For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

Socks!
(wanna) rock!

But as I'm nearing completion of my first ever pair of socks, it's pressing on me how I can't knit with the famed "Socks That Rock" that I see all over these knitternets. Vegans, as most of you folks know, don't knit with wool or silk or alpaca or what have you. And we want to knit cool things that rock. Maybe even cool socks that rock. So I've talked to a few people about this already, and what follows is what I hope to be a growing list of vegan sock yarns (and yarns that are not necessarily "sock" yarns but that have been used to make vegan socks) as a reference for myself, for other vegans, and anyone else wishing to knit with cotton or microfiber or other non-animal yarns, too.

What I'd really like is if you knew of any vegan sock yarns that aren't on this list, or if you can attest to the cool/uncool factor of these yarns, please leave a comment here, and I'll add your info, pictures, and comments to the list. Join in!

[I say this probably unnecessarily, but feel I should just in case, that this posting is for vegan sock yarn information only. I'm sure there's plenty of forums on the internet for wool "good" vs. wool "bad" debates, but this isn't it. Thanks for your understanding!]

• Cascade Fixation (98.3% cotton/1.7% elastic; 50g - 100 yds; gauge: 5.5sts = 1" #5-9; hand wash and lay flat)

I'm using Cascade Fixation and Anna's Ribbed Fixation Sock Pattern for the socks above. I'm using US size 3 needles which make a nice, dense fabric. I'm a loose enough knitter to go down to a 2 1/2 or 2 for the next pair.

• Fortissima Cotton Sock Yarn (75% cotton/25% nylon; 50g - 210 mtres; gauge: 26 sts = 4" #2.5-3 mm; washing?)

I read about this yarn when I was flipping through Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road while waiting for a friend to pick out a pattern at Purl.

• Katia Mississippi 3 (60% cotton, 40% acrylic; 50 g - 230 yds; gauge: 28 sts = 4" US 2-3 needle; machine wash and dry)

I learned about this yarn from Desiree.

• Moda Dea Sassy Stripes (100 % acrylic; 50 g - 147 yd/135 m; gauge: 22sts/30 rows = 4" US 5/3.75mm needles; washing?

Another helpful addition from Desiree.

• Plymouth DreamBaby (50% acrylic microfiber, 50% nylon); 183 yds; gauge: 5.5 sts=1" #6 needles; machine wash and dry)

I learned about this yarn from Robyn.

• Sock it to me collection Esprit (98.3% Cotton 1.7% Elastic; 50 g - 91 m/ 100yds (relaxed) - 170 m/186 yds (stretched); gauge: 25 sts =4 inches US 7/4.5 mm needles; hand wash/dry flat)

I learned about this yarn while browsing through Elann

• Bernat Sox (60% acrylic, 40% nylon; 50g - 203 yds; gauge: 28sts=4" #3 needles; machine wash and dry)

I learned about this yarn from Anna, who said at the time "then you have Bernat Sox which is so acrylic it makes your teeth itch, but I knit with it anyway because my options are so limited."

Hopefully people will leave comments and help us find more options!

Update: But then, this just in and also from Anna, she writes me today to ask if I have heard about "Sock Candy," a cotton/lycra blend made by the Socks That Rock people (Blue Moon Fiber Arts). No, I hadn't! Neither of us could find a place to buy this stuff (other than in PORTLAND!), could you tell us? But if you do a google search, you'll find some nice examples. When I get better at this sock thing, I'll be ready for this stuff.

Oh, and I just remembered hearing about using my favorite legwarmer yarn, Rowan Calmer, used for socks here. She didn't end up making socks with it, but she could have.

p.s. I'm not a "sock person" yet, just curious about my options and into trying new things.