These are house socks that are very thick and very warm. If you've
made the original Joan's Socks, these will go even faster because it
takes less rows per inch. Before fulling, these socks will look
enormous! Trust me that they will be perfect in the end. The felting
technique comes from Robin Hanson's various writings on the subject,
to whom I've forever grateful.

Materials: 2 balls Lopi, Icelandic Samband or Brown Sheep Bulky wool
or any single ply pure wool. Should be a color because white often
doesn't full very well.

Size 10-1/2 US (6-1/2mm) & 11 US (8mm) dpn's

Fulling Materials: Murphy's Oil Soap (helps retain oils), table salt
(speeds fulling process), rubber gloves, ice cubes (to keep water very
cold) , washboard, or cookie cooling racks, hair conditioner, old
toothbrush. OK, so this might require some shopping, but you'll
probably make more than one pair!

This is a variation of the Joan's Socks pattern. You will need the
instructions for those socks to do these. See
thttp://www.knitlist.com/95gift/joan.htm Use the same basic pattern
with these changes:

No ribbing at top. Cast on with 10-1/2 needles. Work in stockinette
stitch and let the top roll down. Work leg for 5 inches using the
smaller needles. On last round of leg, change to size 11 needles.

Work foot to at least 2 to 2-1/2" longer than you normally would.
Remember it will shrink much more in length than it will in width. You
will be able to control the fulling and stop when they are the size
you want.

Fulling:
Machine fulling will not produce as dense a fabric and this "hands-on"
method.
Using 2 dishpans (or double kitchen sink) run hot water into first
adding Murphy's Oil Soap. I boiled additional water to keep it very
hot. Be sure and wear rubber gloves so you don't burn your hands. Into
the 2nd sink run very cold water with a tray or two of ice cubes and
about 1/4 cup of salt.

1. Put the socks into hot water, letting them soak for about 10
minutes. Rub more soap into them and scrub them vigorously on the
washboard, dipping them into the hot water to keep them hot and making
sure your scrub all sections of the sock. Good for the frustrations of
everyday life! Primal scream is optional.

2. Wring out excess water and immediately plunge them into the cold
water. Squeeze water through and let rest a few minutes. Take out and
wring out excess water.

Repeat Steps 1 & 2 until they have fulled to the size you want. It
will take 3 or 4 of these actions before you notice a drastic
difference. Keep looking at them and stop when they are the size you
want. Try them on wet if you must. These are thick and the outside
measurements might be deceiving.

When you have them the way you want them, run a pan of warm clear
water, adding a bit of hair conditioner. Rinse thoroughly and squeeze
out excess water by rolling in a towel.

Push and pull the sock into shape and then brush them with the
toothbrush from top to toe on both sides.

Throw them in the dryer until nearly dry. Don't overdry. Roll top into
shape and let air dry.