Niqkita's Sock Journal

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Cut up your socks!


We here at Sock Dreams have been cutting up socks for years. It’s a great way to add new life to damaged socks and tights and it’s surprising how few things unravel upon being cut, not that we guarantee that most socks won’t unravel but we sure can attest to many that won’t. So when Ozone came out with their Cut-Up Jambière I had to bring them in, if for no other reason to encourage everyone with a creative spark to try this. They even give you guidelines…
cut up jambiere instructional image
Our own talented Flaura has done really cool things with our Lemonade stockings for our little shop here in Portland (I was just sure I had pictures of her creations, but I can’t find them, sorry ’bout that!). She’s done neat stuff with other socks she’s modified too so I let her pick her color and give these a try…

Hand warmers, knee warmers, toe-less anklets and a bracelet, quite cute! she’s wearing them over grey tights and highly recommends cutting along the straight lines, much fraying occurred where cut through the pattern, but no unraveling.

20 Responses to “Cut up your socks!”

  1. Amanda Says:

    And they look like an 8-bit video game! What’s not to love?

  2. Kate Says:

    Gah! I found a HOLE in my precious red jambieres last weekend and nearly had a conniption fit! Now I know they can have new life and I won’t have to get rid of them. Huzzah!

  3. Bob Cloud Says:

    How do you keep them from bleeding to death??

  4. niqkita Says:

    We take them off first ~;)

  5. Alice Says:

    Ah, I adore reviving socks by cutting them up! Legwarmers and fingerless gloves galore!

  6. niqkita Says:

    Kate, you’ve got to let us know how the jambieres come out! I was fearful of cutting the woolissimos but Flaura did that with no unraveling a few weeks ago so I’m pretty sure yours should be fine….
    Also, I’m really glad you are enjoying the Lemonades! Amanda showed me your order note and I suggested we send you one, so it was a collaboration ~=)

  7. delijay Says:

    Wait, what is going on with the arm warmers in this picture? Is the black hand part originally part of the cut-up sock?

  8. Suzanne M Says:

    delijay, judging by the photos on the sock’s page, that the black part you mean is the top cuff of the sock. So, yes.

    These are intensely awesome. I’ve finally started getting holes in some of my Super Stripes, and I’ve been wondering if they’d take to cutting, but my guess would be no. Still, once they’re unwearable as actual socks, I’ll give it a try anyhow.

  9. niqkita Says:

    Exactly! it’s the cuff that would be at the top of the thighs if not cut off and modified with the thumb-hole.

    …and the super stripes absolutely do take to cutting well ~=)

  10. roxy77 Says:

    I have mixed emotions about this. I am ecstatic at the thought of not having to throw out my favorite socks merely because they get holes in them! Then I could cry when I think about all the beloved socks I got rid of! Never again!

  11. EG Says:

    Oh those cut up socks are sooo cute!! (even without being cut up!) I love the way you’ve made pieces for the knee area (like funky knee pads!)

    I adore deconstructing clothing and things… gives a second life to stuff you don’t want to part with (for those like me that get emotionally attached to favorite clothing items)… and turns normal things into ‘one of a kinds’… fun fun fun!

    I have lots of pairs of tights that I’ve cut into OTK/thigh socks.. they’re great with sock garters and solved the problem for me of what to do with all the tights that just aren’t long enough for my legs.

  12. KiWi Says:

    OMG!
    i just put in an order for the harajuku armwarmers last night and tonight i come back to see those pretty harajuku loose socks!!! T_T
    im going to cry if they run out of my colors before i can get the money for them D:

  13. niqkita Says:

    Sorry! ideally I try to batch the new items, but it rarely works for me because I hate to withhold stuff as I get more stuff ready, especially at this time of year… If I can keep up I’ll be adding at least two new items every day.
    We should be getting plenty of the loose socks though…
    so even if we do run out we will restock ~=D

  14. Meg Says:

    I wore my Harajuku Ethnosocks for the first time the other day and was shocked to find at the end of the day that my pinky toe was hanging out of a gaping run in the side of the foot. I noticed too that the bottoms of the socks were worn really thin, like pantyhose that had been worn often. That set me about immediately trying to think of how to give them some new job in life. Since they’re 100% nylon I’m not sure what to try.

    Anyway, off the subject, this hairy girl has to know if the Cronert Diamond Cable Over the Knees are opaque. They look quite sheer, but one can hope.

  15. KiWi Says:

    ^really they broke so fast? tabbisocks is probably my favorite brand of socks but i dont own any nylon ones D:

    also does anyone else see stuff on this site that they think is cute but cant remember if they already have it or not? XD

  16. Meg Says:

    I have the Tabbisocks Neon Night Sky Over Your Knees and they are 100% nylon. I have worn them once and they held up well. I’m wondering if all the stitching on the Ethnosocks makes the nylon vulnerable to runs.

    …and I certainly have to check my sock drawers, cubby, etc. before I place an order. I am a teacher and I like to wear socks that go with what I’m teaching. The other day we made planet models and I totally forgot to wear my planet socks!! Either pair…aaack!

    P.S. It was fun wearing bone socks and arm warmers when we made skeletons in October : )

  17. Suzanne M Says:

    “…and the super stripes absolutely do take to cutting well ~=)”

    I’m so glad to hear that. Vastly preferable to just throwing them out, since I’ve grown so attached to them.

  18. EG Says:

    Oh YES… the Super Stripes are wonderful to cut! I’ve got pairs that had been mended in the feet so many times that they simply could not be mended anymore. I cut the feet off and they became cuter than cute leg warmers… now, after years of use and washings … some of those leg warmers are no longer elasticy enough in parts to properly stay on my legs, so now I’m thinking they may end up becoming little striped sweaters for Vel :O)

  19. TAG Says:

    I may never throw out another pair of socks again…

  20. I Like Socks » Blog Archive » Digging up the past, because it still intrigues us Says:

    [...] I’m a huge fan of altering clothing and legwear to extend an item’s life and generally get more out of the damn thing.  The beauty is the ability to fit something to your needs.  So my stubby [...]

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