A Little Gift: Spin and Knit the Ultimate Icelandic Hiking Socks

The Spin Off editorial staff is pleased to offer a special end-of-year surprise for our subscribers—a strong yet soft pair of knitted socks to keep your toes toasty on even the coldest of days. We are grateful for you, dear reader, and we hope you’ll find joy in the act of spinning and knitting as the calendar turns over to a new year!

Spin Off subscribers can find the full pattern by following the link at the bottom of the page.

—Editors

As someone who became a knitter before I started spinning, I have a drawer full of handknit socks. Yet, I’ve only made one pair of handspun socks. It’s not about the time invested. I don’t think anything of spending sixteen hours (or more!) knitting a pair of socks, and almost always have a pair on the needles. It might be about the wear and tear—out of all my knit garments, socks are the ones that wear out the fastest!

Barbara Kelly-Landry’s Ultimate Icelandic Hiking Socks have the answer. Kelly-Landry takes advantage of the dual coat of Icelandic sheep by separating the two types of fibers and using each to its greatest advantage. The tog, or outercoat, is long and strong–perfect for those areas of socks that tend to show wear more quickly, like the toe and heel. The thel, or innercoat, is soft and warm—perfect for the rest of the foot.