Cozy Socks from Polarfleece Blanket

Make yourself a pair of cozy socks from polarfleece in less time than it takes to read this.
I used a fleece blanket I found on the street. An airline blanket would work fine, or any fleece garment that doesn't fit you.

There are a few tricks to this project:
Make a paper pattern so you can refer to the pattern and evolve your next pairs of socks to perfection.
Fleece stretches more in one direction than the other. Put the stretchy direction around your foot.
Stretch the cloth while doing zigzag sewing - then the seams will stretch with the cloth later.
Sew the zigzag seam so the needle overshoots the edge. That binds the edge.
If your thread tension is low you can pull the seam around so it looks whipstitched butt-to-butt and lies flat.

Step 1: Stretch Test

Fleece stretches a lot more in one direction than the other.
This particular blanket stretches most in the direction of the stripes.
So I'll make my socks with the stripes around the legs.

Step 2: Make Paper Patterns

Here's what my patterns look like.
There's a sole, a back, and a "vamp" which is the long part that covers the instep of the foot.
The size of the cloth pieces will just match the diameter of each part of the foot they cover.
No seam allowance is necessary.

Step 3: Mark the Cloth

These patterns nest together nicely to waste minimum cloth.
Use a sharpie marker or anything else.
Permanent is okay, the lines won't be visible on the finished socks.

Step 4: Cut Out the Pieces

I'm cutting two layers of blanket here.
The fleece sticks together nicely, so if you're confident you can cut out two or more layers at once.

Step 5: Sew the Heel Seam

Lay the sole on the back piece(or vice versa).
Set your sewing machine on the widest zigzag stitch it makes.
Thread tension can be low, stitch length long.
The type of thread doesn't matter.
Sew along the edge of the cloth so the needle straddles the edge of the cloth on every zag.
That will bind the edge of the seam.
Pull on the cloth as shown to stretch it. That will make a seam that also stretches when it is done.

Step 6: Sew the Side Seam

Lay the piece you just made on the vamp piece(or vice versa).
Sew them together the same way you did the heel seam.

You don't need to hem the top of the sock, it won't unravel.
Hem the top of the sock if you want, or trim it with whatever exotic furs you have handy.

Enjoy your cozy new socks!
Make a whole lot of them and invite your friends to go winter camping!

Comments

[NaturalCrafter]

Your socks are a great idea and you can make many from a small amount of material. With the stretch in the direction around the leg, then pulling up on the sock probably form fits it around your calf and leg. Nice idea!

[paravou]

An Overlock/Serger machine would work best If you have one but the zig-zag stitch works well.

I will have to try this as all my socks seem to be disappearing.

One question I have is do they slide/roll down on you or do they stay up?

[TimAnderson]

they stay up fine. usually fleece stretches more in one direction than the other. Put the stretchy direction AROUND your foot.

[ksid4now]

yeah, getting the stretch right is crucial... no problems with them sliding down at all. i've got an old airline blanket and am going to crank some more out. it took me a while to get my pattern right. but i traced it onto some interfacing for multiple reuses. i've got a serger, but the zig zag on the machine is more comfortable to wear, especially with the seam on the inside. thanks again!
http://maketwincities.blogspot.com/

[ksid4now]

fantastic! this looks really easy, the part about finding the blanket on the street is going to be difficult but once i find it! lookout! i've reposted your instructions on my blog on making stuff - mostly presents at this point. http://maketwincities.blogspot.com/

(i'm wearing a pair of store bought fleece socks and they don't have/need elastic but there is a "hem" )

[rachel]

I made some socks this morning, and wore them all day. They're nice and warm. Here's the socks and the pattern I used - I ended up making the pattern twice because I'm picky about fit.

[mansha99]

I like this tutorial

[TimAnderson]

Excellent! Those look good. We're in Belgrade hitchhiking to Istanbul. It's getting warm as we get south, and I'm starting to give socks away. People seem to like them a lot.

[andreaboylee]

Seems very warm and the idea is awesome!

[wenpherd]

Haha, that's real cool. Just one question in the first picture the seams are on the outside, how does it feel with them on the inside?

[Resweater]

I made these socks with felted merino wool and cashmere sweaters, and they turned out great! Here they are are on my blog:

http://resweater.blogspot.com/2010/01/recycled-wool-socks.html

[stasterisk]

How about sheepskin socks?

[GorillazMiko]

Heh, cool!

Make them toe socks (if you can), they will look cool!

These look like the socks you could use to make Sunbanks' Sock Monkeys.

[wtf_steve]

doesn't seem to "instant" but kick ass none-the-less, was there any kind of elasticity in the top portion to keep it from going down to your ankles?