toys. Note, they will chew threw them eventually but they have a lot of fun doing it and they are cheap. You can stuff the inside of one sock with parts of another old sock if the catnip doesn't fill the space or you want an extra layer of protection for it.
Oh, I had forgotten after all these years...my mom used to make dog toys from old socks. She stuffed a sock with other old socks, or whatever she had, tied a knot in the ankle, and they became great chew/throw/pull toys for our dog. The day would inevitably come when we'd go in the living room and find all the stuffing pieces strewn everywhere. You could stuff it all back in & sew up the hole...for a while. But by the time it was too shredded there would usually be more old socks available. The dog we had the longest was a super intelligent Sheltie cross, ladylike, never touched socks (or anything else) that weren't hers. But she did love her toys! Our neighbor used to bring wrapped toys for her for Christmas & her birthday, just to see her unwrap them & play with them. There was a little box in the living room for them and the socks, and my brother made a sign for it in fancy lettering, "Missie's Toy Box". Fun memories!Oh, using them is easy, roughly sew up the holes (no need to be fancy, get a box of catnip from the shop - fill the toe (you can tie the toe if it is the problem) then tie the neck of the sock with the catnip inside. The result is a stuffed catnip sock about the size of a rat and cats just love them. My Mom would sometimes embroider eyes and whiskers on them but that's for the humans the cats don't care.
The only downside is that other socks can become cat toys but then they tend to anyway - this way the cats have their own "socks" you can distract them with.
The other thing my Mom did with them made rag dolls, I've never done that but I have made a lot of cat toys. Note, they will chew threw them eventually but they have a lot of fun doing it and they are cheap. You can stuff the inside of one sock with parts of another old sock if the catnip doesn't fill the space or you want an extra layer of protection for it.
I have a bunch of older commercially knit socks with holes in the soles, not sure what to do with the socks, are they even salvageable? Most of the holes are the size of a quarter.
Flip them over, so the holes are on top.
Maybe to use as a coin pouch, if you have small enough clasps for them?I have darning eggs, needles, etc., I failed to mention in my OP that I was hoping for ideas on how to re-use them but not as socks. I know trying to turn them into fingerless gloves, when you cut the foot part of the sock off, might be an option but I don't own a serger.