Using Sewing Thread as a Second Strand

10 Posts Recent Started

Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 9:17 AM

Hi everyone,

I enjoy knitting socks for my family, and they love wearing them. Unfortunately, depending on the quality of the yarn I use, they tend to wear through—especially at the heel—more or less quickly.

Since I have so much unused sewing thread lying around, can I carry it along as a second thread to reinforce the sole (I always knit a heel flap and turn)? Or will that make them too stiff?

kruemel-monster

121 Posts Recent Started

Friday, June 5, 2026 at 11:21 AM

Hi Sabine,
I would advise against using sewing thread. It is so thin that it can cut through the yarn. And then you would have achieved exactly the opposite of what you actually want.
You can find extra-thin yarns in stores specifically for reinforcing high-wear areas of socks; they are ideal for your needs. And some manufacturers, such as Lang Yarns, yarn quality “Jawoll”, even include a small spool of reinforcing yarn in a matching color in their sock yarn skeins.
For yarns from other manufacturers, you can use darning yarn for reinforcement; it is softer than sewing thread and available in many colors.

rubator

84 Posts Recent Started

Friday, June 5, 2026 at 10:06 PM

If socks wear through quickly, that can also be due to fabric softener. It coats the fibers, causing them to lose their elasticity and temperature-regulating properties. And it builds up around the synthetic fiber content, which can make it brittle.
All of this makes the socks less durable.
So it's best to use wool detergent; the good ones don't contain fabric softener.