More Warmth from Eva…
There will be spring.
One day. Even here in Sweden.
But until then one has to keep warm. And the best way to do so, if you’re a “skirt-girl” like me, is with a pair of Wool M40s (or Super Ms). I got these for my birthday and I just love them.
Before washing they were a little too tight in the thighs. I’m a big girl and the “super-varieties” of DreaM Stockings usually fits me better. But after a warm wash on gentle cycle they shrunk a little on the length, but not at all on the width, so that they no longer reached the widest part of my thighs. And now they reach a little above mid-thigh and they’re sooo comfortable.
I actually can’t say enough nice things about them;they’re soft and they’re warm and it feels like something warm and snuggly is hugging my legs when I wear them. I easily get cold feet and legs and due to my arthritis they start aching then.
But not in wool M40s.
And unlike some of the cotton socks they don’t bag around the ankles and feet, because wool is a much stretchier material than cotton. Wool is, in my opinion, the perfect material for socks: it is soft and stretchy and doesn’t absorb bad smell the way cotton does. Instead you can clean them just by airing them outside, especially if it’s damp weather and if the wool hasn’t been processed too much. These are made from unbleached, undyed wool and are just perfect in that way.
Some people may find them a little scratchy, at least after machine washing them. I don’t, but then I love the feel of wool. If you have problem with this a trick is to hand wash them with hair conditioner, which softens the wool.
They don’t stay up well on their own, at least not on me, so I use a garter belt with sturdy metal clips when I go out for walks or to my work. And I don’t get cold, even when it’s 10 degrees F. At home I just wear them as they are and tug them up sometimes. They’re nice for sleeping in too if it’s cold in your bedroom.
March 18th, 2006 at 9:16 am
I still have a pair of your hand dyed sweater sockies :O) wow… time really flys huh? seems like yesterday.
March 19th, 2006 at 7:56 am
great post! i dig those gloves, they are beautiful.
March 17th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
I LOVE your mittens.
March 17th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
Very cute. Makes me want to try out the wool ones. I don’t think I have anything in wool, or at least that I know of. Not sure that I really have that beigey color either, but I like it, and it wouldn’t be the first time I didn’t have anything to match!
March 18th, 2006 at 8:45 am
It’s always been my dream to dye those, but any of you who remember my dyeing ventures a few years ago know that it proved too much for me and probably will be too much for anytime soon. But I do think these would dye beautifully, in fact, I’ve been sent pix of them dyed in koolaide that were really nice. We’ll get them in at least one color eventually but have had to keep that idea on a back burner as there is always soo much going on and so little time to get it all done properly ~:)
March 18th, 2006 at 5:41 am
OH snow!!!!! Love the mittens! I too feared the itchies from the wool… the hair conditioner tip sounds so smart. Nice post!
March 18th, 2006 at 12:58 am
Wow, thanks Eva for the tip about washing the wool socks in hair conditioner. I will definitely try that. I have a serious aversion to itchy fabrics. Great photos and I love all of the layering. :)