What do you do with old wool socks that the heels or toes have worn through? Is there a recycling service out there?

I don't know, but I hate the fact that I have all these perfectly good socks, except the soles and heels are worn out.

Learn to knit?

Cut the feet off. Cut a thumb hole a couple inches up from the bottom. Fingerless mittens. Of course, this only works if they are skinny enough to fit your wrists well.

Cut off toes at mid-arch. Pull them on upside down so the heel is behind my calf muscles and below my knee. Bunch up when hot, scoot down when cold, no need for tights with shorts.

Darn, darn socks!

Seriously, my great aunts and everyone on the Irish side of the family born before 1900 just took as a given that you darned socks to repair the holes. There's a aid, wooden - the shape and size of a goose egg on a stick - that one uses to spread the worn sock onto and add yarn to repair it. As to how to do it, just like tying a bow tie or making a beer-can alky stove, I'd search youtube.

Edited by DavidinKenai on 12/12/2011 01:15:32 MST.

One Video

At this joyous time of year when charity is in our hearts, provide the wool to a needy family of mice. Best if done in the home where those needy little creatures can also scavenge food and materials from your still useable cloths and find a little warmth as well. Remember: Mice are people too!

David Thomas wrote "There's a aid, wooden - the shape and size of a goose egg on a stick - that one uses to spread the worn sock onto and add yarn to repair it."

My grandmother used a burned-out light bulb for that.

Stuff with cedar shavings and use as sachets. Cheap, and your clothes will never smell musty again.

Steven: Thanks for posting the video, it made it completely clear how to darn socks. For hiking, I would taper the weft and warps more - take some of them further into the original sock and some not so far so as feather the patch/original junction more.

Everyone ought to buy the pack of six speciality needles (about $2.79 at the supermarket or fabric store) to get a glover's needle for your BP repair kit. A glover's has a very sharp point for going through leather and can be used on the trail (with dental floss) to repair a lot of things. But then you'll also get a darning needle for fixing your sock back at home.

I use old wool socks as padding for my fragile and rust prone woodworking tools. The wicking, insulating and moisture controlling property's of wool make socks ideal for this purpose.

Yeah with a few drops of oil...

Yea, you use them as rags on your automobile. Or rags used in cabinetry finishing process via stains or dye's. Or as rags refinishing your cabinetry. Or put a tennis ball in them and use said sock to throw said ball for your dog.

I really can't darn them as the holes have gone too far. I did patch them with some jeans patches but still have way too many of them as I only did that last year to a ten year supply of holed socks.